masses of gray suburban homes on drive from ohare to downtown (Chicago: townhouse, neighborhoods)

[mike3512]

this is distinct in my mind and i wanted to know the name of this area, and some info about. it is on the right side of some expresssway going from ohare to downtown, thanks.

[prairiestate]

As for the Northwest side coming in from O'Hare, I'm not quite sure what you mean by gray houses, I know that's not the actual color, though perhaps you just mean it's rather drab. That would encompass several neighborhoods like Jefferson Park and Irving Park, aka the bungalow belt. It has an inner suburban feel, plenty of strip malls and parking available, tons of cops and firefighters who need to live in the city, but want to be as close to the 'burbs as possible. Safe, quiet, dull, at least for the city. Someone from a new cornfield subdivision might find it unbearable exciting. I'm not knocking it though. I live in an inner suburb on the southwest side with much the same character and I love it. Perfect blend of urban and suburban amenities. If I want more urban, it's close by, if I want more peace and quiet, that's not far either.

[mike3512]

thanks, but i passed a kazillion houses that were LITERALLY grayish-brown. and close to each other.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

They didn't look like this: http://chicagoist.com/attachments/ch...a/04259815.jpg did they?

[mike3512]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

They didn't look like this: http://chicagoist.com/attachments/ch...a/04259815.jpg did they?

no, i should've been more specific. they were 2-story suburban houses all right next to each other.

[Avengerfire]

It is probably that development in Portage Park. Were they wood? Were they brick?
Did they look like this?

Specifically the one at the bottom on this page:
Search Portage Park Single Family Homes MLS Listings

[Gtownoe]

Were you talking about the area of the highway where the train runs in the middle and each side there are 2 story houses (many with fences)? I think you may be talking about the Portage Park and Jefferson Park areas.

[Drover]

The expressway only goes through a very small sliver of Portage Park.... I think the most drab/grayish looking segment of the drive in from O'Hare is the Norwood Park area, particularly along Bryn Mawr on the north side of the expressway and Gregory/Higgins on the south side. Once you get past Norwood Park/Jefferson Park, you start seeing more variation in housing.

And while the area may look suburban, the vast majority of what you see on the way in from O'Hare is within the city limits. The one exception is a very small segment right as soon as you get onto the expressway where it cuts through Rosemont.

[Lookout Kid]

There is a vinyl sided townhouse development along the Kennedy that looks suburban... I think it's in Jeff Park, but it's always harder to identify neighborhoods from the expressway.

What do you mean by "suburban"? Do you mean new construction? Since you say they are "close together", you're obviously not referring to a large house surrounded by lawns.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There is a vinyl sided townhouse development along the Kennedy that looks suburban... I think it's in Jeff Park, but it's always harder to identify neighborhoods from the expressway.

What do you mean by "suburban"? Do you mean new construction? Since you say they are "close together", you're obviously not referring to a large house surrounded by lawns.

I think its in Portage Park. Thats why I mentioned it. The link I provided has a couple examples of these new homes northwest. I know there is a development in Irving Park also. I am leaning towards one of the two. I think there are some you can see that are technically in Mayfair I believe also. That cannot be ruled out either.
Maybe he noticed all of them... Who knows?!

Maybe he was exaggerating about the amount of houses like that he saw...