Our link to RedEye’s “next hot ‘hood” article generated a lot of comments, some of which touched on the present and future of the South Shore on the city’s South Side. We couldn’t think of any contacts in the area, so I called up Bob Dickinson of the Southside Builders Association, who in turn put me in touch with Jeff Heilbrunn, a marketing adviser for Builders Center of Chicago.
Heilbrunn should know South Shore — not only has he worked on several Builders Center projects in the neighborhood, but he actually spent the first 20 years of his life there. He grew up on Colfax Avenue, attended South Shore High School, played golf in Jackson Park, and spent his summer days at Rainbow Beach.
In the first video from today’s drive-around, Jeff takes me through the Jackson Park Highlands District on South Shore’s northwest side. There, you can find century-old single-family homes in a variety of architectural styles, built on 50-foot lots with generous setbacks. As we wound through these streets, Jeff described the South Shore he remembers from the ’50s and ’60s, and mentions some of the notable names who have emerged from the neighborhood.
I enjoyed Jeff Heilbrunns rolling commentary on South Shore. Her really knows and reveals the history of our great neighborhood. He loves it like I do. I too am a former South Shore resident. My family owned a toy store (Wee Folks) on 79th street for 25 years. I wrote a true family, true crime book about our experiences – The Pied Piper of South Shore – Toys and Tragedy in Chicago (www.cmapublishing.net). The book is about the rise and decline of our neighborhood. I am hopeful that current residents will continue to improve South Shore and make it a great place to live.
Thanks so much, Jeff. My house is featured at the beginning of the piece and as you turn right on 67th and Euclid. It’s the red brick with the tower on the west side of the street mid-block. It was built around 1900 and had a turn table for the horses and carriage in front of the carriage house in the back. My Dad bought it and the 2 adjoining lots in the 50’s. Two architects from NYC bought it and totally renovated the interior and turned the backyard into an English Country Garden. The house was magnificent inside with beamed ceilings, marble and parquet floors and a fireplace in the living room with hand painted tiles from a prominent European artist. Double french doors, servants quarters, 2 staircases (one for the servants), a wine cellar and shooting gallery and an antique Brunswick Pool Table with bronze lions (that Brunswick bought when we moved for as much as Dad paid for the house). It was truly special in many ways and brought back many memories…Thanks for the tour! Tobbe Dee