Edgewater, Chicago
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| 'Image:Edgewaterbeach.jpg | ||
| Image:Gerald Farinas Edgewater Chicago Loyola University Chicago Rockhurst Hall.jpg | ||
Community Area 77 - Edgewater Location within the city of Chicago | ||
| Latitude Longitude | ||
| Neighborhoods | ||
| ZIP Code | 60660 and part of 60640 | |
| Area | 7.07 km² (2.73 mi²) | |
| Population (2000) Density | 62,198 (up 2.46% from 1990) 13,962.1 /km² | |
| Demographics | White Black Hispanic Asian Other | 47.9% 17.0% 19.6% 11.5% 9.93% |
| Median income | $35,766 | |
| Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services | ||
Edgewater is a north Chicago, Illinois, community seven miles north of downtown bordering the neighborhoods of Rogers Park to the north, Uptown to the south, Lincoln Square to the west and south and West Ridge to the west and north. As one of Chicago’s 77 community areas, Edgewater has officially defined boundaries: Foster on the south, Devon on the north, Ravenswood on the west, and Lake Michigan on the east. Edgewater contains several beaches that residents enjoy in the warm months. Historically, Edgewater was once part of Lake View Township, an independent, self-governing suburb of Chicago.
Edgewater has the highest population density of any of the neighborhoods in Chicago. Also, affirming the reputation of Lakeview and its Lake View East Boystown enclave as being a center of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender culture, the zip code 60640, one of two zip codes in Edgewater (the other being 60660), has the highest concentration of gay and lesbian couples in the city, and fifth highest in the country[citation needed].
Edgewater was first developed around the 1890s as a summer home for Chicago's elite. With the exception of pockets acknowledged as historic districts (like the Bryn Mawr Historic District), Edgewater (actually, Edgewater Beach) boasts a skyline of apartment buildings, condominium complexes, and mid-rise homes. Edgewater Beach is highlighted by two main corridors: North Winthrop Avenue and North Kenmore Avenue to Loyola University Chicago. Winthrop and Kenmore are rehabilitated areas with homes touched up to harken back to Edgewater's glory days.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early settlers
Developers began cutting down the dense woods in the area in the late 1880s to make way for future development. In 1885, Edgewater was given its name by its builder, John Lewis Cochran. He built the first residential subdivision in the area. After a few years, Edgewater was celebrated as a wonder as it became "the only electric lighted suburb adjacent to Chicago". Edgewater also gained fame as the celery-growing capital of America's Midwest.
[edit] The turn of the century
In the early 1900s, Edgewater was regarded as one of Chicago's most prestigious communities. A prominent symbol of Edgewater's affluence was the Edgewater Beach Hotel, which opened in 1916 at 5349 North Sheridan. The famed pink hotel was demolished in 1968, though the remaining pink Edgewater Beach Apartments building is still a landmark at the north tip of Lake Shore Drive. The Edgewater building boom peaked in 1926 and property values reached their height in 1928. The burgeoning affluent population grew so much that developers expanded Edgewater and renamed the new neighborhood community Uptown.
[edit] Revival
Uptown's population declined in the 1950s as Chicago's suburbs were developed and opened, absorbing Chicago's middle and upper classes. With the flight of residents came disrepair and high crime rates for what once was one of the most affluent districts of Chicago.
In the 1980s, the Chicago Board of Aldermen and local business owners orchestrated a revival for the Edgewater community. Edgewater seceded from the Uptown community and once again called itself its own community. New businesses were brought into the community, old buildings were refurbished and homes touched up to harken back to Edgewater's past.
[edit] Gay and lesbian community
An unexpected influx of gay and lesbian residents has recently moved in and land values have skyrocketed. The community now boasts one of the largest gay and lesbian populations in the United States. It shares that distinction with neighboring community areas of Lakeview, home of Boystown, and Rogers Park. Edgewater is home to the Gerber/Hart Library, the largest gay and lesbian library and archives in the midwestern United States.
Kathy Osterman Beach (more commonly referred to as Hollywood Beach - named after Hollywood Ave where it is situated) is a hugely popular hangout for gays/lesbians during the summer months.
[edit] International community
The highrise condominiums that line Sheridan Rd. and the Lake were known to have large numbers of retired and elderly persons, many living on fixed incomes. The prices have been more affordable than Lake Shore Drive addresses farther south. Meanwhile, Kenmore and Winthrop streets a couple blocks west suffered in mixed conditions of poverty and crime that were a far cry from their prior prestige. Recognizing the value of lakefront living close to the Red Line elevated train, conditions began an improvement and influx of residents. Many of Edgewater's new residents are from Africa and the former Yugoslavia. The area has a great density of Bosnian, Serb and Croat residents. These people, troubled by civil war and tough conditions in their homeland, have been encouraged to settle in the area. The city is known for accepting new, thriving enclaves of ethnicities in centuries past. This new settlement of Europeans is a modern revival of that tradition.
Meanwhile, Edgewater is also home to a large African community. Ethnic Ethiopians, newly independent Eritreans, and Nigerians, to name a few, live and socialize in Edgewater. Due to increased restrictions on the industry, taxis must park on main (non-residential) streets or spots with meters. Consequently, Broadway is often full of taxis parked there by their African immigrant operators. (The African community also extends farther north into the Rogers Park and Loyola University areas.) Walk the streets of Edgewater and one will mix with women in traditional African dress and Serbian grandmothers strolling with their grandchildren while the middle generation is out making a living in the new world of Chicago.
Native Americans, former Yugoslavians, Africans of every part, young hipsters, new parents, first-time homeowners, students and many more make their home in Edgewater. The average resident is beyond classification.
Devon Avenue (pronounced somewhat like "De-VAHN") marks the northern boundary of Edgewater & for many years was a heavily Jewish area. Today there are still a few Jewish businesses on Devon, but most have left the area along with the Jewish population in general. Devon Avenue is still much alive today, now known for its amazing concentration of Indian and Pakistani restaurants & retailers.
[edit] Neighborhoods
[edit] Andersonville
Andersonville is a neighborhood (located in the Edgewater community area) on the North Side of Chicago, about five miles (8 km) north-northwest of the city's downtown. Once a sleepy little village made up primarily of Swedish immigrants, Andersonville is now one of Chicago's most popular neighborhoods. The community is particularly known for its diversity, including a continued Swedish cultural presence led by the Swedish American Museum, the Swedish Bakery and other Swedish delicatessens.[1] A significant number of Middle-Eastern businesses, a new influx of families with children, and a large gay and especially lesbian population also makes this a very diverse population (showcased in the 1994 lesbian themed movie Go Fish). It is also known for its unique commercial district, made up almost entirely of locally owned, independent shops, restaurants, cafes, taverns, a chocolatier, and service providers.
The approximate street boundaries of Andersonville are Magnolia Avenue to the east, Ravenswood Avenue to the west, Winnemac Avenue to the south, and Victoria Avenue to the north. The heart of the Andersonville commercial district is the corner of Clark and Foster (5200 North Clark).
The main shopping street is North Clark Street, which runs roughly north-south. The stretch of North Clark Street south of West Foster Avenue is sometimes called South Foster, or SoFo. The stretch north of Bryn Mawr still retains a good number of Hispanic-owned business as well as some restaurants and cafes serving Andersonville's more recent transplants.
In 2006, merchants along N. Clark street have seen significant increases in commercial property taxes, causing these independent shops to struggle. Though the residential property taxes have risen in the area, they have not skyrocketed like the commercial district in downtown Andersonville. Reported by the Chicago Reader this summer.
[edit] Sheridan Road
Sheridan Road, which follows the lakefront in Edgewater is the main throughfare for traffic to/from Lake Shore Drive. Lake Shore Drive ends at Hollywood Avenue where all traffic is routed onto either Hollywood or Sheridan Road.
North of Ardmore Avenue (5800 N) to Devon Avenue (6400 N) there is no lakefront park at all. This portion of Sheridan Road is a canyon of high-rise residential buildings lining both sides of the street including Hollywood Towers, The Malibu, Malibu East, Eastpoint Tower, The Tiara, Granville Beach, Shoreline Towers & Sheridan Point. Most of these towers were built in the late 1950's to early 1970's. Many offer balconies, some buildings even have private beaches. TV's Bob and Emily Hartley of The Bob Newhart Show called this area home, residing in the Thorndale Beach Apartments, 5901 N. Sheridan Road.
There are a handful of mansions still remaining on Sheridan Road, most though were razed to make way for the high-rise buildings that exist today. A few notable exceptions are in Berger Park & Sacred Heart School at Sheridan & Granville Avenue, as well as two belonging to Loyola University on the southern-most portion of their campus along Sheridan Road between Rosemont & Devon Avenues.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
- Andersonville Study of Retail Economics
- Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
- Edgewater Community Council
- Edgewater Development Corporation
- Edgewater Historical Society
- Gerber/Hart Library
- Memories of the Edgewater Beach Hotel
- Satellite view of Edgewater from Wikimapia
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