New People Spot Ditches Cafe Feel, Adds Sculpted Design

Lake View’s first People Spot on Lincoln Avenue may have rocked the sidewalk café vibe, but for the community’s second space on Southport, it’s all about the new sculpted lounge.

Representatives with the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce released design renderings for the new public area on Tuesday, showing the space at 3551 N. Southport Ave. will be much different than the spot at 2959 N. Lincoln Ave.

“While the Lincoln Avenue people spot has bistro tables that get locked up every night and looks more like a café, this is more of a place for people to sit and relax,” said the chamber’s executive director Heather Way. “It’s not so much of a café experience. … It will look exactly like this. Everything on it is custom made.”

People Spots are Chicago’s unique way of transforming part of the street into urban parks.

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It’s all a part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Transportation’s “Make Way for People” program, launched in June of 2012. The space in front of Heritage Bikes General Store was one of the first two People Spots in Chicago, and in 2013 officials added another in front of Uncle Dan’s on Southport.

Way says the spot on Southport will be open by the third week in June, and weather permitting, come down Dec. 1. Coming in at 20 feet longer than the one on Lincoln, Lake View’s new People Spot will create 600-square-feet of new pedestrian space.