Trying to resurrect downtown, Roselle can't give commercial space away
Developer Richard Gammonley says that Starbucks was offered property in Northwest suburban Roselle rent-free for four to five years - and turned the v [...]
Stars Motel going out with a whimper, not a bang
We arrived at The Stars Motel yesterday hoping it would go down in a blaze of glory like the Sands or the Dunes, but apparently the old motel's lega [...]
Only a mark would landmark The Villa
I spent some time yesterday in The Villa, a Chicago landmark district in Irving Park.
The Villa is bounded by Addison Ave (3600 N) on the south, Av [...]
Hearse helps, but liquor's quicker getting around in Wicker Park
There's the crunchy biking set, of course (we mean that in only the best way and count ourselves among their number), and increasingly, there's the [...]
Classical music, Garden Social in Wicker Park – yes, that Wicker Park
You won't find the likes of Bruno "Lefty" Bicek or Frankie Machine there - or maybe you will, since the beauty of Wicker Park is that it hasn't compl [...]
Licensed developer – big deal
We just saw a Web site hyping a real estate developer's alleged status as a "licensed Chicago developer of luxury homes."
Well, one doesn't get licen [...]
Ten East Delaware more of a Brahms moment for Lagrange
Now that Lucien Lagrange has gone and put a soundtrack to his new X/O Condominiums in the South Loop, we couldn't resist asking him what inspired him [...]
Lucien Lagrange's Great Gig in the South Loop Sky
When Lucien Lagrange looks at the rendering for his new X/O Condominiums high-rise in the South Loop, he thinks of the famous Pink Floyd album The D [...]
Chicago rent barometer: Wicker Park on the low end
The low end kept rising higher and higher as we searched for rentals in Wicker Park. The Chicago Reader lists a $775 studio at 2153 W Potomac Ave and [...]
Decks, fireplaces galore at single-family home in Old Irving Park
This Prairie-style single-family home at 3817 N Kenneth Ave in Old Irving Park looks fetching enough from the front, but it's the back that sounds [...]
A neighborhood translation table
South Andersonville = Uptown
West Bucktown = Humboldt Park or Logan Square
West Roscoe Village = Avondale
You get the idea. Help Yo build a complete [...]
Wicker Park week: tour of historic Hoyne houses
Well, I'm off to a slower-than-expected start on Wicker Park week, but I have a good excuse: I spent all morning in Wicker Park. Besides, it's only [...]
Many ways to explore Wicker Park at YoChicago
How's this for dedication? The Yo's own Nathaniel (shown here at his moonlighting gig), erstwhile author of the Uptown journal, was so revved up abou [...]
Edgebrook Glen single-family homes have forest preserve as neighbor
Not many city developments can claim a forest preserve as an amenity, but CA Development's single-family community Edgebrook Glen backs up to Edge [...]
Ranquist builds "Urban Sandbox" single-family homes in Bucktown
We've come to expect modernity from Ranquist Development; witness its 156 W Superior, twin condo buildings in Wicker Park or two Lincoln Park develo [...]
The pros and cons of living in a landmark district in Chicago
How would you feel if the neighborhood you were living in became a landmark district? Has it happened to you? Does it affect property values? Do you [...]
Yo set to cover Stars Motel demolition
Tomorrow, it's curtains for the old Stars Motel at 6100 N Lincoln Ave, and Yo will be there to cover the demolition. S & S Home Builders is replac [...]
Wicker Park condo building sells out
We just heard Northfield Place, the 16-unit new-construction building at North and Marshfield avenues, has sold out, but judging by what we've seen [...]
Biograph Theater almost ready for its close-up
Victory Gardens Theatre is closing in on its grand opening of the restored Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave, in Lincoln Park.
To pre-celebrate t [...]
Attack of the killer chain stores in Wicker Park
Let's play a game of "Count the evil chain store" in Wicker Park. Starbucks is a no-brainer, but how about Urban Outfitters, sitting there, all quietl [...]