If, say 30 years ago, you claimed that Uptown would become one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Chicago, you would’ve been laughed back to Lincoln Park. However, with the recent improvements in Uptown itself and in surrounding neighborhoods like Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, the far north neighborhood is set to become one of Chicago’s premier locations in the coming years.

View of Wilson Avenue in 1973 / Photo (C) 2017 Robert Rehak. All rights reserved.

Uptown, north of Lakeview towards Montrose Beach, has seen an influx of changes. Over the last several years, however, two things have always remained constant: its rich history and dynamic culture. Recently designated a Chicago Landmark, Uptown is home to several historical buildings like the Uptown Theater and Essanay Studios, which have helped anchor and characterize the neighborhood. Along with them are other Chicago mainstays. The Green Mill, Aragon Ballroom, and the Riviera Theatre are those rare establishments that locals love just as much as tourists.

While all of these attractions have recently helped generate lots of interest in Uptown, the city of Chicago plans to go even further with the development of this neighborhood. In 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel (who is apparently a fan of The Green Mill) announced Uptown as one of seven neighborhoods that would receive a sizable amount of private funding in an effort to improve the existing infrastructure and attractions. With proposals to improve transportation, living, and shopping in the area while still emphasizing the multicultural character of the neighborhood, Uptown has already made substantial progress. However, some might argue these improvements are also hurting the identity of the area.

“This is not about making Uptown look like Lincoln Park, Lakeview or Edgewater or any other community,” 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman told DNAinfo.com. “This is about helping Uptown be Uptown.”

But promoting development while maintaining the neighborhood’s character is tricky business. Recently, a proposed apartment complex drew the ire of some residents who viewed the development as benefitting and attracting non-residents. Luxury high-rise residential developments, while continuously approved by the City Council, is typically met with opposition from worried residents.

One of Uptown’s biggest areas of reinvention is the Wilson Red Line stop and avenue. The original Wilson station, which was built in 1923, is decaying, unsightly, and generally avoided by the locals. The decay of the station seemed to spread to the rest of Wilson Avenue itself. In the past 15 years or so, the avenue has seen a number of failed businesses and vacant storefronts. Even Starbucks, one of the most successful and durable franchises in the world, closed its Wilson Avenue location in early 2016.

The New Wilson Red Line Station /Rendering by CTA

In hopes of improving the area, the city of Chicago allocated $203 million to rebuild the Wilson station and railways while providing a new space for future businesses and retail. Since the Wilson Red Line stop has opened its new rails and upper station to the public, several new businesses and restaurants, like Pokiology and Emerald City Coffee, have opened on Wilson Avenue. While the new rails around the Wilson station have already started to improve the area, there are still plans to develop the area underneath the stop. It’s still undetermined whether that space will become a secure parking lot or a public plaza that would offer space for new businesses.

Another project that has put Uptown on the map is the addition of a shared street where motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists can share an open public space. A three-block stretch along Argyle Street, between Broadway and Sheridan, was designated to be the site for Chicago’s first shared road. The idea behind this project is to encourage more foot traffic that will ideally support more neighborhood businesses and events. Since the street is located in the heart of Little Vietnam, there is no shortage of businesses, restaurants, and markets that benefit from this European-style street. The street recently opened and residents are still adjusting to the flow of the street, but there are plans for various cultural events to take place along the shared street.

The homes within Uptown have always been a big selling point for the neighborhood. While most of the homes in the area were built in the last 50 odd years, they offer historic features as well as a great value. Uptown is known for offering a lot of square footage for a very reasonable price. However, with new plans to incorporate more modern living into the neighborhood, that is likely to change.

New Luxury Apartment Development / Rendering by JDL Development

Although residents have voiced concerns over the area’s future affordability, construction of new developments continues. JDL Development plans to build a 381-unit luxury condo tower that will cost about $121 million. While the project also consists of a new grocery store as well as the renovation of nearby Clarendon Park, residents are concerned that this will force some of Uptown’s long-time residents out of the neighborhood. In response to this, the developers have promised that they will make a donation of over $5 million to Chicago’s Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, as well as ensure that the project will create more than 500 temporary and 50 permanent jobs.

Since these changes and improvements have begun taking shape in Uptown, the neighborhood has seen a growth in new businesses. Uptown is now home to its first beercade as well as Chicago’s first rotary sushi restaurant, Wabi-Sabi Rotary. Having seen these changes first hand, there is no doubt that Uptown is headed for a bright future. As long as this neighborhood can maintain its dynamic culture and individuality, there is little doubt that in the next ten years Uptown will be known as one of Chicago’s most unique and thriving neighborhoods.

Sources:

New Uptown Plans Excite Some and Worry Others [DNAinfo]

Mayor Emanuel Announces Opportunity Areas [City of Chicago]

Montrose and Clarendon Project [JDL]

City Panel OKs Controversial Subsidy for Uptown Luxury Apartments [Crain's]

Chicago's First Shared Street on Argyle is Now Open For Business [Streetsblog]