Chicago's loss of nearly a million was a bit more easily absorbed as the number of occupants per unit dropped. This probably helps to explain why there isn't urban prairies or wide scale abandonment. [[though there's some spotty areas of large vacancy on the southside). Chicago has lost quite a bit of manufacturing, but alot of stuff is still made here, and it's expected to make somewhat of a comeback in the region.

As far as what has contributed to population growth and stabilization....this might help explain:
http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/11/0...d-c-longworth/