Red Eye tags Avondale as next hot hood (Chicago, Homer: condo, how much)

[Chi-town Native]

Crikey.

Chicago's next hot 'hood? - RedEye

I find it pretty funny how Wicker Park leapfrogs Logan Square to get to Avondale, though.

[Avengerfire]

Been there done that.

[meatpuff]

Sun-Times says Near South Side. Which they apparently define as South Loop on down through Oakland, especially near the lake.

Prediction: Near South Side set to boom : SearchChicago Homes : Don DeBat

[Killaviews]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Crikey.

Chicago's next hot 'hood? - RedEye

I find it pretty funny how Wicker Park leapfrogs Logan Square to get to Avondale, though.

I think Wicker Park has had a huge impact on Logan Square. Wicker Park was a gentrification power-house - it spread both north and south and now it has reached Avondale.

The yuppies hopped on the south end along Division before the hipsters even had a chance. And I think Logan Square took the title from Wicker Park and it is now the Hipster Capital of Chicago.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Killaviews

I think Wicker Park has had a huge impact on Logan Square. Wicker Park was a gentrification power-house - it spread both north and south and now it has reached Avondale.

The yuppies hopped on the south end along Division before the hipsters even had a chance. And I think Logan Square took the title from Wicker Park and it is now the Hipster Capital of Chicago.

Absolutely on Logan Square - but I actually think the parts of Avondale that are "hot" (which seem to be primarily restaurants in the SE quadrant) are more an extension of Lake View.

Tattoo parlors, Kuma's, etc. are absolutely Belmont & Clark culture marching west.

I guess I'm hoping for more of the Belmont & Clark (where I roughly grew up) vibe and less of that hipster one. Perhaps a slightly fine distinction for newcomers to the City, but the townies know what I'm talking about.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by meatpuff

Sun-Times says Near South Side. Which they apparently define as South Loop on down through Oakland, especially near the lake.

Prediction: Near South Side set to boom : SearchChicago Homes : Don DeBat

Usually I think this predictions are exaggerated or have little substance, but in this case I agree. I think most people don't have any clue how much it has already changed to pave the way. The lakefront so close to the city is just too desirable to remain a ghetto. I'm shocked that it ever got that way.

[Los Guys]

I live in Avondale and I think there is potential. I think it's a great place for older singles and younger families who appreciate more racial diversity than Wicker Park (my previous hood), as long as they have alternatives to public schools. On the south side bordering Logan Square, we have n~ (enye), orbit room and urban belly, and I'm hoping for a few more good restaurants and a sports bar (not Jerseys). I know it's across the street on the Logan Square side of Diversey, but if the Green Exchange is ever completed, that would drive some good PR for the hood.

[Chi-town Native]

It's got more than potential, it's just IMO a question of what will drive the development - realtor hype or people willing to get in the trenches and and stay for the long haul. We are seeing a lot of longtime residents passing away due to old age/sickness, and the kids don't want to relocate into buildings that often are lacking HVAC, have that (to quote Homer Simpson) "old person smell" etc. We could use a lot more fixer-uppers, you know?

[Attrill]

Avondale is definitely an area that is taking off. The restaurants and bars are definitely one thing that is driving it, as well as increased ridership on the Blue Line. During rush hour the trains are packed from Western or Damen all the way to the loop. You have to wait for 2 or 3 trains to get on one.

Rents are really cheap too, I have a few friends who've moved out of Logan Square and Ukrainian Village because they found much cheaper places in Avondale.

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

It's got more than potential, it's just IMO a question of what will drive the development - realtor hype or people willing to get in the trenches and and stay for the long haul. We are seeing a lot of longtime residents passing away due to old age/sickness, and the kids don't want to relocate into buildings that often are lacking HVAC, have that (to quote Homer Simpson) "old person smell" etc. We could use a lot more fixer-uppers, you know?

Thanks to the downturn in the RE market the fixer uppers are coming. There are three happening very close to my house now, and no condo construction at all. For the last 10 years it has been nearly impossible to buy a fixer upper. It took my wife and I 3 years to find one. We were regularly outbid by developers who were looking to teardown what we wanted to rehab. It's very different now.

[Chi-town Native]

LOL, thinking I'd get a seat on the Blue line definitely was a plus in terms of moving closer to Belmont than Logan.

If only the soon-to-be-too-hip-for-the-likes-of-me Revolution Brewing was a wee bit closer....