Lakeview Neighborhood In Chicago, Illinois


The Lakeview Neighborhood is located on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. The neighborhood is bordered by West Diversey Parkway, West Irving Park Road, North Ravenswood Avenue and the shores of Lake Michigan. Lakeview is unofficially divided into four different and distinct areas; Lakeview East, West Lakeview, Halstead and Wrigleyville. Lakeview is most popularly known as the home of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Prior to becoming a township, Lakeview used to be known as a camp and trail path for the Miami, Winnebago and Ottawa Native American Indian tribes, according to the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce. In 1837, Conrad Sulzer of Switzerland became the first white settler in the area and in 1853; one of the first permanent structures was built. James Rees and Elisha Hundley built the Lake View Hotel on the corner of West Byron Street and North Lake Shore Drive.

Lakeview became an incorporated township, with a charter granted by the Illinois General Assembly and it is independent of Chicago, the first township election in Lake View was held in 1857. The streets of Lakeview hold great historical meaning, and are named after politicians, authors, businessmen, civil war heroes and frontier explorers. There are thirteen neighborhood councils that are comprised of residents, the council serves as a vehicle for neighborhood activism and provides input to the commercial and municipal leaders.

Lakeview East is an area defined by upscale condominiums; high rent mid-rise apartments and loft spaces, along Lake Shore Drive and Broadway. There are a number of small businesses, upscale boutiques and restaurants located along North Halstead and North Broadway. Churches remain an integral part of the community, and two of the oldest religious structures in the neighborhood are the Lake View Presbyterian Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

North Halstead is an area that is identified as a business district. Along Southport Avenue, there are entertainment venues and affordable real estate, which keeps the community young and lively. North Halstead is an area that caters to the nightlife of Chicago and has over sixty bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

West Lake is also referred to as West Lakeview and is on the border of the Roscoe Village area. The area is rife with pop culture and affordable living space, which in turn draws in an eclectic and diverse community. The most popular attraction in the neighborhood is the Music Box Theater, which was opened on August 29th, 1929, the theater used to show silent movies accompanied by a live organ player, today the site is considered to be the Chicago year-round film festival venue.

Wrigleyville used to be a working-class neighborhood. The neighborhood entirely surrounds Wrigley Field and is home to Wrigley Rooftops, which are bleacher seats on top of homes and businesses that sell seats to people who want to watch the baseball games. The bars, clubs and restaurants in the neighborhood take their theme from the sports culture and the area has been the site for many Hollywood movies.

The city of Chicago has some very diverse neighborhoods that have a lively and interesting mix of cultures and traditions. The Lake View Neighborhood is popular for hosting many different events that are appropriate for people of all ages and persuasions. Visitors can view historical churches, unique architecture and walk through beautifully landscape neighborhoods, there is something new waiting around every corner, making Lake View one of the popular destinations for people visiting Chicago.

1
Kar
Report this comment as inappropriate
Nov 3, 2013 @ 4:16 pm
It's HALSTED, not Halstead. I'm not sure how this didn't get caught before it was published.

Review, comment, or add new information about this topic:

Discuss Chicago, Illinois (IL) on our hugely popular Illinois forum.


City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site.  Use at your own risk.
Some parts © 2024 Advameg, Inc.