The district was once called Tower Town or Towertown and was known for its bohemian artists and nightlife in the early 20th century. In the 1910s, artists moved into an area near Pine St (now North Michigan Avenue) that was being deserted by affluent residents. Tower Town was the resultant artistic district, and it was successful in part because of its proximity to affluent patrons who remained on the Gold Coast. A new bridge connecting the area to the Chicago Loop helped transform Tower Town into an expensive commercial district.[6] Bars and nightclubs in the area included Chez Pierre, the Dil Pickle Club, Kelly's Stables, the Little Club, the Paradise Club and the Tent.[7][8]
^"Old Chicago Water Tower District". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2007.
^Hertz, Daniel Kay (2018). The Battle of Lincoln Park : Urban Renewal and Gentrification in Chicago (First ed.). Cleveland: Belt Publishing. ISBN978-1948742092.
^Charles A. Sengstock (2004), That toddlin' town: Chicago's white dance bands and orchestras, p. 125