Portage Park is a peaceful and spacious northwest
side Chicago neighborhood with an active business district, a number of good
schools and affordable property that is steadily growing in popularity and
homebuyer interest. The Six Corners intersection is the area's main commercial
hotspot, but the entire neighborhood is infused with a wealth of little shops
and specialty stores. There is no better way to experience what Portage Park
has to offer than to sample the vast roster of restaurants, bar & grills,
pizzerias, bakeries and delis. And you don't want to discount the
neighborhood's notable network of parkland, headed up by the spacious grounds
and Olympic-size swimming pool of the community's coveted namesake Portage
Park.
Portage Park derives its name from the early history of Irving Park Road, which currently runs through the center of this northwest Chicago neighborhood. Into the early 19th century, the strip of land was a portage that Native Americans used to carry their canoes from the Des Plaines River to the Chicago River. In 1816, a treaty was signed that gave the U.S. government control over the entire area between the Chicago River and the Mississippi River. Staking his claim on the new U.S. territory, a man named E.B. Sutherland built a tavern on North West Plank Road (now Milwaukee Avenue). This location also doubled as the town hall for what was known as Jefferson Township in the mid-1800s, a municipality independent of Chicago until 1889.
Throughout the years developers transformed this once marshy landscape into habitable terrain, spurring an increase in residents and settlement. In 1913, the beautiful 36.5-acre park that bears the neighborhood's name was established. Roads were improved and drainage issues, which previously led to frequent flooding, were corrected by the 1950s. Around 1960, the Kennedy Expressway was extended to reach residents of Portage Park, giving them a quick route to downtown.
After some population fluctuation, this large Chicago neighborhood is again on the rise. A strong Polish community resides in the area, and its affordable and spacious housing is attracting many new families as well as a slew of young working singles and couples. The intersection of Irving Park Road, Cicero and Milwaukee avenues (at Portage Park's western edge) is known as 'Six Corners' and offers a rich commercial district. Plus, who can forget the neighborhood's huge namesake park that is always alive with activity and natural beauty.
Portage Park facts
Location: Approximately 8 miles northwest of the Loop Boundaries: Montrose Avenue to the north, Narragansett Avenue to the west, Roscoe Street to the south and Cicero Avenue to the east Bordering Neighborhoods:Jefferson Park, Dunning, Old Irving Park, Craigin, Belmont Central Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap for crime stats on specific Chicago neighborhood, intersection, address or police beat.
Portage Park transportation
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Portage Park Real Estate
There are loads of single-family homes in Portage Park, a multitude of quaint brick bungalows—some with finished attics—are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Attractive one- and two-story frame houses with front yards and porches also represent a good portion of Portage Park real estate. In addition to the more typical Chicago housing, an architectural diversity exists here as home designs incorporate elements of Victorian, Georgian and English Tudor style—among others.
Attached housing options include beautifully landscaped vintage courtyard condominiums with charming touches such as exterior stone ornamentation and tiled roofs. While many older structures are rehabbed to maintain their original appeal, new condos, as well as newer model single- and multi-family homes are frequently found along the residential streets, providing a modern spin on Portage Park's traditional real estate style. There are even some contemporary townhomes with all the upscale amenities of downtown residences. Only here, unlike communities closer to Chicago's city center, residents find congestion is rare as the neighborhood lies a safe distance to the north and west of heavily trafficked areas and bustling intersections.
The average sale price of a home in Portage Park 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 Portage Park sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The average number of days a home in Portage Park 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 Portage Park 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 Portage Park 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 Portage Park sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
The total number of listings in Portage Park 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 Portage Park sign up for the trends report below or contact your Dream Town broker.
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