Residential blends with commercial in the Fulton River District, one of Chicago's fastest growing neighborhoods. With side streets tucked away behind busy urban thoroughfares you couldn't be closer to the Loop unless you were in the river. High-rise and mid-rise studios, condos and loft spaces typify the housing stock in the Fulton River District, with a few “vertical mansions” dotting the neighborhood blocks. A small, yet exquisite selection of restaurants fill the area, prompting evening diners from all over Chicago to make reservations in this trendy near north side section of town. After dark the bar scene heats up as pool halls, Irish pubs, cocktail lounges and nightclubs come alive.
The neighborhood of Fulton River District straddles two Chicago community areas, that of West Town on its northern half. Unlike many Chicago neighborhoods, this area was actually within the original city limits as established in 1837, so no annexation was required. The Chicago River was the draw to the area, and the neighborhood’s prime location on this important waterway led early settlers here. Industry soon followed, including the railroads.
With so many rail lines intersecting the area and the Chicago River on the eastern border, manufacturing and trade businesses thrived in this section of town, particularly in the Fulton River District, providing many employment opportunities for its residents. Further south, directly west of the Loop, the Near West Side’s close proximity to the business district made it attractive to Chicago’s wealthier residents. By 1870, however, the population shifted from affluence to that of a working class, divided along racial lines with African Americans and European immigrants from Germany, Ireland, France, Czechoslovakia and Bohemia all occupying their own separate sections of the neighborhood. By the end of the 19th century, European immigrants from Scandinavia had settled in the area as well, with Poles and Russian Jews close behind. Around the same time, many Italians started to inhabit the area along Grand Avenue, filling the small community with a sizeable number of different cultures.
Despite the residential buildup in the surrounding areas of West Town and Near West Side neighborhoods, the Fulton River District was mostly an industrial zone of factories and warehouses. Today, thanks largely to the Fulton River District Association, the neighborhood is experiencing a boom in residential building. This non-profit, community-based organization has worked hard to promote the neighborhood and encourage a balance between residential and commercial development. As a result, Fulton River District is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city. Crisscrossed by railway tracks and busy thoroughfares, residential real estate intermingles with commercial businesses along the blocks here. Not to mention some of the city’s best restaurants have gained a foothold in this trendy near north side Chicago neighborhood.
Fulton River District facts
Location: Directly north of and adjacent to the Loop Bordering Neighborhoods:The Loop, River North, River West, West Loop Boundaries: Grand Avenue to the north, the Chicago River to the east, Lake Street to the south and the Kennedy Expressway to the west Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
Fulton River District transportation
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Fulton River District Real Estate
The streets of this Chicago neighborhood are tightly-packed with a mix of residences and business, bringing the best of urban living to one hotspot of Chicago city life. High- and mid-rise lofts, condominiums and studios dominate the housing stock in the Fulton River District. There are single-family townhomes, scattered throughout the neighborhood blocks, but many of these beautiful, four-story graystone structures are valued at over $3 million. These "vertical mansions" boast all the latest upgrades and luxury amenities you can dream of.
If you don’t have a few million to put towards your next home, no problem, there are plenty of other housing options in the Fulton River District that provide sufficient living space for singles, couples, and young families alike. You can get a one-bedroom condo or studio (most with a garage parking spot) starting in the low-$200,000s, although the higher-end for units of this size is in the upper-$200,000s. The average sales price for a two-bedroom condo in Fulton River District is around $412,000, and for a three-bedroom the average price jumps up to about $780,000. Many of these properties have been newly built or renovated, offering fine finishes, hardwood flooring throughout, granite kitchen counter tops, and top-of-the-line appliances.
In addition to refurbishing older buildings, the Fulton River District has seen a slew of new construction in the past ten years, appealing to many first-time buyers who crave the energy of living close to the city’s center. The neighborhood’s Fulton River District Association strives to maintain and promote the community, inviting more and more Chicagoans to discover the allure of this near north side enclave that affords an easy commute to the Loop and a wealth of restaurants and nightlife, just steps outside your doorstep.
The average sale price of a home in Fulton River District is represented by the chart to the right. The red line indicates the average price based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window. The blue line indicates the average sale price for the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on Fulton River District sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The average number of days a home in Fulton River District spends listed for sale is represented by the chart to the right. The red line indicates the average number of days based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window. The blue line indicates the average number of days a home spent on market during the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on average market listing times in Fulton River District sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The average sale price of a home compared to its listing price in Fulton River District is represented by the chart to the right. The black line indicates the baseline listing price for homes during the time frame selected in the drop-down. The red line indicates the difference between the average listing price and the average sale price during the particular month within that time frame. For more detailed information on Fulton River District sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The total number of listings in Fulton River District is represented in the chart to the right. The red line represents average number of days based on the total time frame selected in the drop-down window The blue bar represents the current number of listings during the particular month of that time frame. For more detailed information on Fulton River District sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
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