South Water Market, historic produce market in the Lower West Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois
South Water Market is a large building complex in Chicago with six structures built in 1925 in Classical Revival style. The site features wide streets and alleys for moving goods, elevated loading platforms, and expansive canopies that sheltered the loading and unloading of produce.
The market was built in 1925 to replace the chaotic markets along South Water Street that caused traffic jams and sanitation problems. The new facility became the largest produce market by area in the country and second-largest by sales after New York.
The market was a place where people from different backgrounds gathered to work and conduct business together. This diversity shaped daily life at this important hub for food distribution across the city.
The complex sits near the University of Illinois-Chicago campus and is easily reachable by public transit and car. The location was historically convenient to rail and street access, which still helps with navigation today.
The market was relocated following the Plan of Chicago as the city wanted to beautify the riverfront, which led to building Wacker Drive. Despite its size and careful design, by the 1940s congestion and parking became major problems that would eventually lead to the market's closure.
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