Located four miles north of the Chicago Loop, Lakeview is bordered by Diversey Parkway on the south, Irving Park Road on the north, Ravenswood Avenue on the west and Lake Michigan on the east.

Home to smaller neighborhoods including Lakeview East (LVE), Southport Corridor, Wrigleyville, and West Lake View, the area hosts a hodgepodge of people, and endless charm. There is always something to do in this part of town, including many Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce sponsored annual events, such as the Egg Hunt for Kids, Halloween Hoopla, LVE Fine Art Festival and Gay Pride activities.

The larger Lakeview area (population 94,817 according to 2000 census data) was established in 1887 to satisfy the needs of the city’s growing population, and is home to the first historic district in the city of Chicago.

The district, Alta Vista Terrace, is located two blocks north of Wrigley Field. This area includes an entire city block of row houses built between 1900 and 1904, with varied architectural styles.

Known as the “Street of Forty Doors” the homes were built with an intricate design pattern in mind. Each has a façade that varies from the one next to it, but matches another home directly diagonal on the street.

According to an Illinois Government News Network press release in 2006, the street retains a remarkable degree of historical integrity.

Karen Stierwalt, a Coldwell Banker broker selling in the Lakeview neighborhood, says the area has done much in recent years to preserve the identity of the neighborhood and protect the greystones and older homes in the area, despite the tremendous amount of new construction.

Today, in Lakeview, thousands of brick and greystone two- and three-flats still line the streets. The 2007 median price for single-family homes was $1,150,000; $333,400 for condos and $820,000 for multi-unit buildings.

“In its various incarnations, it seems that the Lakeview neighborhood has served to incubate the dreams of the groups it has attracted,” said Charles Huzenis, president of Jameson Realty Group, in a press release noting the significant number of young residents.

“Historic Lakeview has long been an established neighborhood complete with parks, schools, a library, shops and restaurants, but today the area is taking on a new, youthful, upscale flavor,” said Huzenis.

If the young professionals have children, they’ll find good schools nearby. Among the elementary schools are Greeley, an exemplary site of the No Child Left Behind Act, and Louis Nettelhorst, a Chicago Public School (CPS) Magnet Cluster School, and one of the first CPS community schools in the city.

Lakeview also is home to the oldest high school in the state, 134-year-old Lake View High School. With a total enrollment of 1,494, the average ACT score for the students here in 2007 was 17.9 as compared to the district’s 17.6.

The school has survived a  fire, but with additions and rebuilding, it has reclaimed its home at the corner of Ashland and Irving Park - one more example of the neighborhood's pride of place and history.

Median age: 31.4
• 3%
• 2%
• 1%
• 2%
• 13%
• 41%
• 16%
• 9%
• 3%
• 2%
• 4%
• 3%
• 2%

• 0-4
• 5-9
• 10-14
• 15-19
• 20-24
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-59
• 60-64
• 65-74
• 75-84
• 85+

Hispanic origin (any race): 9%
• 86%
• 5%
• 6%
• 4%

• White
• Black
• Asian
• Other

Where people live
• 30%
• 70%

Vacancy rates
• 1.4%
• 3%

• Homes
• Rental units

• Homes
• Rental units

Number of years in home
• 36%
• 38%
• 12%
• 8%
• 4%
• 3%

• 0-1
• 2-5
• 6-9
• 10-19
• 20-29
• 30+

Age of home
• 1%
• 3%
• 2%
• 3%
• 11%
• 17%
• 23%
• 44%

• 0-1
• 2-5
• 6-9
• 10-19
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-59
• 60+

In thousands of dollars
• 7%
• 4%
• 8%
• 11%
• 17%
• 19%
• 13%
• 12%
• 4%
• 6%

• $0-$9
• $10-$14
• $15-$24
• $25-$34
• $35-$49
• $50-$74
• $75-$99
• $100-$149
• $150-$199
• $200+