Tech turns Chicago skid row into top office hub

[CHICAGO] Chicago's River North, a district once notorious for its prostitutes and dilapidated warehouses, has become one of the hottest office markets in the United States.

The neighbourhood has transformed from a wasteland in the 1970s to a trendy spot for living, dining and entertainment that's also attracting technology tenants. Yelp, the San Francisco-based business-review website, is one of the latest to lease space in the area, located across the Chicago River from the central business district known as the Loop.

Chicago is among US cities benefiting from the technology boom as job growth in the industry boosts demand for offices. Startups and expanding firms alike are cramming into River North, drawn by its historic buildings and easy access to mass transit, pushing vacancies to the lowest in downtown Chicago.