North Center, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square

The neighborhood of North Center has its geographic center at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, Irving Park Road, and Damen Avenue. The neighborhood, centered upon strong family values, features economic stability and quality schools. By no means boring, North Center offers plenty of bowling alleys, diners, and nostalgic storefronts intermixed with new businesses generated by increasing interest in the neighborhood.

The exact boundaries and location of North Center are up for debate. While many residents identify themselves as a member of one of the many other neighborhoods closely abutting the smallish enclave known as North Center, it usually is left up to one’s own interpretation as to where North Center lies.

Yet, regardless of the vagaries surrounding North Center’s exact geographic coordinates, one thing is for certain, this small neighborhood is a big up and comer. Featuring all of the dining, bars and clubs, shopping, and other commerce you would expect to find in larger business districts, North Center has successfully created a large following for its diversified offerings.

To accompany the commercial venues, North Center complements its business forays with quiet, well-maintained, tree-lined streets. And, North Center is ideal for those prospective home-buyers who find themselves priced out of nearby Lakeview and | or Lincoln Park. And, as a result of electing to settle a touch to the west, they end up making North Center their home.

On nearby Leavitt Street, a catholic school named St. Benedict’s lends its name to a sub-neighborhood of North Center, affectionately known to its residents as St. Ben’s. St. Ben’s, which has become increasingly popular with young professionals, is still focused primarily on children and families. With buses regularly running on major streets and the Brown Line “El” making stops at Addison, Irving Park, and Montrose, both North Center and St. Ben’s are easy enough to access.

Two closely related neighborhoods, Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, are also becoming popular destinations. Ravenswood has become known recently for its gentrification and savvy rehab projects, making many vintage homes both affordable and available. In light of the numerous small shops and outdoor cafés that abound, young professionals and families alike are attracted to the area. Additional attractions include: Ravenswood’s annual Apple Fest and weekly Farmer’s Markets during harvest season, while, on a year-round basis, East Ravenswood’s historic district continues to draw hundreds of visitors.

Lincoln Square, on the other hand, is a stranger to the possibility of gentrification or over-population. Many activists and city officials have worked hard to ensure the neighborhood remains suburban-paced and family-friendly, with one of Chicago’s largest historical preservation districts. Over a century old, Lincoln Square has a feel many describe as European or distinctly Old World. The zoning, regimented widths of streets, and antiquated architecture, all contribute to the area’s quaint, pleasant-like neighborhood atmosphere. Not only do Lincoln Squares’ beautiful streets and homes have a special, unique charm, but many of the area’s residential properties are still available at affordable prices.

Providing easy access to residents and visitors to the area, the Brown Line“El” train runs through the southern part of the Ravenswood | Lincoln Square area.