- Near North Side, Chicago
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Near North Side — Community area — Community Area 08 - Near North Side 
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Location within the city of Chicago
Coordinates: 41°54′N 87°37.8′W / 41.9°N 87.63°WCoordinates: 41°54′N 87°37.8′W / 41.9°N 87.63°W Country United States State Illinois County Cook City Chicago Neighborhoods List- Goose Island
- Old Town
- Gold Coast
- Cabrini–Green
- Near North Side
- Magnificent Mile
- River North
- Streeterville
- Dearborn Parkway
- State Parkway
Area – Total 2.7 sq mi (7.04 km2) Population (2010) – Total 80,484 – Density 29,609.7/sq mi (11,432.4/km2) population up 10% from 2000 Demographics – White 69.2% – Black 19.1% – Hispanic 3.85% – Asian 6.09% – Other 1.77% Time zone CST (UTC-6) – Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5) ZIP codes 60611, most of 60610, and parts of 60654 and 60642 Median income $67,065 Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services The Near North Side is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located north and east of the Chicago River, just north of the central business district (the Loop). To its east is Lake Michigan and its northern boundary is the 19th-century city limit of Chicago, North Avenue. With the exception of Goose Island and Cabrini–Green on the west, the Near North Side is known for its extreme affluence, typified by the Magnificent Mile and the Gold Coast. Navy Pier, a popular visitor destination, is also here.
In the 1780s, in what is now the Near North Side, on the northern banks of the Chicago River near today's Michigan Avenue Bridge, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built the first known permanent settlement in "Eschecagou." Today this is marked by Pioneer Court.
Contents
Neighborhoods
Cabrini–Green
Main article: Cabrini–GreenCabrini–Green was a notorious public housing project. Although a small part of it is still located in Chicago's Near Northside, near the North/Clybourn Red Line stop along with the Chicago and Sedgwick Brown Line stops, most of the project was torn down between 1997 and 2010. It was made up primarily of mid- and high-rise apartment buildings. Though Chicago has had many housing projects with crime problems, this one was very noticeable because it is surrounded by wealthy neighborhoods, notably the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park just blocks away.
The apartment buildings opened in 1958 (the "reds") and 1962 (the "whites"), while the rowhouses (called the Frances Cabrini Homes, which still exist) opened in 1942. Cabrini–Green stood on what used to be an Italian neighborhood called "Little Sicily". In the 1930s, Little Sicily, had a reputation for crime and poverty: a 1931 "map of Chicago's gangland" by Bruce-Roberts, Inc. notes Locust and Sedgwick as "Death Corner": "50 murders: count 'em".[1]
As gentrification began to take hold of the city in the early 1990s, the land on which Cabrini–Green sat became extremely valuable, and one by one, the buildings met the wrecking ball to make way for new development. Destruction of the "reds" began in 1995. The final Cabrini-Green tower was demolished amid much fanfare in Spring 2011.[2]
Gold Coast
Main article: Gold Coast Historic District (Chicago, Illinois)
Chicago's Gold Coast Beaches
The Gold Coast consists mostly of high-rise apartment buildings on Lake Shore Drive, facing Lake Michigan, but also includes low-rise residential blocks, inland. As with many neighborhoods, its exact borders are subject to dispute; but, generally they extend from North Avenue, south, to Division Street and west to Clark Street; and, it also includes the areas east of State Street, south, to Oak Street and east of Michigan Avenue, south, to Walton Place.[citation needed]
The Gold Coast became the home of the super-rich in 1885, when Potter Palmer, former dry goods merchant and owner of the Palmer House hotel, built a fanciful castle on Lake Shore Drive. Over the next few decades, Chicago's elite gradually migrated from Prairie Avenue to their new homes north of the Loop.
Along almost every boulevard of the Gold Coast, upscale boutiques and shops have opened up. Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Hermès, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Cartier SA, Van Cleef & Arpels, Yves Saint Laurent, Harry Winston, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Stuart Weitzman, Rolex, Max Mara, Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Paul Stuart, Betsey Johnson, and Lilly Pulitzer are just a few of the dozens of designers that have locations in the exclusive neighborhood. Also, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche, and Bugatti have dealership locations in the Gold Coast.
The "Gold Coast Historic District" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 30, 1978.
Gold Coast is zoned to the following Chicago Public Schools schools: Ogden School, O.A. Thorp Scholastic Academy (a magnet school) and Lincoln Park High School.
Old Town
Main article: Old Town, ChicagoOld Town is a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, bounded by the Ogden Avenue right-of-way on the northwest, Larrabee Street on the west, Division Street on the south, Clybourn Avenue on the southwest and Clark Steet on the east and northeast. It crosses portions of the community areas of southern Lincoln Park, as well the northern Near North Side, and is part of Chicago's 43rd ward. Old Town includes the Old Town Triangle Historic District. The Old Town Triangle Historic District is bounded on its northwest side by the former Ogden Avenue right-of-way,[3] its northeast side by Lincoln Avenue and Wells Street, and on its south side by North Avenue.[4] This historic district sits within the Old Town Triangle Association (OTTA), a Lincoln Park neighborhood bounded by the former Ogden Avenue right-of-way, Clark Street and North Avenue. It sits inside the community area of Lincoln Park and is part of Chicago's 43rd ward. Old Town north of North Avenue is in Lincoln Park, and south of North Avenue is part of the Near North Side. It is now an affluent gentrified neighborhood. Old Town south of North Avenue is a mixture of rich and poor with CHA housing projects (including Marshall Field Apartments and parts of Cabrini–Green) as well as gentrified areas.
Old Town is today considered an affluent and historic neighborhood, home to many of Chicago's older, Victorian-era buildings.In the 1950s, the majority of this area was an enclave to the first Puerto Ricans to emigrate to Chicago. They referred to this area as part of "La Clark" until commercialization decorated late 1960s shop signs with the name of Old Town. The neighborhood is home to St. Michael's Church, originally a Bavarian-built church, and one of 7 to survive the path of the Great Chicago Fire. St. Michael's, Holy Name Cathedral, Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph's catered also to Latinos with Spanish speaking masses.
The neighborhood is also home to the famed The Second City improvisational comedy troupe. Many of the streets and alleys, particularly in the Old Town Triangle section, predate the Great Chicago Fire and do not all adhere to a typical Chicago grid pattern. In 1927, sculptors Sol Kogen and Edgar Miller purchased and subsequently rehabilited a house on Burton Place, near Wells Street, into the Carl Street Studios. Through the 1930s, an art colony emerged in the neighborhood as artists moved from the Towertown neighborhood near Washington Square Park.
Old Town was also home to many gays & lesbians from the 1950s through the 1980s. There were numerous gay bars lining Wells Street (all of them closed now). This was the first "gay ghetto" in Chicago, predating the current Lake View neighborhood (which is the current epicentre of gay life). As the area gentrified, the gays moved further north to Lincoln Park and then Lake View neighborhoods.
Old Town has one Brown-Purple Line El station at 1536-40 North Sedgwick Avenue. It is one of the oldest standing stations on the 'L'.
Goose Island
Main article: Goose Island (Chicago)Goose Island is the only island on the Chicago River. It is separated from the mainland by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east. The canal was dug in 1853 by former Chicago mayor William Butler Ogden for industrial purposes, thus forming the island. Because he formed the island, at times, it has been known as William B. Ogden Island. After Irish immigrants moved to the island, it took on the name Goose Island as well as Kilgubbin, which was the immigrants' original home in Ireland. The Goose Island Brewery makes Kilgubbin Red Ale, in honor of this name.[3]
The large facility on the north end of the island (visible from North Avenue, but only reachable from the south: Division Street to North Branch to 1132 W. Blackhawk) is the Wrigley Global Innovation Center, a 193,000-square-foot (17,900 m2) facility, which opened in September 2005 and was designed by Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum.
On the south end of the island is Kendall College's Riverworks campus.
River North
Main article: River North Gallery District, Near North Side, Chicago
the former Chicago Sun-Times Building (site of current Trump International Hotel and Tower), Wrigley Building and Tribune TowerRiver North is a neighborhood in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. It is bound by Michigan Avenue to the east, Chicago Avenue to the north, and the Chicago River to the south and west.
History of River North:
The River North neighborhood got its name from Chicago real estate developer Albert Friedman (chief executive of Friedman Properties Ltd.), who in 1974 started to buy, restore and build commercial property in the southeast sector[4]. Much of the area was skid row at the time, so in an effort to attract tenants Friedman started calling the area "River North"[5]. Within a few years, Friedman found photographers, ad agencies and art galleries willing to rent the low cost space and coalesce into what is now the The River North Gallery District[6], which has the largest concentration of art galleries in the United States outside of Manhattan.[7] Along with hundreds of art galleries, the area holds many bars, dance clubs, popular restaurants, and entertainment venues.Subsections of River North include:
- the gallery district, primarily along Superior and Huron streets between Wells and Orleans;
- a theme-restaurant area with many tourist-oriented restaurants, surrounding Clark and Ontario;
- "the Cathedral District," an area with many new residential skyscapers surrounding Holy Name Cathedral (Catholic) and St. James Cathedral (Episcopal), located near State and Superior, and Huron and Wabash, respectively;
- a design district, with shops and showrooms selling commercial and luxury interior furnishings, in the blocks north of the Merchandise Mart; and
- Kingsbury Park, an area of newly built residential high-rises surrounding Montgomery Ward Park, at Erie Street and the Chicago River.
River North is serviced by four "L" train stations: the above-ground Chicago-Brown and Merchandise Mart-Brown stations and the below-ground Chicago-Red and Grand-Red stations.
Streeterville
Main article: Streeterville
Chicago River is the south border (right) of the Near North Side and Streeterville and the north border (left) of Chicago Loop, Lakeshore East and Illinois Center (from Lake Shore Drive's Link Bridge with Trump International Hotel and Tower at jog in the river in the center)Streeterville is the easternmost neighborhood in Chicago, north of the Chicago River. It is bounded by the river on the south, Michigan Avenue on the west, and Lake Michigan on the north and east.
Streeterville houses some of Chicago's tallest skyscrapers (such as the John Hancock Center) and most upscale stores, hotels, restaurants, as well as Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, School of Continuing Studies, Kellogg School of Management's downtown campus and School of Law. The Magnificent Mile portion of Michigan Avenue is part of Streeterville, as is the number one tourist attraction in Chicago, Navy Pier. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago is located here.
Magnificent Mile
Main article: Magnificent MileThe Magnificent Mile is a stretch of North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street in Streeterville. Although actually about three-quarters of a mile, the name "Magnificent Mile" has stuck.
Along this street is a mixture of luxury stores, restaurants, office buildings and hotels. The area has a high concentration of the city's major media firms and advertising agencies, including the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
It is the home of Chicago's famous Water Tower landmark, Water Tower Park with its historic clock, and the eight-level Water Tower Place shopping center which grew up next door to, and overshadowed, the comparatively diminutive landmark. The shopping center is anchored by Macy's North Michigan store. North of the shopping center can be found the famous John Hancock Center, the Art Deco Palmolive Building and the lavish Drake Hotel.
Washington Square
Main article: Washington Square Park, ChicagoWashington Square is a public square bounded by Dearborn, Clark, Delaware, and Walton streets. It was long known as "Bughouse Square," as orators of varying abilities often used its central platform for speeches. It is fronted on the north by the Newberry Library and partially bounded by the Washington Square landmark district. Immediately west of LaSalle Boulevard, separating this area from Cabrini–Green, is the Moody Bible Institute, and immediately east is Connors Park.
Census tract 811, a four-block (0.04 sq mi.) area located between State, Dearborn, Chicago, and Division and straddling Washington Square and the Gold Coast, had 3,718 residents in 2000, giving it a population density of 90,614.2 inhabitants per square mile (34,986.3 /km2) — the highest in Chicago.
Rush Street and Connors Park
Rush Street north of Chicago Avenue to Division Avenue has been a popular nightlife destination since the 1950s. Connors Park is a small, triangular park bounded by Rush, Wabash, Chestnut, and Delaware. Part of the Magnificent Mile district (west of Michigan, north of Chicago, east of State, and south of Oak), it has seen new development spilling over from Michigan Avenue. Much of the Loyola University Chicago Water Tower campus lies in this area.
SoNo (South of North Avenue)
The SoNo neighborhood is bordered by North Avenue, Halsted Street, the North Branch of the Chicago River and Division Street. It includes the North/Clybourn Red Line 'L' Stop as well as many nightclubs, the British School of Chicago, an Apple Store and some high rise housing. It is also home to the Weed Street District. This is a rapidly changing area with more and more retail going up as an extension of the big box stores on Clybourn Avenue and North Avenue. Lincoln Park is to the north and Cabrini–Green is to the southwest.
NEWCITY
NEWCITY is the name of a retail/housing development between Old Town and SoNo named for being the former site of the New City YMCA. It comprises the area between Old Town on the Near North Side and the SoNo neighborhood. It will consist of many retail stores and housing. It is bounded by Clybourn Avenue, Ogden Avenue, Halsted Street and Eastman Street on the south. Not related to the New City Community Area on the South Side.
Attractions
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
International Museum of Surgical Science
Centennial Fountain
Economy
Wrigley Building, the headquarters of the Wrigley CompanyThe Wrigley Company has its headquarters in the Wrigley Building.[8] The Tribune Company has its headquarters in the Tribune Tower.[9] Potbelly Sandwich Works has its headquarters in the Merchandise Mart complex.[10]
Google's Chicago offices are in the Dearborn Plaza building in the Near North Side.[11] Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have offices in the John Hancock Center.[12][13]
After American Airlines acquired Simmons Airlines, and before Simmons was dissolved, Simmons had its headquarters in the Near North Side.[14] At one point Indigo Airlines was headquartered in the Near North Side.[15]
Diplomatic missions
Several consulates reside in the Near North Side. The main building and visa office of the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China are in the Near North Side;[16][17] other countries with missions in the Near North Side include Austria,[18] Bosnia and Herzegovina,[19] Brazil,[20] Bulgaria,[21] Chile,[22] Colombia,[23] Denmark,[24] Egypt,[25] Germany,[26] Greece,[27] India,[28] Republic of Ireland,[29] Italy,[30] Japan,[31] South Korea,[32] Lithuania,[33] Poland,[34] Serbia,[35] Switzerland,[36] Thailand,[37] the United Kingdom,[38] and Ukraine.[39]
Three trade missions have offices at 500 North Michigan Avenue; the Austrian Trade Commission is located in Suite 1950,[40] the Trade Commission of Spain and the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce Midwest is located in Suite 506.[41]
Education
Colleges and universities
Northwestern University School of Law
Northwestern University Medical School
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago Graduate School of Business, School of Social Work, Institute of Pastoral Studies, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and School of Communication
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
University of Chicago's Booth School of Business Gleacher Center
Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago
Primary and secondary schools
Chicago Public Schools serves residents of the Near North Side.
Ogden International School of Chicago - East Campus (primary school)
Latin School of Chicago (private)
Adult education
Feltre School
Libraries
Chicago Public Library Near North Branch
Chicago Public Library Water Works Branch
Notable residents
- Robert Halperin, Olympic and Pan American Games yachting medalist, college and professional football player, one of Chicago's most-decorated World War II heroes, and Chairman of Commercial Light Co.
- Suzanne Le Mignot, television news anchor and reporter
References
- ^ Map of Chicago's Gangland, 1931
- ^ "Cabrini-Green Demolition". Huffington Post. March 30, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/cabrini-green-demolition-_n_842473.html.
- ^ Maggio, Alice (2005-05-26). "Ask the Librarian: Goose Island". Gapers Block. http://www.gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/goose_island/. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ Diesenhouse, Susan (2008). "River North: From gritty roots to urban chic". www.chicagotribune.com (Chicago Tribune). http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/communities/chi-river-north_chomes_0711jul11,0,1786787.story. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ Diesenhouse, Susan (2008). "River North: From gritty roots to urban chic". www.chicagotribune.com (Chicago Tribune). http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/communities/chi-river-north_chomes_0711jul11,0,1786787.story. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ Diesenhouse, Susan (2008). "River North: From gritty roots to urban chic". www.chicagotribune.com (Chicago Tribune). http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/communities/chi-river-north_chomes_0711jul11,0,1786787.story. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ "2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Runner Information". www.chicagomarathon.com. LaSalle Bank. 2007. http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400Min/Chicago_Marathon/runner_information/index.aspx?id=486. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
- ^ "Contact Us." Wrigley Company. Retrieved on June 26, 2010.
- ^ Home page. Tribune Company. Retrieved on December 23, 2009.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions." Potbelly Sandwich Works. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.
- ^ "Google Offices". Google. http://www.google.com/corporate/address.html. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ "Our offices." (Select United States of America) Etihad Airways. Retrieved on 11 February 2010.
- ^ "Chicago." Qatar Airways. Retrieved on February 9, 2009.
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 14–20, 1990. 127.
- ^ "contact us". Indigo Airlines. November 9, 2000. Archived from the original on November 9, 2000. http://web.archive.org/web/20001109111800/http://www.flyindigo.com/company/contact.html. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
- ^ "Contacts". Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago. http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/gywm/t378411.htm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Education Section's Map". Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago. http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/gywm/t40554.htm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Consulate General". Consulate-General of Austria in Chicago. http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/chicago/the-consulate-general.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Consular Information". Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina Washington, D.C.. http://www.bhembassy.org/consular_information.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Location". Consulate-General of Brazil in Chicago. http://www.brazilconsulatechicago.org/en-1-1-0.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Holidays". Consulate-General of Bulgaria in Chicago. http://www.bgconsulchicago.net/holidays.cfm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Oficinas Consulares en Estados Unidos". Embassy of Chile in Washington, D.C.. http://www.chile-usa.org/consular.htm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Dirección". Consulate-General of Colombia in Chicago. http://www.consulcolombia.us/nuestroconsulado.php?area=direccion. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Home page". Consulate-General of Denmark in Chicago. http://www.gkchicago.um.dk/en. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Visa and Other Consular Services". Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C.. http://www.egyptembassy.net/servicevisa.cfm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Address, Contact and Office Hours". Consulate-General of Germany in Chicago. http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/03__Consulates/Chicago/01/__Data.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Us". Consulate-General of Greece in Chicago. http://www.greekembassy.org/embassy/content/en/Contact.aspx?office=6. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Home page". Consulate-General of India in Chicago. http://chicago.indianconsulate.com/. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Welcome!". Consulate-General of Ireland in Chicago. http://www.irishconsulate.org/home/index.aspx?id=48549. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "The Consulate General". Consulate-General of Italy in Chicago. http://www.conschicago.esteri.it/Consolato_Chicago/Menu/Il_Consolato/. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Home Page". Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago. http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Us". Consulate-General of South Korea in Chicago. http://www.chicagoconsulate.org/en/contactus.php. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Consular Information". Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, D.C.. http://www.ltembassyus.org/index.php?1942687935. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "General Info". Consulate-General of Poland in Chicago. http://www.polishconsulatechicago.org/index.asp?page=gInfo. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Contact". Consulate-General of Serbia in Chicago. http://www.scgchicago.org/english/contact.htm. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Consulate General Chicago". Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. http://www.eda.admin.ch/chicago. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago". Consulate-General of Thailand in Chicago. http://www.thaichicago.net/clate/contactus.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Chicago". UK in the USA. http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/our-offices-in-the-us/other-locationsin-us/chicago/. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Index". Consulate-General of Ukraine in Chicago. http://www.ukrchicago.com/index_us.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Other Austrian Offices". Consulate-General of Austria in Chicago. http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/chicago/the-consulate-general/other-austrian-offices.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
- ^ "Chicago". SkyTeam. http://www.skyteam.com/go/chicago/business.html. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
External links
- Streeterville Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Chicago's Comprehensive Website
- Gold Coast Neighbors Association
- Chicago Landmarks Commission map of landmarks and landmark districts on the near north side
- Chicago Park District:
- Navy Pier
- Travel Essay on River North by Max Grinnell
- La Clark neighborhood and Young Lords origins
- Friedman Properties
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