Call it what you will, but the last few months have been busy. When I last wrote here, I just got hired at the City of Evanston as their new general planner. Things have been busy. I was quickly thrust into the life of City Government. Working on a federal grant worth 40 million dollars puts a lot of eyes on you at once!
Beyond work, which I am sure my readers would like to move from, I have been active this summer. The trips to the family lakehouse in Angola, Indiana, attending the numerous street festivals in Chicago, a trip to Denver, a trip to Toronto and the countless evenings just running around the city have kept me busy.
But enough about my personal life. This blog is about Chicago, urban planning/design and all things in between. This summer has been a busy one for Chicago. The city and region are in the final stages of competition for the 2016 Summer olympic games. We are going against, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid for this honor and it seems the drama never stops. Insiders getting sweet deals on land near potential venues, the City taking the tab for the games, tearing down what some feel are historic buildings, the list goes on.
My postion on the Games is that Chicago is the clear winner. Yes we dont have some shiny new transit system or a new stadium like the Birds nest and yes there are a host of other problems that the money could be spent on instead of the games. Lets think larger here though, Chicago gets to be in a club of cities that hosted the largest peaceful gathering of individuals at one time. We get to be part of the Olympic Movement, one that strives for unity through sports. Chicago and the US will find a way to make our transit system sparkle again and to get the venues built properly, we have the best engineers, architects and designers in the world if we can't do it no one can. Will the finances work out EXACTLY like they say they will in the Bid Book? probably not, but I can guarantee you that Chicago wont create a city strife with White elephant venues like Athens or Beijing, we are too pragmatic here. Chicago is the ONLY bid in this running that is truly integrating the games into the entire city. There is no distant remote olympic village like in Rio, we arent building a massive new island like Tokyo (northerly island is relatively small compared to the one that Tokyo is using) and yet we are still finding room to build new venues and not rely on just old ones that have been there for decades like Madrid is.
Stretched and woven into the long green park system that is the Chicago lakefront, people in lincoln park can walk out their front door and enjoy world class tennis competitions, residents of Washington park can gather the night of the opening ceremonies and witness history, condo dwellers in the loop and south loop can venture lakeside to see a variety of sports - all within walking distance. No need to drive or fly anywhere to see these events, they are here to see US. We are the host, Chicagoans love to party and why not invite the world to it. Let there be some congestion and crowds, the more the merrier!
Will there be congestion? Probably, I cant really say. I can say from those that were at the Atlanta games that traffic was LIGHTER due to the fact that most locals stayed away from downtown. I also know that any event ticket you purchase includes a CTA pass so the need for a car should be greatly dimished. Start saving your PTO time now, take the two+ weeks off and go have fun in your own city. Should you be lucky to rent out your apartment, home or condo, I encourage you to find a place to stay in the city, bunk up witha friend if you need to and enjoy the events that are taking place here. Take your time, show up early if you need to, after all you are on vacation!
Lastly my argument for the Olympics in Chicago is that the world needs Chicago to have the Olympics. Not that we are the center of the universe (yet) but with 11.5 percent unemployment, the games in Chicago will put Chicagoans back to work for the next seven years. The billions of dollars in Olympic investment and side private development will help spur the midwestern economy and hopefully pull the US economy out of the slumps for the next few years, helping other economies get back on track. Is this a guarantee? no, but it couldnt hurt right?
The Olympics in Chicago will let the world know what we already know, that this is a great place to be. It will put the city on a level that it should be in recognition, spur tourism and help move beyond the image of gangsters and crazy governors (though i suspect the opening ceremony will consist of one or two songs from Chicago the musical followed with an hour long house music jam session, but one can only dream at this point...)
So in my book, I welcome the Olympians, their fans and their pocketbooks. Lets get to work on the greatest party Chicago has ever held!
Enjoy your week, and safe travels!
With you,
C
