If you were dropped in the middle of Marycrest, and asked to guess where you were, you might venture Grayslake or Bloomingdale or Plainfield. There are few visual cues — apart from the low-flying jets — to associate it with Chicago’s southwest side.
Marycrest, with its fewer than 200 homes, is part of the Ashburn community, and spans the area from Kedzie Ave west to Central Ave, from 87th St north to 85th St. The northern part of Evergreen Cemetery and the Westport Commons shopping center form its southern boundary.
It’s a relatively affluent, racially-mixed neighborhood, built in the mid- to late 90s, housing just over 500 people with an average family income near $80,000. Home prices cluster in the mid-$300s.
The Metra’s Southwest line Ashburn station is a short walk from Marycrest, and 32-minutes from Union Station with just one intermediate stop. There’s a decent supply of educational, recreational and shopping facilities nearby.
See more of Yo’s Marycrest photos at Flickr, view them as a slide show, or take a leisurely drive through Marycrest at YouTube.
NOTE: thanks to IrishPirate for noting that the western boundary is Central Park Ave, not Central Ave.
Minor correction: Central Park Avenue.
Marycrest was built on land sold by the cemetery. I don’t remember how it got its name.
Initially virtually all of the buyers were city employees who were required to live in the city.
I’m sure NSH can add some more detail once he spots the post.
irishpirate,
Thanks.
What an exciting community
zzzzz…
Wake me up when we aren’t looking at aerials of ugly strip malls
I’m not sure how Marycrest got its name. My guess is that it was named after St Mary’s cemetery directly west of Evergreen Cemetery?
I do know however, how the similar Taley’s Corner neighborhood got it’s name 🙂
UP is not impressed with the architecture. yes, pretty standard suburban, however standard suburban is rare within the Chicago city limits. Thus, making this neighborhood noteworthy.
I was just over in this area last week, based on a recommendation from WoodLawn Chuck to try a sandwich from Fireside Steak and Lemonade across the street on the E.P. side. The steak was nothing special but the lemonade was fantastic!
Once again, YoChicago goes where no other Chicago based website goes. Thanks for coming out!
NSH,
Without the Marycrests Chicago can’t have the vitality, density and diversity on which the urban politician thrives.
I wonder whether the urban politician truly understands that and, if he does, why he finds these parts of the city so boring.
We intend to go into every nook and cranny of Chicago, because we see some appeal in all of it. If there’s some piece of the city we’ve missed or undercovered, please tell us about it and sooner or later we’ll be there.
Chicago’s neighborhoods need to compete with suburbs that often don’t have half the same appeal but do have more visibility and mind-share. Part of our role is to make the city more visible so that people who are interested in its attractions – and, yes, Marycrest is one of them – can find them.
And no, I won’t take the bait on “Taley’s Corner.”
“if there’s some piece of the city we’ve missed or undercovered, please tell us about it and sooner or later we’ll be there.”
close to the city’s western border @ 111th & Pulaski in Mt Greenwood sits the last farm in Chicago. Land was donated to the CPS who built the Chicago HS for Agricultural Science in the 80’s. The White Sox organization recently built “the field of dreams”, a baseball diamond for disabled kids, in Mt Greenwood Park that faces the farmland.
Joe,
if you are feeling adventurous run this address through the Cook County Assessors website and look at pics of homes nearby.
13430 S Maryland Ave
It is south of Altgeld Gardens and just north of the Little Calumet River. I remember seeing a story on this enclave years ago and looking at it you would think you were in Appalachia or Mississippi. Run down shacks etc.
There were some major league environmental issues going on. I have never been back there. I did learn to drive in the nearby forest preserve though. Safe place to learn as most people are too scared to go there.
pirate it doesn’t get much rougher than Altgeld Gardens. at least 1 shooting per week keeps everyone on their toes out there. Makes the 46th ward look like Main St USA in Disneyworld.
Interestingly enough not too far down riva’ at 135th and Ashland a new marina, townhouse, condo development is being built called Fay’s Point in Blue Island
NSH,
I am not even talking about Altgeld Gardens. I am talking about the area south of Altgeld and north of the river. According to the assessors site most of the homes seem to be gone. But I remember some expose on Channel 2(?) that was devastating.
I just did a web search under “Altgeld Gardens” and there are many stories out there about health hazards out there………..and not just the lead flying through the air hazards.
The story on tv showed unpaved roads, abandoned cars etc.
Maybe the city was embarrassed and tore most of the stuff down there.
Thanks for the tips – I’ll wend by way down there one of these days.
South of Altgeld Gardens sounds just like home (New Jersey), except healthier.