That doesn't mean that if you bought a vacant lot in Wicker Park in 1990 and sold it today it would be worth 18 times the price. It means that the total value of the property there has gone up roughly 18 times. Lots of renovation and new construction going on which has greatly added to the overall value. That being said it was still a fantastic investment.

My own WAG(wild assed guess) is that if you bought said vacant lot it would merely be worth ten times the 1990 price. Hardly worth investing in.

Seriously, throughout the 90's Wicker Park, Bucktown and Uptown generally vied for best appreciation in the city. Since the late 90's my guess is that the near south area of the city, to include Bronzeville, would hold that happy title.

I wasn't surprised by the general growth in any of the north side hoods but the rapidity of the jump on the south side surprised me. I figured it would happen just not as quickly.

Bring on the Olympics and all those billions of wasted taxpayer dollars and see what happens down there.

Man, I sure hope not. Daley's monumental boondoggle to himself is a non - starter for most of us, I think.