Near West Side

The Near West Side is one of Chicago's oldest and most ethnically diverse community areas. It encompasses several neighborhoods established by 19th century European immigrants, including Greektown and Little Italy. Despite massively disruptive 20th century urban renewal projects such as the Eisenhower Expressway, the University of Illinois at Chicago campus and the United Center, remnants of the area's ethnic enclaves remain. In the past 20+ years, the vast former meatpacking and warehousing zone encompassing the West Loop and Fulton Market District has rapidly developed into a thriving business, dining and residential neighborhood luring corporate titans like McDonald's and Google to set up major offices.