North Center

The North Center neighborhood is within MLS area 8005. It is located on the north side of Chicago. North Center is bordered by Montrose on the north, Addison on the south, Ravenswood on the east, and the Chicago River on the west. It is a comfortable and convenient neighborhood less than a mile from the lake front and an easy commute to downtown.

The area was first inhabited in the 1800’s by immigrants looking for employment. While these first settlers did find homes here, much of the area was a warehouse district, full of factories and businesses. When Greektown was founded in the late 1800’s, some commercial sites were brought into the area. Since then, but mostly over the last 10 years, the West Loop area has undergone dramatic changes. Despite the rapid development, it is our opinion that the West Loop will continue to develop for the next 25 years. Due to the challenging real estate market in 2008 and 2009, real estate developers were careful about what to bring to the market and when. As a result, you do not see the glut of vacant developments that you may see in other areas.

North Center’s well-established community, which includes neighborhoods such as St. Ben’s, Roscoe Village and West Lake view, is characterized by brick two-flats and frame single-family homes with tree lined streets. Roscoe Village, with its small-town feel, has older single-family homes, renovated (and un-renovated) two- and three-flats, newer townhomes and loft conversions. Residents are attracted to the area because of the easy access to public transportation as well as charming boutiques, cafes and bakeries.