Uptown

Location

Uptown is located north of downtown and only six miles north of the Loop.  The boundaries are Foster on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, Montrose and Irving Park on the south and Ravenswood and Clark on the west.  Uptown borders the Edgewater neighborhood to the North, Lincoln Square on the west and to the south is Lakeview.

It is another of the city’s widely diverse neighborhoods with approximately 63,500 persons of various ethnic backgrounds, economic statuses and religious beliefs calling the area home.

Real Estate

The average home price in the Uptown real estate market is $237,000 for approximately 1,600 square feet.  The neighborhood population is stable and has appreciating home values.

Transportation

There are bus and rail lines traversing the area making transportation anywhere in Uptown easy.  Red line train stops include Wilson Avenue, Lawrence Avenue, Argyle Street.  Brown Line train stops include Montrose and Irving Park.  Finally, Chicago’s Metra line stops at Lawrence Avenue and takes about fifteen minutes to downtown.  There are also taxis and other transportation conveniences.

Schools

The Uptown area is home to many schools to meet your family’s educational needs.  From public, private, magnet and colleges, there is a school for all budgets and needs.

Entertainment / Restaurants / Shopping

The entertainment district is a popular tourist destination.  It is home to music venues, nightclubs, restaurants and retail shopping with new businesses opening yearly.  At the center of the district is Uptown Square which was designated a as a National Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.  Many Uptown locations are famous locations tied to gangsters’ such as John Dillinger and Al Capone.  Local venues include the Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre and Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, home to the jazz of the 20’s and 30’s and the Big Band era of the next two decades.

Argyle Street is home to many Asian grocers and ethnic retailers that sell unique Asian products.  With the revitalization of Uptown, there are many new restaurants including Marigold, Fat Cat and Agami not to mention popular retailers like Borders.

Festivals / Parks / Recreation

Uptown features Montrose and Foster public beaches, a dog beach and a marina for boaters.  The Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club calls Montrose Harbor home and you can rent a boat for extra fun.  The area is also home to an extensive park system.  Uptown’s main park is Lincoln Park, featuring soccer and athletic fields, bird sanctuary, a sledding hill, a segment of the Chicago bicycle/running path, dog park and skate park.  Chase, Clarendon and Margate Parks also feature indoor sport facilities, athletic fields and playgrounds, an outdoor pool and tennis courts.  Margate Park caters to families and includes a children’s soccer field and interactive playground (special bonus to parents, there’s a parking lot).

History

Uptown became known as a wealthy playground in the late 19th century when the affluent wanted to escape life in the city and soak up the breezes from Lake Michigan.  At the turn of the century, permanent residents began to take hold and all of the trains from downtown ended in uptown.  Uptown soon became a hotspot for entertainment.