Nearly two decades after Millennium Park opened, it's time for downtown's “next big thing,” say a group of civic, business and community leaders.
The group, which calls itself Team Culture, wants to reimagine key parts of downtown — filling vacant, often shaded spaces with light and art.
“There have been two things in recent history that changed downtown. One was the Theater District and the other was Millennium Park. One was the Theater District and the other was Millennium Park. It's a big hit,” said Lou Raisin, president and CEO of Broadway Theater of Chicago, speaking to a lunchtime gathering Tuesday at the City Club of Chicago at Maggiano's Banquets downtown. “It's time for the culture to do it again.”
Raisin spoke of the potential offered by a “tremendous economic opportunity,” noting that New York's night-time economy generates about $35 billion annually and supports about 300,000 jobs.
Raisin and his supporters envision expanding the use of existing spaces in the city, such as a barge plying the Chicago River — a barge that could be transformed into a concert venue or perhaps a farmer's market. (Baroque music gave a full concert last summer from a boat moving along the Chicago River.)
In this offering, a floating farmers market that would stop along the Chicago River on different days of the week, in accordance with the team's newly formed culture.
They imagine placing art in unexpected places, like some of Chicago's alleys; A similar project in Detroit has created a “must-see” cultural attraction for visitors to the Motor City, Raisin said.
Or what if Lower Wacker Drive could be transformed into an “urban festival” site or art could light up the dark underground corridors of the Chicago Pedway?
“What if you went to dinner at eight o’clock at night, and you went to a show, and part of the walkway was turned into a (light) digital experience?” Raisin said.
There were more questions than answers Tuesday, as Raisin and his potential collaborators were unsure where the money needed to finance the projects would come from.
“We are talking to a number of people,” Raisin said after the show, declining to name names. “We are very close.”
“This is as much about the government getting out of the way and lifting restrictions as it is about what we ask the government to do for us,” said Joe Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation and part of the culture team.
What State Street might look like with new art installations, according to the culture team.
