What is the "Downtown" of your Side? (Chicago: apartments, homes)

[chitown2pa]

Chicago is a big enough city that there have been more than one business district to spring up outside of Downtown. The most obvious one would be the Mag Mile district. However, historically, Uptown on the North and Englewood on the South Side were the extended "downtowns," which spread retail into what were, in the early 20th century, the rapidly-growing outskirts of the city.

This question is for Chicagoans only. What is the "downtown" of your Side? I am going to give you my take on this question, but I would love to hear what other people think about it too.

As defined by Dreamtown.com, Chicago's sides are: Northwest, North Central, Near South, South West, and South East.

Here goes:

North Central (east of the River): Uptown (still). Clark Street, between Fullerton and Addison. North LP and East LV seem to be the busiest parts of the North Side. However, they still seem to be linked to Downtown, and dependent on the Near North Side for their character (if that makes sense). Lake View melds into Lincoln Park melds into Old Town melds into the Gold Coast. But Uptown, that's like a whole 'nother city up there.

North Side (West of the River) Wicker Park (North and Damen) is another strong contender for Chicago's Second Downtown. Actually, it would be Third after the Mag Mile. Surely there is no question that, for North-Siders west of the River, Downtown Wicker Park is the place to be.

Northwest Side: No idea. Maybe New Chinatown? Please help me out with this one.

Near South Side: Hyde Park. Hyde Park really feels like its own little city. That could be because it once was. Hyde Park is Chicago's college town (perhaps its "other" college town, after Depaul and Evanston).

South West Side: Englewood. Historic retail district. If I'm wrong, that shows you how well I know the South Side (read: not at all).

South East Side: South Shore (around the South Shore Country Club). Have you seriously seen South Shore's skyline? It's got 21 highrise buildings. To look at the South Shore skyline from the Lake, you think you're viewing Milwaukee or something. Ridonk.

[chet everett]

Not only do you not know the south side, your designations of north side cut offs leave off probably ntwo thirds of the city population and even more of you factor in income...

[chitown2pa]

How so? I'm just defining the "central areas"--the parts that feel like downtowns of their respective areas. Can you do better?

[Avengerfire]

I will not participate in anything that is "defined by Dreamtown.com."

[chitown2pa]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

I will not participate in anything that is "defined by Dreamtown.com."

Haha, fair enough. Way to stick to your principles. You're right, that's a corny website. However, that doesn't mean you can't give this a try. Personally, I would have divided the sides differently. Probably different than you would have. Definitely better.

[surlycue]

::facepalm::

Englewood was its own town before 1889. I think it was call Junction Grove. It had its own "downtown" because it was its own entity. Uptown was annexed the same year and it became a destination for Chicagoans in part because northbound train lines used to end there and wealth city residents owned vacation apartments/homes in Uptown.

[noid_1985]

places were people shop on the west side: Madison and Pulaski- Lake and Central- North and Cicero....

south side- 47th street, 87th street, 95th, 111th- 115th michigan...

these places are by no means "downtowns" just places where people from the neighborhood shop

[Alacran]

Lawrence kedzie

Fullerton and cicero

North and pulaski

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by Alacran

Lawrence kedzie

Fullerton and cicero

North and pulaski

Lawrence and Kedzie? Really? That's like downtown Juarez. Sheesh.

[Chicago60614]

Diversey and Broadway/Clark.