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1640 North Damen is a 3-story mixed-use building at 1640 N Damen Ave in Bucktown. The building, which dates to the late 1920s, has 5 renovated apartments and ground-floor retail space.
Nike Running occupies the retail space in the building.
The building was acquired recently by an affiliate of Reside Living.
The apartments
1640 North Damen has 1- and 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartments. Floor plans are available online.
The apartments have hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, lots of windows, and individual heat and air-conditioning.
There are in-unit washer / dryers. Kitchens have ample cabinet and counter space, granite counter tops, gas ranges, dishwashers and built-in microwaves.
Amenities, services, policies
The building is smoke-free and pet-friendly, subject to limits. On-site parking is not available.
The location
1640 North Damen is in a vibrant, convenient location that affords residents great proximity to the CTA Blue Line and a wide variety of interesting shops, restaurants and nightlife. It’s one of the most attractive, pedestrian-friendly locations in Chicago.
Long-time residents consider the location part of Wicker Park and more recent arrivals refer to it as Bucktown.
Shopping. 1640 North Damen does not have good walking proximity to a full-service grocery store. The nearest, a Jewel-Osco, is more than a half-mile away.
Olivia’s Market, a block north and around the corner from the building, was “inspired by the specialty food stores and corner groceries” in New York. Goddess & Grocer is across the street and the new Walgreen’s at North and Damen carries some groceries and prepared food items.
The Wicker Park Farmers Market is held Sundays, from May to October, just south of the building in the park.
1640 North Damen is situated in the midst of what may be the city’s best concentration of boutique clothing outlets and spas outside of Oak Street.
Close neighbors include BCBG Max Azria and Asha Spa to name just a few of the many trendy venues in the area.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment.
You’ll find an outstanding selection of locally-owned, one-of-a-kind bars, restaurants and outdoor cafés along Damen Ave, North Ave and Milwaukee Ave within a short walk of the building. In a reflection of the neighborhood’s trendiness and affluence you’ll also find Starbucks, Chipotle, Potbelly and other franchise outlets.
Neighborhood standbys within a few minutes’ walk of 1640 North Damen include Club Lucky and George’s Hot Dogs.
Penny’s Noodles and Big Star are just a few of the dining venues on Damen Ave south of North Ave.
Just south of the building there’s a thriving strip of shops and restaurants along North Ave.
Nearby Milwaukee Ave has quickly become one of the hottest development corridors in the city, and the six-corner intersection of Milwaukee, Damen and North is often crowded and congested.
In the summer the neighborhood comes alive with street fairs and festivals. The Wicker Park Bucktown site has a good list of upcoming events.
Parks, recreation. Churchill Park is a few short blocks north of the building.
The 1-acre park has a very popular dog-friendly area and a junior baseball field.
Churchill Park is also one of the access points for the new Bloomingdale Trail a/k/a The 606.
1640 North Damen is a few blocks north of Wicker Park, a 4-acre oasis.
The park has a field house with a gym and meeting rooms, a community garden, a fountain and a dog-friendly area.
There’s also a large playground, a baseball field, basketball courts, a soccer / football field and shaded areas for relaxation.
Transportation. 1640 North Damen’s has good access to public transportation.
The CTA Blue Line stop at Damen Ave, a block south of the building, travels to O’Hare Airport, the Loop, Oak Park and Forest Park.
The #50 CTA bus on Damen, steps from the building, travels north to Roscoe Village, and south to Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village and the Illinois Medical District hospitals.
The # 72 CTA bus along North Ave connects to the dense cluster of big-box retail in the Clybourn Corridor and to the CTA Red and Brown Lines.
Many area residents opt for the protected bike lanes along Milwaukee Ave as their preferred route to the Loop and River North.
Taxi service is readily available near the building. The nearest Zipcar car-sharing location is near the building at North and Damen. DIVVY bikes are available nearby.
Access to I-90/94 and the city’s expressway grid is good, but can be slow at peak hours.
The competition
The neighborhood has mostly small apartment buildings with few vacancies. The best way to find an apartment is to walk, bike or drive around, looking for FOR RENT signs. Rentals are typically also available in a number of nearby condo buildings.
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s Bucktown / Wicker Park apartment guide.
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Note: Reside Living is a YoChicago advertiser.
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