West Town

West Town is number 24 of 77 community areas officially recognized by the City of Chicago. Bound by Bloomingdale on the north, Kinzie on the south, the Chicago River to the east, and a western edge that goes as far as Kedzie, West Town actually contains several distinct neighborhoods within itself, including Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, East Village, Noble Square, and River West. There are approximately 87,000 residents in West Town and these folks have an average yearly income of $38,915. Originally, the area was home to large populations of Germans, Russian Jews, Ukrainians, Poles, and Scandinavians. The Ukrainian immigrants especially left their mark on the area that would become Ukrainian Village with the construction of architecturally grand churches including the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, which was designed by Louis Sullivan. In the later years of the twentieth century, West Town became home to many Latino immigrants, who used the neighborhood as a port of entry into the USA. Near the century’s turn, West Town also became home to a large and vibrant arts community, which led to the gentrification the district has seen, especially in Bucktown and Wicker Park.

These days, West Town houses some of the most desirable real estate on Chicago’s North Side. Prices were affordable here for a while, but are climbing steadily. Average home prices in Bucktown and Wicker Park have been nearing the $500,000 lately, although there are still deals out there for those willing to hunt. The area is now home to many trendy shops and boutiques, restaurants, and nightclubs that make West Town more attractive to more upscale Chicagoans. One of the hotbeds of nighttime activity is the intersection of North, Damen, and Milwaukee, which now contains all manner of shops, restaurants, and clubs, including the famous Double Door live music nightclub.

The future of West Town is probably the same as the future for most North Side and near West Side city areas, namely continued gentrification and demographic change. Currently, however, those moving here can still find spots with a residential neighborhood feel and not have to deal with the overcrowding and gridlock found in more popular areas like Lincoln Park. Any West Town real estate agent will be able to assist potential buyers with determining if this is the right part of the city for them and, if it is, in finding their dream home here.

Mike O'Cull