Allen Tiernan Real Estate

Local / Downtown Neighborhoods

Lincoln Park

After being destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871, Lincoln Park was quickly built back up and was well developed by the turn of the century. Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, this neighborhood became an upscale area with many beautiful houses built on the various streets, making the community a desirable place to live. From the 1960’s though today, Lincoln Park is known as an entertainment spot, with many bars, restaurants and theaters; making it popular to a variety of age groups – ranging from DePaul students to college graduates to families with young children. Neighborhood attractions include Lincoln Park Zoo, DePaul University, Chicago Historical Society, Peggy Norbaert Nature Museum and the Conservatory.

Lakeview

Located just north of Lincoln Park is Lake View, a fast-paced neighborhood that is alive with the comings and goings of the young professionals who live there. Pubs, bars, and restaurants stay open late, keeping the excitement turned up into the wee hours.

Housing in the area is a nice mixture of single residence homes, three flats and apartment buildings. Owning a car is an acceptable option in this neighborhood and street parking is usually available, however ever-increasing parking restrictions are gradually finding their way into the area. Good public transportation, lots of cabs and a wide availability of restaurants, and nearby shopping makes owning a car in this area unnecessary.

Lake View residents enjoy the reasonably priced, pleasant residential setting with its easy access to the lakefront, however new home construction in this area is constant and housing prices are definitely on the rise.

The northern section of Lake View is known as Wrigleyville. This area is named after its famous historic resident, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and one of the nation’s oldest baseball parks. At the northern tip of Lake View (intersection of Clark and Irving Park Road) is the fascinating Graceland Cemetery, the eternally peaceful resting place of many Chicago legends.

Bucktown/Wicker Park
Wicker Park nearly effortlessly molds into Bucktown, its gentrified neighbor to the North. Small businesses such as coffeehouses, restaurants, galleries, nightclubs, and storefront theaters are centered on the intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North avenues. Together, Wicker Park and Bucktown once compromised the third largest population of working artists in the U.S., after Manhattan and San Francisco. The Bucktown neighborhood got its name at the turn of the last century, when many immigrant families kept goats in their front yards.

Scattered between everyday grocery and convenience stores are less well-known local treasures such as resale shops and trendy new restaurants. Ground zero for culture and entertainment in Wicker Park is at the intersection of Damen Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, and North Avenue. This intersection is filled with hip boutiques, cheap to chic eats and hot entertainment venues.Miscellaneous housing styles in this area such as factories have been converted into apartment style living. Spurts of new home construction are beginning to dot the streets, replacing the homes that surround Wicker’s Park historic architecture and striking mansions from the 1880’s.

Gold Coast

Established in 1882, the Gold Coast is said to rank second only to Manhattan’s Upper East Side as the most affluent community in the nation. The area lands itself to leisurely

walks along its tree-lines streets and only minutes away from Chicago's famous lakefront. One of the most fascinating is Astor Street, which is populated with opulent, historically significant mansions (some of which have been inhabited by the same families for nearly 100 years) that range from Queen Anne to art deco style. Oak Street, Chicago’s answer to L.A.’s Rodeo Drive, is lined with world-class designer boutiques (including those of Gianni Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Barney’s). The neighborhood’s nightlife area centers on Division and State streets’ lively stretch of singles bars and nightclubs.

The Loop

The Loop’s moniker dates back to the late 1800’s, when it earned its name from the streetcar track that formed a loop in its center, where the elevated (“El”) trains run today. You’ll find the seats of the city’s business, political and cultural institutions here, not to mention a wealth of landmark architecture. Along Michigan Avenue you’ll find The Art Institute of Chicago; Symphony Center, home of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and the Chicago Cultural Center, which offers daily free arts programs and houses the Museum of Broadcast Communications and the city’s official tourist information center. Downtown Loop theater venues include the Goodman, Auditorium, Chicago, Noble Fool, Cadillac Palace, Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater, and The Schubert. Located in the LaSalle Street financial district is The Chicago Board of Trade.