Top 5 West Town Real Estate Neighborhood News Stories - December 2019
/1) Holiday Cheer at West Town + Near Northwest Side Neighborhood Shops
Holidays On the Square in Logan Square - Recycled by Robin
The holidays are upon us, and the frenzy for finding unique gifts and deals is in full swing. Local neighborhood chambers, including the West Town Chamber of Commerce and Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, have dedicated a day in December to encourage residents to shop local. Both “Shop the Blocks” in West Town and “Holidays on The Square” in Logan Square took place Saturday, December 7 in an effort to boost holiday shopping among small neighborhood businesses. Holiday shoppers who are still looking to support local businesses, while ticking off gifts from their list, need look no further. The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Window Wonderland,” a festive, holiday-themed shopping promotion in which many of the neighborhood stores are participating with holiday window displays and gifts. Shoppers who make purchases at participating stores through December 30 will receive a WPB passport. These participating stores will stamp the passport and shoppers will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card.
2) Follow the Yellow Brick Road in Humboldt Park
Yellow Brick Road in Humboldt Park
Noted author L. Frank Baum known for penning “The Wondeful Wizard of Oz” and who lived in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood while writing this famed story, is being honored with a 200 foot long yellow brick sidewalk along the side of his childhood home. The site now houses nine affordable housing units built in the 1980s which were rehabbed this year. The units are owned and were rehabbed by Bickerdike Redevelopment, which focuses on the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. The commemorative yellow brick road piece will be augmented with a tile mosaic mural by Chicago artist Hector Duarte which will be titled “There’s No Place Like Home.”
3) Humboldt Park Investment Could Draw More Creatives
If all goes to plan for developer Gary Pachuck of IBT Group, Humboldt Park could soon rise as the next “it” neighborhood. The developer is under contract to purchase three warehouses on the 1300 block of N. Kostner Ave. amounting to more than 6 acres of space. The project, which he is calling Humboldt Lit, will serve as a mixed use campus, with more than 240,000 square feet of office and retail space, plus an acre dedicated to outdoor green space. It is estimated to cost around $50 million to develop this campus that Pachuck envisions being a creative workspace with coffee shops and bike shops. The development could also attract home buyers who have their eyes on Humboldt Park for their next home purchase.
4) Historic Church Changed to Residential Living Space
A neighborhood church in Ukrainian village is the site of another adaptive reuse project in Chicago. St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 921 N. Hoyne Avenue, which was built in 1905, is now a nine-unit condo building called “The Revival.” As its name suggests, this landmark building has been transformed and given new life. Purchased in 2013 by Regency Development Group and developed by the same company, the property features three- and four- bedroom units priced between $579,000 and $1.3 million. For those looking to purchase a high-end condo in West Town, the unique touches in this church-turned-condo building could make it a strong contender among the housing inventory in the neighborhood. The project is listed by @properties.
5) More Flavors and Creative Drinks Spice Up West Town Dining
Porto West Town Chicago
The team behind Beatnik opened their latest concept in West Town called Porto, 1600 W Chicago Ave., earlier this month. The restaurant and wine bar focuses on Spanish-Portuguese seafood dishes. Similar to Beatnik, the team has given as much attention to its interior decor as its menu, with vibrant colors, textures and detail.
Just down the street on Chicago Ave. is another new neighborhood restaurant, Fry The Coop. The Nashville hot chicken mini-chain occupies the space that formerly held Mexique by Chef Carlos Gaytan. The restaurant, which first opened a location in Oak Lawn in 2017, offers a selection of sandwiches and a range of spice levels. Both the chicken and fries are cooked in beef fat to enhance flavor, according to owner Joe Fontana. Vegetarian options are limited, but there are off-menu selections for meat-free eaters.
Fry the Coop West Town
As new dining options continue to be added in Logan Square, one long-time resident wanted to bring some authentic and affordable Middle Eastern food to the mix by opening Yaba’s Middle Eastern Grill, 3011 W Armitage Ave, in the back of his grocery store, Plaza Food Mart. Owner Ghaleb Masoud has lived in the area for three decades and is hoping to draw in long-time customers and new ones with dishes like gyros, falafel, shawarma and spinach pies. The family-owned concept emphasizes homemade Middle Eastern food and a menu with plenty of vegetarian options.
The Dandy Crown, 694 N Milwaukee Ave., just opened its doors in River West and is a new cocktail bar by husband and wife team Julia Shell and Jamie Hale. While it’s a cocktail-forward bar with classics as well as new creations, the drinks menu will also feature wine and beer, including local and regional craft beers. Come spring, patrons can enjoy the bar’s 130-seat beer garden.
Connect with a Local Real Estate Expert.
Buy or Sell a Home in West Town or Logan Square.
Call 312-767-7504 Today!
Michael Samm
West Town Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty Chicago
312-767-7504
