Apartments in Chicago's River North



by Delfin Paris


Quick Quiz: How many square blocks does it take to house two of the largest structures in North America, the second highest concentration of art galleries in the United States, a thriving design community, a major metropolitan newspaper, more theme restaurants than a fleet of tourists could ever hope to fill and incredibly sought-after real estate, to boot?

If you are not dumbfounded that all of this, in addition to 1000's more terrific conveniences are all snugly situated inside a neat-and-tidy thirteen blocks x 9, then you're doubtlessly no stranger to Chicago's own River North region! Bordered by Michigan Avenue towards the E., Chicago Avenue on the N ., and the Chicago River creating de facto Southern and Western limits, River North is a modest yet beautiful gem of Chicago's Near North Side.

It wasn't always this way, though. Despite having the cultural and economic importance of Merchandise Mart, the region which would develop into River North used to be known to be one of the more dangerous sections of the city before the '70's.

It is real estate developer Alan Friedman which the community has to thank for River North's current revamp. In '74, Friedman and a army of photographers, ad firms, boutiques and galleries marched in to one of the very most unjustly underdeveloped areas in the city, gave it an aesthetic and industrial make-over of immense proportions, and christened it with the punchy handle "River North."

Since then, River North has increased tremendously in social relevance and housing worth. Home to the city's "Gallery District," a child of Friedman's first art house installation, River North today offers the highest amount of fine art galleries in the usa outside of Ny. It is likewise referred to as the "Cathedral District" regarding the beautiful juxtaposition of the Holy Name Cathedral and St. James Cathedral fighting against a skyline of glass and steel. Bring in the Rock 'n Roll McDonald's, the first Pizzeria Uno, the offices of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, a tremendous amount of deluxe apartment buildings as well as the second tallest construct in America, The Trump Hotel and Tower Chicago, and you don't merely hold the makings of a premier tourism attraction -- you've got a critical life line of a leading metropolis.




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