Once an area with large Irish and Jewish populations, South Shore transformed into a predominantly African-American community during the tumultuous ’60s. As Caryn Lazar Amster notes in her book The Pied Piper of the South Shore, the transition wasn’t very smooth. South Shore, which stretches from 67th to 79th streets and from the lake to the tracks just west of Stony Island Avenue, eventually stabilized. The community still suffers from a host of urban ills, but it also boasts some of the city’s best beachfront and terrific vintage architecture, including some homes reminiscent of those in the Beverly neighborhood.
What’s available in South Shore (South Shore photo gallery here)? The answer, in terms of rentals, is not much. But here’s a look at a range of apartments close to the lake in a neighborhood still dominated by single-family houses:
-$1,350 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit for rent in the Quadrangle Condominiums, a high-rise The Habitat Company converted several years ago, at 6700 S South Shore Dr. The building features 24-hour door staff, parking and great views of the lake.
-$975 for this two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit in a condo conversion at 7400 S Coles Ave. The unit features 42-inch maple cabinets and new appliances. The owner is offering a rent-to-own option.
-$600 for this studio in a vintage building at 7000 S South Shore Dr, overlooking the South Shore Cultural Center, just south of Jackson Park and just north of Rainbow Beach. The unit has a seperate kitchen, and the 1926 building has a 24-hour fitness room.