Chicago, Illinois - Changes Since the 1990s

Since the 1990s, Chicago is starting to win people over again. Some neighborhoods have been experiencing somewhat of a gentrification process, as in other U.S. cities. They renovated and attract new population of middle class. The lake front apartments have also experienced similar success.

The aim of the current mayor, Richard M. Daley, is to help protect the environment while maintaining Chicago metropolitan as one of the world's most influential. Recent developments and projects illustrate this ambition. Many new skyscrapers have broken ground, demonstrating the economic prosperity of Chicago. The area of green space has expanded and the center of the city has been made more secure at night. The latest project is the Chicago Spire: which began construction in June 2007 and is to be completed in 2010. The skyscraper would be the highest in the Americas with 150 storeys and stretching 609.60 meters high.

Today, the city is growing faster. The park area of Chicago (Chicago Park District), is committed in terms of restoration of biodiversity, it is a situated in areas damaged by the restoration of some buildings in the city as well as by creating new buildings, including creation of gardens over the roofs on most of the skyscrapers.

The city has finally almost shed its bad reputation, stemming from the turbulent period of prohibition in the 1930s. In 2006, Chicago was no longer part of the list of 25 U.S. cities deemed unsafe. This is due to the strengthening police presence almost permanent in many areas of the South side of the city that use to be considered decadent. Today, Chicago is beautiful, pleasant, clean, lively, with broad avenues lined with greenery.

Guided Tour Chicago
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