| New condominiums abound in University Village, Chicago's newest old neighborhood on the near west side. Condo buyers are sure to be drawn to this developing area by its breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and by its beautiful green parks and other amenities. Anyone seeking a condo in a neighborhood that provides a dynamic urban lifestyle will not be disappointed by the wealth of condos they find in University Village. Ivy Hall is the newest addition to the neighborhood. It is a vibrant $600-million mixed-use community including upscale condominiums. It is being developed adjacent to the University of Illinois at Chicago Campus.
When completed, the $100-million Ivy Hall enclave will feature 36 luxury single-family homes, 31 upscale townhomes and 152 condominiums in 3-story walk-up buildings set on the east side of Halsted Street between 14th Street and 16th Street. The neighborhood is sure to attract other condo dwellers who put a premium on convenience. It is bounded by Union Street on the east, Roosevelt Road to the north, Morgan Street to the west, and the Metra Burlington Northern rail line on the south. Condo owners can leave their cars at home to get easily anywhere in the city via trains and public transportation. The suburbs also are well within reach via the Eisenhower, Stevenson and Kennedy Expressways which are close by.
More than 650 townhomes and condominiums already have been built and sold on the west side of Halsted at 14th Street. When this development is complete, it will be made up of of 892 townhomes, loft condominiums, and new-construction condominiums. Condo buyers who seek the calm of green space will find it at Fountain Park which has 15,000 square feet of open space with lovely landscaping, perennial trees, benches, walking paths and a large, lighted ornamental water fountain. It is just one in an array of parks, play areas and ball fields scattered throughout University Village and which encompass more than two acres.
Retailers have followed condo buyers to the area. Some that are making homes hwere include Quizno’s, Cingular Wireless, Image Arts, MidAmerica Bank, Barbara’s Bookstore, Jamba Juice and Cold Stone Creamery. Various restaurants are within walking distance, including Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant, Morgan’s on Maxwell Street, Kohan, Hashbrowns and Juniors Sports Lounge.
The area's rich past is another reason why condo buyers are drawn to this neighborhood that has encompasssed diverse backgrounds and cultures including Jewish, Italian and African-American. In the late 1900s, it was known for Maxwell Street, a vibrant thoroughfare where an open air market replicated a tradition of markets found in European cities from which many of its early residents immigrated. As African-Americans migrated from the South, this neighborhood gained in diversity and was recognized as the place where the musical form, the Chicago Blues, originated. Italians congregated in Little Italy, a neighborhood still known for its Italian restaurants. Wine bars, art galleries and other intriguing shops and boutiques add to the neighborhood's unique allure. University Village has retained a cutting edge feel sure to appeal to condo buyers seeking a real urban experience. The addition of green space and other amenities only adds to the pleasure of making a home in this neighborhood. |
