Real Estate In Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is one of Chicago's swankiest and most popular neighborhoods, with more bars and restaurants per capita than almost any other neighborhood in Chicago. Lincoln Park is the heart of Chicago?s North Side. The neighborhood has almost anything your heart desires. Houses range from highrise condos to two-and three-flat brownstones to cottages on beautiful tree-lined streets. After more than 30 years of gentrification, you can imagine, there are few, if any, real estate bargains to be found in Lincoln Park.

Lincoln Park is a young and extremely lively neighborhood. There you?ll find restaurants and bars to match any evening?s taste and budget. You?ll see bars and clubs that range from prep to sport to punk to blues; and there?s little you won?t find shopping along Clark Street. (Except readily available parking.)

Lincoln Park?s most obvious attraction is the park itself. The 1,200 acre park has extensive playing fields, picnic areas where ever you can find a place to throw down a blanket, and even a large zoo that boasts free admission.

Lincoln Park is steeped in Chicago History. A fenced-off mausoleum on LaSalle Drive behind the Historical Society, stands as a reminder that Lincoln Park once served as a city cemetery. In fact, before it was called, Lincoln Park, it was named Cemetery Park. Its old name, Cemetery Park, was changed in 1885 to honor the assassinated president. The grave of the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party is marked by a boulder near Clark Street and Wisconsin Street. And the Great Fire of 1871 reached its northernmost extent at roughly Clark and Beldon. Two blocks south at 2221 North Clark Street, now a lawn, stood the garage where the infamous St. Valentine?s Day Massacre took place. And a little known fact, for you trivia buffs, the area from Diversey Avenue north to Ardmore Avenue was constructed completely on landfill.

Although parts of Lincoln Park may seem over populated and congested at times, the area is the preferred place to live for many Chicagoans.

Real Estate In West Lakeview

Lakeview is found between Diversey Street and Irving Park Road, and west from the lakefront to Ashland Avenue. West Lakeview, in the western portion of Lakeview, runs west from Sheffield to Ashland Avenue and north from Diversey to Addison.

Lakeview began as a farming settlement where they grew celery and greenhouse flowers. In 1889, Chicago annexed the town of Lakeview.

Between the 1930?s and 1950?s, immigrants from Germany and Luxembourg, began moving to Lakeview. Wealthy Chicagoans saw an opportunity to build spacious homes and apartment buildings along the lakefront. Block after block of affordable wooden houses were built for workers who settled farther inland closer to the factories. The Germans also wanted their saloons, many of which still stand. Restoration continues westward, particularly in the vicinity of Wrigley Field.

In recent years, many people have bought homes in Lakeview, and the nightclubs and restaurants have followed. The area of Southport from Diversey north to Irving Park has become a hot real estate pocket in West Lakeview as many people from Lincoln Park have moved here. Dozens of buildings are being renovated and new single-family homes are under construction. Rents in West Lakeview are more affordable than those in Lake View East. West Lakeview has managed to retain its unassuming neighborhood charm while providing easy access to Lincoln Park, East Lakeview and Wrigleyville. This area has no end of interesting restaurants, fashion-hip shops, with something for every budget.

The two brightest entertainment venues of Chicago are locate in West Lakeview. The Mercury Theater is one of Chicago's newest 300-seat playhouse. And the Music Box Theatre is a movie theater offering a dark blue ceiling with "twinkling stars and clouds".

Real Estate In East Village

West Town, a fairly large area just northwest of the Loop, is a group of smaller neighborhoods including East Village, Noble Square, and Ukrainian Village. East Village?s borders are Ashland (1600 W) to Damen (2000 W) and Division (1200 N) to Chicago (800 N).

East Village is representative of how borders and names have shifted in Chicago. East Village is located directly east of Ukrainian Village, this area was originally known as East Ukrainian Village, then later simple East Village. New names such as East Village have appeared across the cityscape as real estate developers re-name old neighborhoods in order to attract upscale residents.

East Village is also one example among many in Chicago of the resurgence in vintage neighborhood living, where communities, built more than a century ago, are now being redeveloped. These old neighborhoods, where housing has always been in place, are now being redeveloped into modern living environments, complete with new retail and other local amenities. Areas like this are attracting not only singles and couples but now families even with small children.

This neighborhood primarily consists of charming 2 and 3 flats along tree-lined streets. Renovated apartments and single-family homes can also be found, as well as some new brick and limestone constructions. Property owners in East Village have carefully rehabbed the historic homes that abound in this area. But, you are still able to find apartments with great views of the city at very attractive prices, all within 10 minutes from downtown.

The great residential streets are all within walking distance of the nearby shops and restaurants with more coming in soon. There is easy non-permit street parking. Just three blocks from Blue Line Stop and close to Metra.

Real Estate In Bucktown

The borders of Bucktown are often confused for those of nearby trendy Wicker Park. But, Bucktown is a neighborhood with a character all its own. Once a neighborhood of predominately Polish immigrants, Bucktown was named for the goats that were kept in many of the poorer residents' backyards (a male goat is called a "buck"). Later, Spanish-speaking families replaced most of the Polish community. More recently, due to the low rent and diversity, artists began to inhabit the area.

The gentrification of Bucktown has caused many of the artistic residents who came for the diversity and low rents to abandon the area for neighboring Wicker Park. These days, upscale restaurants, trendy nightclubs, and high-end clothing boutiques attract a more style-conscious sect. Rent prices have increased dramatically and real estate bargains in this area are becoming increasingly hard to come by.

Plenty of nightclubs can be found between Bucktown and bordering Wicker Park. When the sun goes down, the Northside Bar and Grill is a favorite hangout for neighborhood veterans. There you will find an eclectic group of people drinking everything from Bloody Mary?s to Old Style Beer and enjoying a wide variety of comfort foods. The Map Room is just one of the many cozy neighborhood bars in the area, offering coffee, beer, pool tables and live weekend music.

As an artist's haven, Bucktown hosts quite a few galleries and artistic shops. Besides the landmark Flat Iron Building at 1579 N. Milwaukee Avenue, which houses numerous galleries, Bucktown boasts a number of artist-run stores. Bucktown art galleries open their doors during the Around the Coyote festival in early September, a good time to check out the local Bucktown artist scene.

Real Estate In Andersonville

Andersonville is located a half square mile of the southwest corner of Edgewater. It?s an old Swedish neighborhood that was first settled in the mid- 19th century. Most of the Swedes are long gone now, but Andersonville has kept it?s ethnic flavor with it?s architecture and it?s many neighborhood bakeries, gift shops and the Swedish American Museum located at 5211 North Clark Street. The neighborhood has evolved into an ethnic mix easily seen in it?s restaurants ranging from old Swedish(Svea) to Persian(Reza's) to Asian(Tipanan). You can grab a Swedish treat, with a shot of espresso, hear some radical feminist poetry at an avant-garde theater, and finish your night eating Andean or Persian, all within just a few blocks.

Andersonville could have been named after two different Andersons. According to the Chicago Historical Society, it was named after the Andersonville School, which took its name from a Reverend Anderson, whose church was a hub for recent Scandinavian arrivals around 1900. Another possibility, according to the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, is that it was named after local farmer and landowner John Anderson, and became known as Andersonville back in the 1850s. Whichever Anderson it was named after, it remains true to its Scandinavian heritage, and is where you still hear Swedish spoken by many shopkeepers. But if you don?t know Swedish, don?t worry, you can come to this neighborhood to take lessons.

The neighborhood is a sort of mecca for women business owners, many of whom own restaurants, shops and book stores on Clark Street. The rainbow flags of the gay and lesbian community also line Andersonville streets. There is an open, progressive, relaxed, even homey feel to Andersonville, where everyone is valkommen (Swedish for welcome).

Real Estate In Albany Park

The Albany Park community is on the northwest side of Chicago. It is well-located, being halfway between O'Hare International Airport and the Chicago Loop, and 5 minutes from the Kennedy and Edens Expressways. Albany Park also sits at the end of the CTA's Brown line (Ravenswood), with stops at Kedzie Avenue and the Kimball Station terminal.

The neighborhood is bordered by the Chicago River, which makes for some very picturesque and peaceful spots in the proximate parks.

Albany Park with a population of 58,000 is a culturally diverse community. People of different cultures have been making Albany Park their second home since 1907, when the Ravenswood El began to bring development to the neighborhood around Kimball and Lawrence avenues. Once a predominantly middle-class Jewish neighborhood, today Albany Park has developed a more diverse ethnic feel as immigrants have made it their home.

The 1990 census reports that Albany Park consists of a mix of Hispanics (31%), Asians (24%), Europeans (40%), and African Americans (3%) making it one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the country, with more than 24 languages regularly spoken in the area. Bosnians have been the most recent ethnic group to move into the neighborhood.

This cultural diversity enriches the neighborhood. The combination of restaurants, most of them around the intersection of Lawrence and Kedzie Avenues, is evidence of that distinction. You can find a Korean barbecue house, Thai restaurants, pizza, as well as Middle Eastern bakeries and ethnic markets. The commercial hub and heart of the community is Lawrence Avenue, which was renamed Seoul Drive because of the many Korean-owned business that line the streets.

Albany Park's large quantity of affordable housing is also an attraction. Average single-family home prices in Albany Park in 1995 were $129,900, when average home prices were $132,000, according to the Chicago Association of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service statistics. In addition to a diverse housing market, Albany Park has retail shops and new development on the east and west sides of the neighborhood.

Interested in selling your home?

Let MenardJohnson & Associates help. MenardJohnson & Associates provides our listing clients:

• Market analysis: Providing the necessary research to price the property correctly in an ever changing market is KEY
• Online exposure: Online marketing is the most effective way to get properties noticed, to both realtors and potential buyers
• The Look: First impressions are everything and so bringing a professional stager in to really "SHOW OFF" the property can make THE difference
• Open Houses: The more exposure the better and at MeanrdJohnson & Associates we believe in the traditional "Open House"
• Service: Clients come first and our clients get service service service...Without clients there is no business

The most important aspect to selling a property is getting traffic and that traffic can be on- line or with in home visits. Our consultants make every effort to provide the most traffic and that will lead to selling the property. At MenardJohnson & Associates we believe in showing our properties, not using lock boxes. Our clients pay us to sell the property and lock boxes do not sell properties, people do.

Real Estate In River North

What began as a neighborhood filled with factories and warehouses has now turned into Chicago’s version of New York’s SoHo, a growing neighborhood filled with art galleries. One newspaper named the gallery area of River North SuHu because of the many art galleries on or near Superior and Huron. In fact, Friday afternoons, you can find many Chicagoans going from one gallery opening to another on their way home from work.

River North contains more trendy restaurants and dance clubs than anyone could hit in a month of weekends. The neighborhood covers a wide area, with an artsy gallery area to the west and big-name tourist attractions to the east. River North is home to over-the-top attractions like the Rainforest Cafe, themed restaurants such as Hard Rock Cafe, Ed Debevic's, and huge stores like the eight-story Sportmart. The area around Ontario and Ohio streets has been called the Windy City's tourist trap, but it draws many locals as well. Whatever your tastes, whether you're with the kids or on a date, River North has old favorites and new adventures for you to try.

The large building that sits on the north side of the river, The Merchandise Mart, has been renovated into a first-class shopping center. Formally owned by the Kennedy family, The Merchandise Mart and the Apparel Center across the street are the center of Chicago’s furniture and fashion design industry. Many of the warehouses in River West have been turned into loft space for apartments and offices. As with any up and coming neighborhood, the rents have risen steadily but especially in this neighborhood with its proximity to Michigan Avenue.

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Lakeview Real Estate Experts!

While many people are familiar with Goose Island Brewpub, Goose Island is actually an island in the north branch of the Chicago River and it’s the only island on the Chicago River in Illinois.  It is an artificial island that is about one-and-a-half miles long and a half-mile wide.  The island was created by William B. Ogden in 1855 who was also the first mayor of Chicago.

No one actually lives on Goose Island but the small near north side neighborhood features an active restaurant scene as well as nearly 200 households.  In fact, many Chicagoans may have even traveled on Goose Island without realizing it when they passed through on Division Street or Halsted Street which are the main thoroughfares that connect the island with the rest of the city.

The only school on Goose Island is Kendall College which is Chicago’s premier culinary school.  They opened their doors in 1934 and offer a Bachelor’s Degree program in various food service fields.  The school is widely considered to be one of the best culinary institutes in the country.  The Dining Room at Kendall College is a chance to experience cuisine that’s as good as some of the best restaurants in the city but at a fraction of the price.  Students do all of the cooking under the watchful eyes of the school’s master chefs.  You can often get a four-course meal for under $30.

Other dining choice in the area include the famous Goose Island Shrimp House, Finkel’s on the River, Flaming Wok’n Grill, Trattoria Gianni, Love’s Chicago and others.  And who could forget about the Goose Island Brewpub opened in 1988 and now featuring over 50 craft beers.

If you’d like to learn more about real estate in the Goose Island neighborhood, please click here to visit the Menard Johnson & Associates Real Estate website where you can see available homes for sale in Goose Island along with other Chicago neighborhoods.