Wicker Park West Town, Chicago

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.