Neighborhoods West Town, Chicago

1 neighborhoods

1.1 pulaski park
1.2 wicker park
1.3 ukrainian village
1.4 east village
1.5 river west
1.6 noble square
1.7 east humboldt park
1.8 smith park

neighborhoods
pulaski park

pulaski park neighborhood directly west of goose island , east of wicker park. accepted boundaries of pulaski park ashland (1600 w) west, chicago river , elston avenue east, bloomingdale line on north, , chicago (800 n) on south (although people extend southern border division street).

pulaski park derives name historic park , fieldhouse designed jens jensen between 1912 , 1914. 1,200 people displaced, leading razing of number of buildings while others moved nearby locations in neighborhood. park , fieldhouse listed on national register of historic places on august 13, 1981. became official chicago landmark on july 29, 2003.

the neighborhood borders on polonia triangle considered center of chicago s polish downtown, city s oldest , prominent polish settlement, functioning capital of american polonia. because of this, headquarters of many major polish organizations in united states found in pulaski park such polish national alliance, polish daily news , polish women s alliance. pulaski park listed within polonia triangle 1 of 11 neighborhoods included in labor trail chronicles chicago s history of working class life , struggle. neighborhood home 2 of chicago s polish cathedrals: st. stanislaus kostka , holy trinity polish mission.

pulaski park area of west town served chicago congressman dan rostenkowski s base of operations. family still owns building opposite st. stanislaus kostka church @ 1372 evergreen ran operations. although pulaski park has declined heady days part of city s polish downtown, entire west town area has undergone renaissance gentrification has transformed area.

this area s higher population density gave more working-class population wicker park. opposed other areas of west town, of original housing stock of pulaski park has not been torn down new construction in recent years.

wicker park

wicker park chicago neighborhood northwest of loop, south of bucktown , west of pulaski park. charles , joel wicker purchased 80 acres (32 ha) of land along milwaukee avenue in 1870 , laid out subdivision mix of lot sizes surrounding 4-acre (1.6 ha) park. great chicago fire of 1871 spurred first wave of development, homeless chicagoans looked build new houses.

before turn of twentieth century, germans , scandinavians tended live in area s north , northwestern sections. wicker park became abode of chicago s wealthy northern european immigrants. district proved popular merchants, built large mansions along neighborhood s choicest streets—particularly on hoyne , pierce, southwest of north & damen, known robey. hoyne known beer baron row, many of chicago s wealthiest brewers built mansions there.

with end of 19th century area subsumed surrounding polish downtown , area adjacent park gave neighborhood name became known polish gold coast . in 1890s , 1900s, immigration poland , completion of metropolitan west side elevated lines boosted population density of west town, in areas east of wicker park. area around division, milwaukee, , ashland once known kostkaville , , intersection retains moniker polish triangle day. provisional government of poland met in wicker park during world war i. near northwest side home many of opulent churches in archdiocese of chicago, built in so-called polish cathedral style .

the intersections of north ave, damen , milwaukee in 2010

polish immigration area accelerated during , after world war ii when many 150,000 poles estimated have arrived between 1939 , 1959 displaced persons (dps). ukrainians in neighboring ukrainian village, clustered in established ethnic enclaves 1 offered shops, restaurants, , banks people spoke language. division street referred polish broadway. poet john guzlowski parents first came area dps commented on growing in area in 1950s felt pole , place local store owners, priests, cops, trash men, teachers, librarians either spoke polish or had family did.

nelson algren s literary output lionized division street strip in books such man golden arm , never come morning focusing on stories of junkies, gamblers, hookers, , drunks in polish ghetto. writing area s polish american underclass against background of prevalent anti-immigrant xenophobia taken poles blatant anti-polonism. , resulted in book never come morning being banned decades chicago public library system on massive outcry chicago polonia. later controversies commemorate algren bring these old wounds surface, when polonia triangle renamed honor deceased author.

beginning in 1960s, wicker park began change radically. completion of kennedy expressway in 1960, construction had displaced many residents , torn holes in sustaining network of polish-american churches, settlement houses, , neighborhood groups. additionally puerto ricans , other latinos displaced urban renewal in old town , lincoln park began moving in. in 1960 latinos comprised less 1 percent of west town s population, 1970 number 39 percent. split lincoln park neighborhood kennedy expressway in late 1950s , 1960s, contained second-largest concentration of puerto ricans in chicago. original home largest latino gang @ time, latin kings. young lords, human rights movement, held sit-ins l.a.d.o. @ wicker park welfare office , large nonviolent marches city hall. urban renewal projects undertaken combat urban blight in parts of neighborhood, disinvestment continued @ rapid clip downtown banks redlined west town of mid-20th century. wicker park promoted city s urban renewal plans, suburb within city because of easy access downtown, via milwaukee , elevated train (via damen , division stations). chicago , wicker park reached nadir in 1970s, decade when city overall lost 11% of population. during 1970s, hundreds of cases of insurance-motivated arson reported in wicker park, near st. elizabeth hospital. many small factories near area (many in woodworking) closed or moved away.

efforts community development groups northwest community organization (nco) stabilize community through new affordable-housing construction in 1980s coincided arrival of artists attracted neighborhood s easy access loop, cheap loft space in abandoned factories, , distinctly urban feel.

in 1989, around coyote festival launched hundreds of working artists , micro-galleries in neighborhood gain level of local , international prominence. 501(c)3 non-profit established mission bring art community professional organization artists network , exhibit art. decades, festival centered on flatiron arts building , typically held during month of october, chicago s artist month. of 2008 around coyote revised preferred locations annual festival, in 2008 held coincidentally looptopia in may in chicago s loop.

view of north avenue in wicker park

today, neighborhood best known numerous commercial , entertainment establishments , being convenient place live downtown workers due proximity public transportation , loop. gentrification has made area more attractive college-educated white-collar workers, although faced considerable resistance working-class puerto rican community displaced. crime has drastically decreased , many new homes have been built older homes being restored. area has become desirable neighborhhood , has led increased business activity, many new bars, restaurants, , stores opening serve individuals. neighborhood known hosting local art stores , independent businesses. property values have gone up, increasing wealth of property owners , making neighborhood attractive real estate investors.

the borders of neighborhood accepted north avenue north (at 1600 n) (but official boundary bloomingdale trail train tracks north of north), kennedy expressway on east north of north avenue , chicago river south of north avenue, division south (at 1200 n), , western avenue west (2400 w). both east village , ukrainian village south, humboldt park west, , bucktown north.

notable past , current residents include nelson algren, lived on third floor @ 1958 w. evergreen ave between 1959–1975, liz phair, penned first album exile in guyville in , wicker park, james iha, former guitarist of band smashing pumpkins, pro wrestler colt cabana can seen on wwe smackdown scotty goldman, , singer/guitarist matt skiba of alkaline trio. pro wrestler cm punk of world wrestling entertainment resides in wicker park. of wicker park designated chicago landmark district in 1991.

wicker park setting of 2004 film same name. however, filming of movie done on location in montreal, quebec. film of note uses wicker park background high fidelity (2000) directed stephen frears , starring evanston-born john cusack. former independent record company wax trax! records, pioneer in releasing industrial music, had offices in wicker park.

ukrainian village

the holy trinity russian orthodox cathedral in ukrainian village, seen in 1906.

ukrainian village chicago neighborhood located west of chicago s downtown , south of wicker park. boundaries division street north, grand avenue south, western avenue west, , damen avenue east.

ukrainian village, neighboring east village began farmland. german americans formed largest ethnic group in vicinity; however, turn of century neighborhood largely slavic. lithuanian downtown in chicago neighborhood of bridgeport, ukrainians settled in district because of familiarity poles lived in surrounding polish downtown. dense settlement of neighborhood largely spurred 1895 construction of elevated train line along paulina st (1700 w) later decommissioned in 1964.

over past half century, has remained middle-class neighborhood, populated largely older citizens of eastern european ethnicity, bordered (and affected) on many sides more dangerous areas. insulated surrounding socioeconomic change in large industrial areas on south , west borders strong fabric of ethnic institutions staying power of orthodox , ukrainian catholic congregations. these local ethnic institutions include ukrainian institute of modern art, ukrainian national museum, , ukrainian cultural center. although ukrainian village continues center of chicago s large ukrainian community, gentrification of west town rapidly changing demographic. ukrainian village continues home approximately 10,000 ethnic ukrainians.

other notable local landmarks include ss. volodymyr , olha ukrainian catholic church, st. nicholas ukrainian catholic cathedral, st. volodymyr ukrainian orthodox cathedral, roberto clemente high school, st mary s hospital, , holy trinity russian orthodox cathedral, latter having been commissioned st. john kochurov , designed famed architect louis sullivan.

on december 4, 2002, ukrainian village district, centering on haddon avenue, thomas street, , cortez street between damen , leavitt avenues, including portions of damen, hoyne , leavitt avenues, designated chicago landmark district. extensions district designated in 2005 , on april 11, 2007.

neighboring east village , area east of ukrainian village extending damen ashland, known east ukrainian village .

a few scenes popular russian movie 1990s, brother 2, filmed in , around ukrainian village.

east village

east village or east ukrainian village neighborhood directly east of ukrainian village. accepted boundaries of east village ashland (1600 w) on east, damen (2000 w) on west, division (1200 n) on north, , chicago (800 n) on south (although people extend southern border grand ave). east village association neighborhood group in 1984 identify boundaries division street chicago avenue , damen avenue milwaukee avenue (800 – 1600 w).

although german-americans largest ethnic group in area, 1890 poles clear majority, organized around dense network of roman catholic churches such holy innocents , other institutions within vicinity of polish downtown. these local fraternal , religious organizations helped new immigrants bearings. first home of sisters of holy family of nazareth, catholic order founded polish nun, on west division. while convent moved des plaines in 1908, saint mary of nazareth hospital sisters founded still remains.

east village s ethnic turnover coincided change in scale of real estate development, host of large residential buildings constructed between damen , ashland create densely packed blocks. east village s varied built environment juxtaposed ornamented queen anne two-flats alongside frame cottages, brick tenements, , greystone three-flats.

polish immigration area accelerated during , after world war ii when many 150,000 poles estimated have arrived between 1939 , 1959 displaced persons. ukrainians in neighboring ukrainian village, clustered in established ethnic enclaves 1 offered shops, restaurants, , banks people spoke language. division street referred polish broadway, teeming flophouses , gambling dens , polka clubs , workingman s bars gold star , phyllis musical inn .

nelson algren s literary output lionized division street strip in books such man golden arm , never come morning focusing on stories of junkies, gamblers, hookers, , drunks in polish ghetto. writing area s polish american underclass against background of prevalent anti-immigrant xenophobia taken poles blatant anti-polonism. , resulted in book never come morning being banned decades chicago public library system on massive outcry chicago polonia. later controversies commemorate algren bring these old wounds surface, when polonia triangle renamed honor deceased author.

in 1960s east village began change radically. completion of kennedy expressway in 1960, construction had displaced many residents , torn holes in sustaining network of polish-american churches, settlement houses, , neighborhood groups. additionally puerto ricans , other latinos displaced urban renewal in old town , lincoln park began moving in. in 1960 latinos comprised less 1 percent of west town s population, 1970 number 39 percent.

downtown banks redlined west town of mid-20th century. real estate values plummeted landlords neglected buildings , speculators sat on vacant land , abandoned property. small businesses along chicago avenues closed, , arson rate in east village high in 1976 mayor richard j. daley convened task force address crisis. polish exodus out of neighborhood followed kennedy expressway suburbs. northwest community organization founded in 1962 stem white flight promoting home ownership , integration between longtime eastern european residents , newcomers. institutional infrastructure held ukrainian village during 1970s , 1980s lacking in east village. of polish population had moved northwestward avondale , beyond, while latino community had begun organize around issues of affordable housing , other redevelopment strategies designed stave off displacement increasingly came conflict white artists , other urban-pioneer types 1980s constituted minor significant presence.

today neighborhood has been largely gentrified. east village s historic proximity elevated train , higher population density gave more working-class population ukrainian village, , of original housing stock has been torn down new construction in recent years. blocks bounded division street , chicago, hermitage , damen avenues designated chicago landmark district in 2006 , national register of historic places in 2009 preserve character these development pressures.

river west

st. john cantius church, 1 of city s many polish cathedrals.

the small area within west town east of kennedy expressway , west of north branch of chicago river, between division street (1200n) , grand avenue (500n) referred river west, complementing river north area of near north side. small area bisected elevated union pacific railroad tracks. contains several large loft buildings, converted in mid-1980s residential use; several housing developments; st. john cantius church; chicago academy arts located in st. john cantius former school; chicago tribune s freedom center printing facility; nightclubs , restaurants, , few blocks of historic residential areas.

noble square

noble square directly east of east village. accepted boundaries of noble square kennedy expressway on east, ashland (1600 w) on west, division (1200 n) on north, , chicago (800 n) or grand (500 n) on south. name apparently refers eckhart park, one-block square park @ northeast corner of chicago , noble (1400 w). identity may disappearing: real estate agents have been including northern half eastern section of wicker park, while southern end of neighborhood has been identified west town since around 2000. neighborhood listed west town in 19th-century census records.

erie neighborhood house, social service agency tracing roots settlement house movement of 19th century, has operated in neighborhood since 1870, providing services ranging childhood education , after-school programming esl , citizenship classes adults. historic location located near intersection of erie (650 n) , noble (1400 w).

east humboldt park

the western portion of west town community area commonly referred humboldt park or east humboldt park, though not in community area of name. 104-block area s boundaries western avenue east, chicago avenue south, north avenue north, , humboldt park, 208 acre park gives area name, west. area has become known east humboldt park indicate distinction humboldt park community area west of park itself.[1] perhaps best known paseo boricua, half-mile stretch of division street between western , california avenues. stretch of division bookended 2 59-foot (18 m)-tall steel puerto rican flags, , contains many puerto rican stores , restaurants. community resides here has made efforts, through community improvement work, resist forces of gentrification have moved them further west west town, wicker park, , ukrainian village. however, creatives, young professionals, , families priced out of adjacent wicker park , bucktown, humboldt park has increasingly become target of gentrification, , named tenth-hottest neighborhood in country redfin in 2014. additional commercial areas along north avenue, home large number of vintage clothing , mid-century furniture boutiques, , augusta avenue, has seen opening of number of destination restaurants.

smith park

smith park or patch lies within chicago s west town community. formal name comes city park on south border. bounded chicago avenue (800n) on north, grand avenue (550n) on south, western avenue (2400w) on east , washtenaw avenue (2700w) on west; majority of neighborhood sits within chicago s 26th ward, small portion part of 1st ward.

originally settled italian immigrants of various old country locales moved west little sicily area on sedgwick street, near cabrini–green housing projects built, , italian neighborhood along grand avenue corridor, old community many families have lived in neighborhood on 6 generations.

in 1929, when quarry had been converted large city dump in west town neighborhood had been filled, bureau of sanitation transferred part of site bureau of parks , recreation. city named area smith athletic field joseph higgins smith, alderman of surrounding 32nd ward 1914 1933. in 1959, city transferred smith park chicago park district, @ time artillery piece placed in park. wwii tank moved southeast corner of park in 1990s former home @ grand , western avenues. landmark chicagoans recognize smith park. park district added spraypool, swimming pool, , bathhouse in late 1960s , in 1979 large, modern fieldhouse constructed. 9 years later, park district dedicated gymnasium tom positano, high school student had been active @ park , posthumously received junior citizenship award.