By Michael Pasternak

The already bustling Streeterville area, east of N. Michigan Ave., is already the destination for thousands of tourists every year. And experts say it is likely to get even busier - and more congested - in the year ahead.

At the Streeterville Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 24, Kelly McClanathan, president of the Chicago Hotel Concierge Association and chief concierge at the Palmer House Hilton, told the audience of about 95 local business members to expect even more visitors to the area in 2008.

"The hotel occupancy for 2008 is on its way up," McClanathan said. "With the Canadian dollar strong, more Canadians are traveling to Chicago."

By Paige Gray

Despite a forced relocation for his Uptown Tattoo Factory last year, Paul Collurafici holds no grudges. Nor is he concerned about the near decade wait on the Wilson Yard redevelopment, scheduled to be completed in fall 2009.

Wilson Yard, between the 4400 and 4600 block of North Broadway St., has begun the long process of transformation. The now empty lot is to become a Target store, affordable housing units and a new administrative building for Truman College, located on its west side and along Wilson Ave.

Initial site investigation and community discussion began more than ten years ago after a 1996 fire destroyed the Chicago Transit Authority rail yard. The 5.7 acre site in Uptown has been a fenced lot full of weeds since that time.

By Dan Selecman

From the Sears Tower to the constantly growing number of condos, hotels and office buildings, it's hard to avoid using an elevator in Chicago and many do so daily.

And every day, high rise residents, workers and tourists are kept safe by just 13 people.

That is the number of inspectors employed by the city's Bureau of Elevators. And they are responsible for the more than 27,000 elevators, moving walkways, escalators and "mechanical amusement rides" in Chicago.

Douglas Flebbe keeps busy with his share of these inspections. If you do the math, each inspector is responsible for more than 2,000 conveyances throughout the city.

By David Lister

These days you can vote on pretty much anything. Want to see your favorite athletes in the All-Star game? Just go to the leagues' Web sites and vote for them. Hope your favorite reality TV character makes it to the next week? Be sure to text in your vote.

It seems when Americans need to make a decision on an issue -- any issue -- we vote.

Surely, American Express and the National Trust For Historical Preservation knew this when they created Partners In Preservation. The partnership pledged $5 million over a five-year period to preserve historic and cultural sites in the United States.

By Michael Pasternak

Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th Ward) told developers from the Southside Builders Association on Sept. 12 the largest vacant lakefront property left in Chicago will be broken into several parcels for sub-development, and she hopes they'll get involved.

"I consider it the best-kept secret in Chicago," Jackson said. "It will be an economic engine unlike any other."

The approximately 600-acre property, which is larger than Chicago's entire Loop, features two miles of undeveloped lakefront and was once the site of U.S. Steel South Works. When the mill, which once employed nearly 20,000, closed in 1992, it left the surrounding area economically devastated.

By Aisha Qidwae

Several property owners gathered in a small gymnasium recently in Chicago’s northwest Albany Park for a mandatory meeting showing the process of using the city’s TIF/NIP, Neighborhood Improvement Program, to repair their homes. 

By  Jamie Morgan

For the past 20 years, the six-story Morris B. Sachs building at 2800 N. Milwaukee has gone largely unused, except for the Payless Shoe Store outlet and nail salon on the first floor. 

The boarded-up and broken windows on the other five floors are an eyesore to many Logan Square residents and community groups, who are anxiously waiting to see this triangular art \-deco building restored as an integral part of the community.      

By Dan Selecman

The 48th Ward Zoning and Planning Committee approved a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district at its June 27 meeting.

While many projects can be funded through the TIF, only one was the focus of the committee, an advisory group for Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th): Hollywood House.

Before the committee meeting began, several dozen senior citizens gathered outside of Smith's Northside ward office to speak in favor of the TIF. The seniors live at Hollywood House, an apartment complex that provides 198 units of low-income senior housing.

Seniors like Athina Varnava, a three-year resident of Hollywood House, chanted loudly: "Vote yes on Hollywood House."

"We want [Heartland Housing Inc.] to buy Hollywood House so there can be affordable housing for seniors here," said Varnava. Hollywood House is currently run by the Hellenic Foundation, but funding problems have forced the organization to sell the property.

New housing construction is thriving in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood.
And that growth is attracting new businesses to the area.
But some residents worry that all the growth and change could have a negative impact.
Damon Maloney has the story.