It's sort of a mix now. The REI is on one end and then if you go down East Carson St toward the liberty bridge, it is the same old funky/grungy neighborhood it has been. Down by the REI are shops like Sur la Table and Claddagh Irish Pub. http://www.southsideworks.com/ But that area is really set aside from what most would think of as the South Side. There is also a bike path along there now that is very nice and where Maidei and I rode a bit.