Near South Side

The Near South Side neighborhood is within MLS area 8033. It is located on the south side of Chicago, next to the downtown central business district, The Loop. The Near South Side is bordered by Roosevelt Road on the north, 26th Street on the south, the Chicago River between Roosevelt and 18th, Clark Street between 18th and 22nd Streets, Federal between 22nd and the Stevenson Expressway just south of 25th Street, and Clark Street again between the Stevenson and 26th Street, and lastly, Michigan Avenue on the east.

The area was first inhabited by settlers working for the Illinois & Michigan Canal, who later began working in the lumber district. As time progressed in the mid 19th century, the area began attracting wealthy families, and by the time of the Chicago Fire, most of the residents were elite families living in beautiful mansions. However, with the coming of the railroads, warehouses and light manufacturing moved the elite social families closer to The Loop, turning the area into a vice district, later into a slum, and finally into public housing projects.

Today, the Near South Side is home to many historic structures and the museum campus where The Field Museum, The Shedd Aquarium, The Adler Planeterium, Soldier Field, and the McCormick Place are located, to name a few. The area has unique, luxury condominiums overlooking Lake Michigan and some of the beautiful structures previously mentioned. Luxurious Townhomes and lofts also line the now residential streets.