Albany Park Real Estate
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Albany Park Home Sales Statistics

Albany Park Facts

Location: 8 miles northwest of the Loop
Bordering Neighborhoods: Irving Park, Ravenswood, Ravenswood Manor, North Mayfair, Mayfair
Boundaries: North Branch of Chicago River to the east, Foster Avenue to the north, Pulaski to the west and Montrose Avenue to the south.
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents

Then and Now

Way back in 1868, Albany Park welcomed its first settler - a land speculator named Richard Rusk who bought 10 acres in the undeveloped region northwest of Chicago and converted it into a brickyard on the banks of the river. By the 1870s and '80s, Chicago's population was booming, and residents started settling further outside the central city, moving into the territory near Rusk's brickyard. Chicago annexed the entire area in 1889-the land that would become Albany Park neighborhood.

Less than five years later, a quartet of high-powered real estate investors purchased more than 600 acres of former farmland for residential development. One of the investors included streetcar mogul DeLancy Louderback, who was also an Albany, N.Y native. He lobbied to name the development after his hometown, and worked with his partners to bring transportation lines to the vicinity, a crucial move in its residential and commercial expansion. Centrally located Lawrence Avenue saw its first electric streetcars in 1896, and another streetcar that ran north along Kedzie Avenue to meet Lawrence Avenue was finished in 1913. But it was the extension of the Ravenswood elevated track (now the Brown Line) to Lawrence and Kimball avenues in 1907 that made the most significant impact on the development of Albany Park. The completion of the Ravenswood "El" sparked a rapid growth in construction, most of which was close to the train station at the intersection of Lawrence and Kimball avenues. Between 1910 and 1920, the neighborhood saw its population more than triple, from 7,000 inhabitants to more than 26,000. A decade later, Albany Park's population more than doubled again, to more than 55,000 people.

When it was still farmland, the area was largely populated by working class Germans and Swedes. But after 1912, a sizeable number of Russian Jews who were fleeing the overcrowded neighborhoods of the city's near west side, moved to Albany Park in search of more space to plant roots and raise their families. The neighborhood remained predominantly Jewish until after World War II, when many Jewish families moved out of the city to the North Shore suburbs.

Suburban flight led to a period of social and economic decline in Albany Park until 1978, when several neighborhood associations sought to improve the area's appearance and eliminate the vacated storefronts. For the next two decades, low interest loan programs and streetscape beautification initiatives increased neighborhood property values. Suddenly, a new wave of immigrants from Mexico and Asia moved in, bringing a new cultural vitality to Albany Park neighborhood. By the year 1990, this northwest Chicago community was home to the city's largest number of immigrants from the Philippines, Guatemala and Korea. Today the area maintains its niche as a launch pad for recently arrived immigrant groups and cultures from around the world.
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Parks

Albany Park's ethnic vibrancy carries over into its park system, which includes a slew of play places and cultural learning centers that make for lazy summer days spent outdoors. You ready to dive in?

Eugene Field Park (5100 N Ridgeway Ave, 773-478-9744) complete with its own Chicago Park District Cultural Center, is a 12-acre recreational hub for the area, offering a number of community programs that range from theater and arts to recreation and sports. Officially designated a CPD Cultural Center in 2001, the building has since served as home base for the Albany Park Theater Project (APTP). Since its inception in 1997, the ensemble of local teenage players creates original theater from real life stories and experiences in their own community.

A brilliant 45-foot by 10-foot clay and ceramic mosaic lights up the exterior of the Eugene Fieldhouse, depicting scenes from poems by late children's poet, Eugene Field. Once inside, park patrons have access to numerous athletic programs, such as basketball, softball and volleyball, aerobics and weightlifting, and early childhood education. The Chicago River snakes through the bulk of the park, providing a serene landscape for visitors. The park also features two baseball diamonds, a football/soccer field, five tennis courts, a playground, spray pool and a ceramics studio with kiln.

Additionally, Albany Park neighborhood includes several smaller parks, such as the 2.5-acre Jensen Park (4650 N Lawndale Ave, 312-742-7054) and Ronan Park (3000 W Argyle St), a 13-acre recreational space that joins the Chicago River with a historic pumping station. In the 1990s, Ronan Park benefited from a rehabilitation project that not only added acreage to its land, but created a new bike path and larger recreational corridor along the river. For moms and tots, there are a few, smaller playlot options in the area, including Buckeye Playlot (4900 N Troy St, 312-742-7591) and Kiwanis Playlot (3315 W Carmen Ave).
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Real Estate

Albany Park neighborhood boasts diversity from both the cultural and structural standpoint. Housing options vary from brick multi-unit courtyard buildings near the Kimball and Lawrence "El" (elevated train) hub to elegant two- and three-flats on the outskirts of the neighborhood. The western streets of the neighborhood are dotted with sturdy brick bungalows that evoke a rare brand of vintage charm.

In the past 20 years, Albany Park as experienced significant property value increases, but remains one of Chicago's more affordable neighborhoods. One-bedroom courtyard condos start at $130,000 and flats can get up to the mid $200,000s. Two-bedrooms range between $150,000 and $350,000-with a few pricier units here and there. The average sales price for a three-bedroom single-family detached home in Albany Park is around $400,000 with the cost only going up slightly for an extra bedroom or two.
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What's on the Menu?

Albany Park maintains one of the highest ratios of foreign-born residents in Chicago-and its diverse cultural makeup certainly comes to play on its local menus. While the majority of the area's foreign-born residents are from Latin America (mainly Mexico and Guatemala), a substantial number hail from Korea, the Philippines, former Yugoslavia and the Middle East. Fortunately for Albany Park neighborhood residents, everyone gets to feast on the ethnic offerings spicing up the local streets.

Start with some casual, street food-inspired fun at Chuy's Chicken (3652 W Lawrence Ave, 773-267-3377) where authentic Mexican cooking comes in neat rows of roasting chickens sizzling on huge grills offering everyone an olfactory preview of their up-coming meal. Diners get to choose from handmade tortilla or pita wraps along with freshly made rojo or verde salsas. Chickens come served by quarter, whole or half and are dressed with two yummy sides, like corn, mac n' cheese or Spanish rice.

On the Middle Eastern tip, great ethnic food hideaways such as Noon-O-Kabab (4661 N Kedzie Ave, 773-279-8899) give good face to Persian cuisine, boasting its ever-popular dill rice. Middle Eastern platters such as lamb shank and-yes, kebabs!-all make an appearance here. The lines can get a little hairy, so be prepared to wait. We've scoped out a few hidden gems on the BYOB front that also indulge our cravings for Middle Eastern fare in Albany Park, one in particular: Semiramis (4639 N Kedzie Ave, 773-279-8900). This quaint dining nook features a roster of Lebanese favorites, including shawarma (a Middle Eastern-style sandwich), daj meshwi (marinated rotisserie chicken), and fattoush (a salad of chopped veggies, mint and lemon), to name a few. This eatery is relatively new to the neighborhood and-at least for now-continues to be one of Albany Park's best-kept dining secrets.

Albany Park once earned the nickname "Koreatown," thanks to an influx of immigrants moving into the area. Lucky for us, their cultural presence shines through in culinary treasures like Chicago Kalbi Restaurant (3752 W Lawrence Ave, 773-604-8183), which serves up authentic, cook-it-yourself yakiniku (the Japanese version of Korean barbecue). Grill up short ribs tabletop and then wrap up the spicy meat in lettuce leaves and enjoy a flaming slice of heaven. For a more formal dining experience, be sure to check out Chiyo (3800 W Lawrence Ave, 773-267-1555), formally called Matsumoto. Sushi platters, Japanese-style fondue and beef teriyaki are popular dishes that have guests coming back again and again. The restaurant also offers an ambitious (and authentic) kaiseki-style menu, or Japanese tasting menu. The elaborate, multi-course meal is available with a five-day advance notice. Albany Park neighborhood also boasts a decent-sized corridor of Thai restaurants along Kedzie Avenue. The likes of Arun's Thai Restaurant (4156 N Kedzie Ave, 773-539-1909) and Thai Little Home Cafe (4747 N Kedzie Ave, 773-478-3944) spice up the street with steaming noodle dishes and exotic soups.

For the grab-n-go minded, the likes of Kitchen Chicago (4664 N Manor Ave, 773-463-0863) offers a friendly alternative to chain coffee and pastry shops. The ever-changing lineup of sweet offerings and a location right next to the "El" gives commuters a reason to get to the train stop 10 minutes early. Across the street from the Francisco El stop is Merle's Coffee Shoppe (4642 N Francisco Ave, 773-588-3732), another non-corporate outpost of coffee and cappuccino tailor made for Albany Park residents. The shop is especially alluring during the summer, when it opens up the 100-person outdoor patio.
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Best Shopping Stops

Albany Park's shopping district is certainly no Magnificent Mile, but the neighborhood boasts a few retail treasures, for those willing to hunt.

Love the girly styles at Forever 21 and H&M? Then you'll love the affordably priced trends at Giby's (3140 W Montrose Ave, 773-267-3942), which offers the same hip dresses and fashions as some of downtown's large retail shops. Similarly, Wave Fashionwear (3358 W Lawrence Ave, 773-267-1880) always stocks a chic collection of women's apparel for the 20-something and late-teen set, offering an array of dresses, halter tops, Capri pants and accessories.

When it comes to shopping, Albany Park is more about grocery goods than high-end trends. The neighborhood's diverse cultural flair shines through in its offerings of seasonal produce and fresh meats at local markets including Al-Khyam Grocery and Meat (4738 N Kedzie Ave, 773-583-3077) and Holyland Bakery & Grocery (4806 N Kedzie Ave, 773-588-3306) where Middle Eastern spices ignite the senses at first entry. Also be sure to check out Sahar Meat Market II (4829 N Kedzie Ave, 773-583-6098) located just up the street for a few carnivorous take-out treats. Halal chickens and ducks crowd the meat cases along with an array of exotic Middle Eastern seasonings and a slew of hand-stuffed sausages. Learn more of the reasoning behind Albany Park's "Koreatown" moniker by visiting Korean Arirang Supermarket (4017 W Lawrence Ave, 773-777-2400). Take home a taste of East Asian teas, ginger root and even cuts of Kobe beef.

Find other fresh culinary delights with ethnic inspirations at Andy's Fruit Ranch (4725 N Kedzie Ave, 773-583-2322) where inexpensive meats and cheeses cram the shelves offering Albany Parkers an array of flavor-packed proteins. Take home a bottle of imported wine and browse through Andy's collection of European chocolates. No fruit or veggie is too exotic for his worldly market-half the time we're not even sure whether the unusual produce here falls in the category of fruit or vegetable! Keeping with its eclectic mix, Andy's also maintains a well-stocked selection of Mexican grocery items, too.
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Night on the Town

Once night falls, settle into the relaxed vibe of Albany Park's laid back nightlife. No worries about designer jeans hereâ¬those who cocktail in Albany Park are surrounded by a couple of places that welcome you to dress down and hang-out with a casual crowd of neighborhood locals and chilled-out Chicagoans.

We like to start out at Montrose Saloon (2933 W Montrose Ave, 773-463-7663) taking in the carefree clatter of cocktails and good friends. The bar gets crowded during its open blue grass jam session held the second Wednesday of the month, which makes for a great mid-week escape from the standard bar scene. In summer, patrons spend lazy afternoons on the patio sipping frosty beers and playing a round of horseshoes. On the more exotic tip, The Pharaohs Cafe (3949 W Lawrence Ave, 773-478-8400) provides Albany Park residents with the aroma of Middle Eastern influences, boasting one of the city's best hookah bars since 1986. The weekends lend to a loungey atmosphere with music and live dancing, however the tabletops remain BYOB.
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Showtime!

One of Albany Park's most coveted community groups is the Albany Park Theater Project, a multicultural ensemble of teenagers who create original theater based on real life stories stemming from the area's significant immigrant population. Albany Park Theatre Project is resident at the Eugene Field Cultural Center (5100 N Ridgeway Ave, 773-478-9744). This isn't Broadway, but the one-of-a-kind shows put on by this talented troupe of young actors is a cultural treasure, special to this northwest side Chicago neighborhood.
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Mark Your Calendar

Summer is the season for Chicago festivals, and Albany Park has its own unique celebrations that showcase the neighborhood's multicultural swagger.

August in Albany Park is a fun time of year. Festival-goers can enjoy their barbeque and beer in the sun at the annual Albany Park Summer Fest (3400 W Leland Ave, 773-604-8489). Held the third Saturday in August, Albany Park's one-day outdoor affair ensures residents get their fill of summer fun and friends, rain or shine.
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Getting Around

Staying true to its historic roots, the hub of Albany Park's public transportation is still found at the crux of Lawrence and Kimball avenues, at the end (or beginning, depending how you look at it) of the Brown Line elevated "El" train route. Originally constructed in 1907 as the "Ravenswood Line", the Brown Line is the most historic of all the CTA trains and still functions-fairly reliably-transporting millions of Chicagoans throughout the city. Stops in Albany Park include Kimball, Kedzie and Francisco all serving the southeast corner of the neighborhood. To get downtown, the Brown Line conveniently takes passengers to the Loop in about 30 to 35 minutes.

For those traveling by bus, the #92 Foster Avenue bus, #82 Kimball/Homan bus and #93 California Avenue bus all route riders to surrounding destinations in Albany Park.

If you've got your own car, street parking in Albany Park is also relatively convenient, although some areas require permits-so check carefully. There are no noisy expressways within the boundaries of Albany Park neighborhood-which is a bonus in our book-especially when the entrance to I-90/94 is less than a mile west, providing quick and easy access for getting downtown or heading out to the suburbs.

Bicyclists can take advantage of the existing, off-street paths along Lawrence, Kedzie and Bryn Mawr avenues. There are also bike trails along the Chicago River, for riders looking for a more scenic route.
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School's in Session

Albany Park's multicultural character carries over into its neighborhood schools. Albany Park Multicultural Academy is the neighborhood's middle school, housing 7th and 8th grades. Albany Park is also home to the prestigious Von Steuben Metropolitan High School Science Center, which attracts students from around the Chicago area. In 1999, an issue of U.S. News and World Report declared Von Steuben was one of the top 96 high schools across the entire country that received recognition as being an outstanding American high school. In June of 2003, Von Steuben was the only Chicago Public High School to be rated "Excellent" in Newsweek's America's Best High Schools, with one of the strongest Advanced Placement programs in the country. In addition to the following list of educational facilities in Albany Park neighborhood, visit our Chicago Schools Guide for more information on Chicago area schools.

Albany Park Multicultural Academy - 4929 North Sawyer Avenue - (773) 534-5108
Hibbard Elementary - School 3244 W Ainslie St - (773) 534-5191
Haugan Elementary - School 4540 N Hamlin Ave - (773) 534-5040
Theodore Roosevelt High School - 3436 W Wilson Ave - (773) 534-5000
Volta Elementary School - 4950 N Avers Ave - (773) 534-5080
Von Steuben Metropolitan High School Science Center - 5039 N Kimball Ave - (773) 534-5100
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Basic Needs

From shopping to stamps, we compiled a list of places in Albany Park neighborhood that cover all your basic, everyday needs. From shopping to stamps, we compiled a list of places in Albany Park neighborhood that cover all your basic, everyday needs. The following is just a taste of what Albany Park has to offer. Discover the rest as you explore the neighborhood for yourself.

Dining

Asian Cuisine
Arun's Thai Restaurant - 4156 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 539-1909
Chicago Kalbi Restaurant - 3752 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 604-8183
Chiyo - 3800 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-1555
City Noor - 4714 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 267-6777
Great Sea Chinese Restaurant - 3254 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 478-9129
Hourglass - 3658 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 478-4050
Kangnam - 4849 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 539-2524
Thai Little Home Cafe - 4747 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 478-3944
Thai Valley - 4600 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 588-2020
Vip Restaurant - 3254 W Montrose Ave - (773) 588-2727
Wok Cuisine - 4554 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 588-8883

Bakeries/Sweets Shops
Al-Khyam Bakery - 4746 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-3099
Holyland Bakery & Grocery - 4806 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 588-3306 
Markello's Baking Co - 3520 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 539-9344
Nazareth Sweets - 4638 North Kedzie Ave - (773) 463-2457

Bars/Restaurants
Montrose Saloon - 2933 W Montrose Ave - (773) 463-7663
The Pharaohs Cafe - 3949 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 478-8400

Cafes/Coffee Shops
Cups Coffee and Tea - 4645 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 539-2917
Dunkin' Donuts - 4821 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 463-2691
Kitchen Chicago - 4664 N Manor Ave - (773) 463-0863
Merle's Coffee Shoppe - 4642 N Francisco Ave - (773) 588-3732
Rainbow Donuts - 3402 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 509-9970
Starbucks - 4558 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 267-1579
West River Cafe - 4400 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 866-2133

Italian Cuisine
Manzo's Ristorante - 3210 W Irving Park Rd - (773) 478-3070

Latin American Cuisine
Brasa Roja - 3125 W Montrose Ave - (773) 866-2252
Mayan Sol Latin Grill - 3830 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 539-4398

Mexican Cuisine
Chuy's Chicken - 3652 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-3377
Lindo Michoacan - 3148 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 539-6627
Taqueria Los Mogotes - 4959 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 463-5612
Taqueria Uptown - 3149 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 509-9890

Middle Eastern Cuisine
Al Khayameih - 4748 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-0999
Mataam Al-Mataam - 3200 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 463-0600
Noon-O-Kabab - 4661 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 279-8899
Sahar Pita - 4835 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-6695
Salam - 4636 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-0776
Semiramis - 4639 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 279-8900

Pizza
Golden Crust Italian Pizzeria - 4620 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 539-5385
Little Caesar's - 4445 N Pulaski Rd - (773) 539-8505
Noli's Pizza - 4839 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 588-0400

Emergency Rooms

Kindred Hospital - 2544 W Montrose Ave (773) 267-2622
Swedish Covenant Hospital - 5145 N California Ave - (773) 878-8200

Entertainment

Nick's Billiards - 4445 N Pulaski Rd - (773) 583-2011
Uno Billiards - 3112 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-8166

Events

Albany Park Summer Fest - 3400 W Leland Ave - (773) 604-8489

Grocery Stores

Aldi Foods - 2431 W Montrose Ave
Andy's Fruit Ranch - 4733 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-2322
Clark Market - 4853 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 478-2262
Harvestime Foods - 2532 Lawrence Ave - (773) 989-4400 
John's Food Mart - 4947 N Kedzie Ave
Lawrence Fish Market - 3914 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-6838
Sahar Meat & Grocery - 4508 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 583-7772

Gyms

Galter Life Center - 5157 N Francisco Ave - (773) 878-9936

Libraries

Albany Park Public Library - 5150 N Kimball Ave - (312) 744-1933

Parks

Buckeye Playlot - 4900 N Troy St - (312) 742-7591
Eugene Field Park - 5100 N Ridgeway Ave - (773) 478-9744
Jensen Park - 4650 N Lawndale Ave - (312) 742-7054
Kiwanis Playlot - 3315 W Carmen Ave
Ronan Park - 3000 W Argyle St

Pharmacies

Hwang Pharmacy & Medical Center - 3533 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-3344
Pharmacy One - 4753 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 267-5050
Walgreen's - 4728 N Pulaski Rd - (773)286-0309

Post Office

US Post Office - 4749 N Bernard St - (773) 583-9530

Shopping

Ameer General Merchandise - 3444 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 539-3266
Armory Chicago 3450 W Lawrence Ave (773) 463-6558
Crafty Beaver Home Center 3850 W Montrose Ave (773) 478-5510
Fantastic Outlet 3810 W Lawrence Ave (773) 583-2474
Giby's 3140 W Montrose Ave (773) 267-3942)
Jenin Linen 3558 W Lawrence Ave (773) 463-3030
Payless ShoeSource - 3401 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-5239
Sips Bookstore - 4645 N Kedzie Ave - (773) 539-2917
T & J Sportswear - 3259 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-3379
Tomato Fashions - 3210 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 539-1738
Village Discount Outlet - 3301 W Lawrence Ave - (708) 388-4772
Wave Fashionwear - 3358 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 267-1880

Transit

Chicago Transit Authority - (888) 968-7282
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Our neighborhoods guide is meant to give potential homebuyers a general overview of what every Chicago neighborhood has to offer and what makes it unique from the rest, and believe us, no two neighborhoods are the same! Searching for a new home isn't just about finding that prefect condo or house, making sure the setting fits your style and needs is just as important. And whether Albany Park is your ideal locale to settle down, or you've found the scene here just isn't your cup of tea, we're here to help you find the right place to make sure your home purchase a is total success. From the type of restaurants to the outdoor venues to the local schools, every detail is an essential factor in what makes a property of dream home. By utilizing our comprehensive accounts of each community, such as this one for Albany Park, we hope to provide a detailed picture of not only the residential real estate available in the area, but also the additional features of the neighborhood. A quick glance and you'll know exactly what shopping, dining, entertainment and resources are in Albany Park, all without ever having to go anywhere.
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