IRVING PARK



Bounded by Montrose Avenue, Irving Park Road, and the North Branch of the Chicago River, the Chicago neighborhood of Irving Park is actually a collective way to refer to a conglomeration of smaller neighborhoods such as Old Irving Park, The Villa, The Triangle, Independence Park, Addison Mall, Mayfair and West Walker.

Irving Park collectively (particularly Independence Park) is an architectural wonder as vintage homes of all types are being perpetually restored in the area. The Villa Historic District has over 120 architecturally significant bungalows alone. Houses and estates throughout the neighborhoods are some of Chicago's largest and loveliest. However, there are many affordable housing options here as the median housing price went down slighty to $169,000 in 2001.

George Grant Elmslie designed the Peoples Gas Irving Park Neighborhood Store (4839 W. Irving Park Road), which was built in 1926. Created so the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company could promote the newly developed technologies for gas home appliances, it has since become an Irving Park landmark..

Irving Park's neighborhoods have a higher-than-usual ratio of transportation options. Union Pacific trains stop on Avondale and there is CTA bus service on Cicero, Montrose, and Irving Park Road. The Kennedy Expressway and El Blue Line also run right through the middle of the neighborhood.