Loop Alliance Maps Out SSA Expansion

CHICAGO—Yesterday, at a local community meeting, officials from the Chicago Loop Alliance presented their proposal to expand the downtown’s special service area, which pools funds collected from building owners based on the value of their properties. The funds pay for extra street cleaning, landscaping and infrastructure repair, staff that will discourage aggressive panhandling, and other services.

As reported yesterday in GlobeSt.com, the alliance, which administers the SSA, wants to expand it beyond the State St. corridor to include properties along Wabash Ave., the west side of Michigan Ave., and the east side of Michigan north of Randolph St. and south of the river. The move would boost the SSA’s budget from $2.5 million to about $6.3 million.