My Favorite Place Around The Block
My favorite block in the city so far is the block that Ogilvie Transportation Center is on. It was one of the first blocks that I discovered since I started college sinci I realized if I was going ot be going there every day I might as well get to know it. I’m planning to revisit all of the things that appealed to me when I first came there. I start by getting off at the Clinton station and walk down the block and I’m greeted by trees strategically placed along the sidewalk. This type of greenery makes it pleasant to walk down the street and gives off the smell of nature which is hard to find in the city amongst all the smoke and pollution given off from various different types of machines. Next I walk across a series of restaurants with outdoor tables allowing people to enjoy their meals outside while feeling the natural air instead of keeping them confined in the restaurant. This also creates a pleasant environment on the street filling it with cheer and conversation from all the people having a good time enjoying their meals while chatting with friends.
I look over to my left and there are tall, reflective glass buildings providing an amazing view to enjoy while eating, walking, or even just hanging out to take a break. It allows people to see the urban side of Chicago while maintaining the quiet and calmness on the block with outdoor restaurants and people biking down the side of the road.
Next I walk inside the train station and the inside is one of the things that originally had amazed me when I first saw it. It is filled with restaurants, sport shops, desert shops, even hair stylist shops. The view is truly eye-opening. It looks practically indistinguishable from an airport except with less people and more shops. The place is built very modern and is designed with an extremely clean design that reminds me of a futuristic building from a movie. It creates a nice contrast to the dirty railroads connecting to it making it an amazing rest stop between traveling or commuting where you can quickly grab coffee or sit down and have a meal. This place has it all.
Overall this block has become a part of my daily commute but very rarely do I get the opportunity to sit down and admire all the shops, views, and buildings there are like I did today. In a busy city like Chicago it is hard to find everything you need but places like these that have it all condensed in one place make life in the city a whole lot easier and after a while you start bonding with this place. Especially because of the food.
Review: I think often a place that seems unwelcoming to walkers has a lot to do with its appearance, specifically the lighting. Places that are completely dark or dimly lit leave most people imagining the worst such as attackers or violators hiding in the darkness. A common example of this is a phrase used often that is “a dark alley”. When telling a scary story people often use the setting of a dark alley because it invokes fear of the unknown that lingers in the dark even though in reality there might not even be anything there in the first place. I believe the first step in making a place perceive as unsafe more inviting is improving the lighting so everything is well lit even at night leaving no area left in darkness at any time. Doing this will not only cause criminals to stay away but in result will cause people to feel safer and therefore more comfortable walking there.
