The (not so) Magnificent Mile
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https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/10/20/michigan-avenue-magnificent-mile-crime/
Chicago Police have issued a formal warning after continued robberies on and around the city’s Magnificent Mile, at a time when stores continue to leave while others fight to stay in business after big pandemic hits.
CBS 2’s Tara Molina reports that retail leaders say the problem is so bad, that new business is hesitant to move in. That hesitation stems not only from the continued retail theft and robbery issue here, and across the city, but the perception that the city isn’t a safe place to be right now.
A stretch of North Michigan Avenue remains vacant and locked up–telling of the struggle on the city’s Mag Mile. Former tenants like Macy’s and Disney are gone, and there are no plans for a new tenant for the old Macy’s space at the Water Tower Place anytime soon.
“I think it does not help in terms of the recovery for downtown Chicago,” said Robb Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “The impression around the nation is that Chicago is not a very safe place to be. And the incidents we saw this morning, over the weekend, the episodes before that, only feed that.”
Karr said the sales tax loss related to these continued crimes hits the city, county, and state of Illinois.
With continued robberies in the area, Chicago police have issued a warning about suspects only described as young men, in their teens, robbing items on display. No one is in custody, and the robberies are still under investigation.“It’s a serious problem, and we have to address it,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), adding the impact on the city is much bigger than the police warning because shoppers and visitors aren’t the only people taking notice. “The commercial brokers tell us that when they get potential interest from a tenant, that’s one of the first questions they ask, is what’s happening in Chicago to stem the tide of retail shoplifting rings that have been operating with impunity downtown? And we don’t have a good answer right now for that.”
“We’re hopeful those vacancy rates will continue to decline.”
But it’s not just continued issues on and around the Mag Mile causing concern. At least three 7-Elevens were hit during the Monday morning commute, by crews of armed robbers downtown. -
Hopeful? They are hopeful vacancy rates decline? Based on what exactly? What action is being taken to fix this?
Ten years ago I felt perfectly safe walking with my family at night from the theater area to the Mile. No longer.
They need to look nearby at Detroit.
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"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@george-k said in The (not so) Magnificent Mile:
Two years, I'd thought nothing of walking to the train station after a concert (about a mile) at 10 pm. Not sure I'd do that now, and cabs are tough to get.
This is on the route I'd take from Chicago Union Station to Symphony Center.
Today...
Link to video
