Rehabbed condos like this one on Grace are typical of housing in Wrigleyville. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo was listing for $624,999 in 2009.With seemingly endless places to pop in for a meal or a quick drink, to catch a concert or to do some shopping, Wrigleyville can sometimes have a great lazy-day and fun feel.
Of course many businesses have been booming in the area around the field and work does get done by many. Area locals live above bustling store fronts and off on side streets from the more commercially-busy N. Clark and W. Addison. In fact, in the immediate area, condos are everywhere.
“Wrigley Field and the demographics of its patrons has done a great deal to color the life and the nightlife of the area," says Realtor David baren, with Prudential Preferred Properties. "[Wrigleyville] has an active restaurant and music scene…and baseball bars for pre- and post-game fill-ups.” Condos are much more prominent than single-family homes in Wrigleyville, according to Baran.
In the boundaries between Cornelia, Grace, Fremont and Racine, 116 attached homes were sold in 2007, with an average selling price of about $413,800.
This is compared to the five single-family detached homes that sold last year for an average of about $643,000. Through April, 2008 that 67 condo units were active (at an average listing price of about $442,346).
Most of these two-bedroom condos in Wrigleyville are greystones, with six or more flats. Many other buildings in the area are vintage, brick buildings. Though there is much in the way of housing, this area is highly trafficked by those on foot or using public transportation, so parking is at a premium.
Though the original boundaries stretch in some conversations to include a bit larger area that is considered Wrigleyville, anyone in the nearby range can feel the excitement of the neighborhood.
On game days during baseball season, the traffic is extra lively, but year-round there is always a concert to catch at the Metro or a cozy booth to be taken at local restaurants, like Pick Me Up Cafe.
"This is one of the best areas in the country because there is so much activity," says Ton Boyle, owner of the store, Yesterday. "The lake is nearby, and there are so many cafes and restaurants. People have a wide choice, wherever they want to go. It’s a very active area, something is always bustling.” Though mostly young professionals inhabit Wrigleyville, there are some families who enjoy being near the park and animation of the area.
Many elementary schools, both public and private, magnet schools are in neighboring communities, the closest neighborhood high school being Lake View High School. The public and magnet school has a great reputation scholastically, and is one of the oldest Chicago Public School community schools.
