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Welcome To Jefferson Park

Often called the "Gateway to Chicago" due to its historical importance to travelers and immigrant passage to the U.S.; or a city within a city because of its self-sufficient, small-town environment, Jefferson Park is a neighborhood with rich cultural history and attractive residential property. Homebuyers will find a good assortment of real estate in Jefferson Park that covers every style of living, from contemporary condominiums to early Victorian houses. The area is surrounded by suburban, country club golf courses and thick forest preserves, so Jefferson Park residents are not for want of open space and lush greenery. Many of the homes in this neck of the woods have private yards and the small neighborhood parks provide even more room to stretch the legs and get a breath of fresh air. Entertainment in Jefferson Park comes in the form of community festivals, local theater, and knocking the pins down at the bowling alley. After working up an appetite, set out for any one of Jefferson Park's dozens of restaurants, cafés, bakeries, delis, pizzerias and takeouts.

Read More About Jefferson Park...

Contents


[Demographics, Shopping, Entertainment, and more...]
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Jefferson Park Home Sales Statistics


Jefferson Park Facts

Location: Approximately 10 miles northwest of the Loop
Bordering Neighborhoods: Union Ridge, Big Oaks, Forest Glen, Portage Park, Norwood Park
Boundaries: Cicero Avenue to the east, Montrose Avenue to the south, Narragansett Avenue and Austin Avenue to the west, and Forest Glen Woods to the north
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
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Then and Now

The evolution of Jefferson Park began with the arrival of John Kinzie Clark. Known as the first white settler in Chicago, Clark also was one of the first pioneers of this northwest side neighborhood. In 1830, he arrived and constructed a log cabin hotel. The section of land where Clark built his inn was heavily traveled by merchants and traders journeying to and from Chicago. Subsequently, the Jefferson settlement became a convenient rest stop for these people and gained quickly gained popularity.

In 1850, the roads now known as Milwaukee Avenue and Elston Avenue were built to better connect people to Chicago. Jefferson Township, a separate entity from Chicago, was formed in that same year. A thriving village with several businesses emerged in the area where today Milwaukee Avenue and Higgins Road connect. Not long after, a rail line (Chicago & North Western) was extended and that, too, ran through this exact spot.

By 1889, Jefferson Township was annexed by Chicago. A system of streetcars was established along Lawrence, Milwaukee, and Elston avenues at the turn of the century. This furthered the accessibility of the area and many working class immigrants, mostly Polish and German, began to populate the area. But by the 1950s, what was once a major transportation hub, fell increasingly still. With this slowdown in travel through the neighborhood, the population growth also dwindled.

Things started to turn around at the end of the decade, the Kennedy Expressway was constructed through the heart of Jefferson Park, offering residents a convenient passage in and out of the city. Ten years later, the CTA opened up a Jefferson Park bus station, followed by a Greyhound station, and a Blue Line train stop. The multiple means of transportation has helped the neighborhood return to its former glory as a central hub for the northwest side.

Today, remnants of the original residential architecture such as late 19th century Victorians still stand in the neighborhood, which is rapidly growing again with a new influx of families.
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Parks

Tucked in among Jefferson Park's beautiful homes and residential streets are charming recreational parks that provide the neighborhood with a little extra open space and lush, green vegetation.

Named after Robert Dunham, the first president of the Chicago Park District, Dunham Park (4638 N. Melvina, 312 742 7603) has been around since the early 1950s. Dunham has many facilities for public use, including tennis and volleyball courts, an inline skating course, horseshoe pits, softball and baseball diamonds, a spray pool and a playground. Kids can get a head start on their education by entering preschool classes here. Dunham also offers a few unique programs such as the Major League Baseball Clinic, where professional players teach kids the fundamentals of the game; and Camp Chicago, where kids experience a night of camping in the park.

At one point in Jefferson Park's history, the fate of Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee, 312 742 7487) was in limbo. Back in the 1920s, the beautiful nine-acre park area almost became a railroad car barn, had it not been for a determined group of residents. They fought to keep the space for use as a public park -- and won. Today Wilson Park sits along Milwaukee Avenue with its original Georgian fieldhouse still intact. The land has baseball and football fields, a putting green, playground, sand volleyball court, and an interactive water area for children. Wilson Park also offers a range of programs from aerobics classes for age 60 and over to day camps for the young'uns.
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Real Estate

Residents from all walks of life like Jefferson Park because there is an incredible variety of housing available. As it is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, the generations of residential design and architecture are apparent in styles from early Victorian to 1950s ranch houses to sleek new condo development.

Many of Jefferson Park's earliest homes are still standing on lots of green grass, having been rejuvenated to their original splendor. The neighborhood's residential streets are edged with well-kept single-family Georgians, Victorians, and a multitude of Chicago bungalows. Lush lawns, back yards and attractive shrubs are in abundance -- and it's no surprise to see rabbits racing through the properties.

But not all Jefferson Park homes are detached single-family places. Older mid-rise and courtyard condos are also common, and new construction three-flats, modern condominiums and contemporary townhomes have made their mark in this northwest side Chicago neighborhood as well. The price for a newer three-bedroom condo or townhouse ranges between $300,000 and the low $500,000s. The average sales price for a one- or two-bedroom unit is around $220,000, with some newer models selling for over $400,000. Three-bedroom detached single-family homes in Jefferson Park go for around $367,000, on average. And there are some larger houses with five or six bedrooms that have price tags in the upper $600,000s.

What's on the Menu?

Among Jefferson Park's many family-owned restaurants and what we consider to be some stunning city treasures.

The most well known restaurant in Jefferson Park is arguably the Gale Street Inn (4914 N Milwaukee Ave, 773 725 1300). Gale Street has been around since 1963 and has won many awards for their barbecue ribs, which are indeed delicious, but we must stress that there's much more to the menu than that. Many other choices abound here, chicken, seafood, and excellent jambalaya -- to name a few. The drink list features a strong selection of wine and an interesting assortment of unique martinis. There are two dining rooms in Gale Street, with booths and tables to suit patrons' preferences. Old photos highlighting the history and growth of the neighborhood hang on the walls, while live jazz is performed a few nights during the week. And a little bonus: The parking lot is free.

Pier 5736 (5736 N. Elston, 773 774 FOOD) is an excellent destination for seafood lovers. From the outside, the restaurant looks like it would be nothing to write home about, but inside the earth-toned eatery comes to life. The chef here picks out the freshest fish daily to ensure a quality menu. Compared to downtown seafood prices, Pier 5736 is a steal. And two nights out of the week, they take five items from the menu and price them at only $12. For two years, Pier 5736 has been ranked in the top 50 restaurants in the city by the Chicago Reader. Highlights from the kitchen include the jumbo lump blue crab cocktail, barbecue salmon, and lobster medallions.

On the southeastern edge of Jefferson Park lies Pizza by Alex (5044 W Montrose Ave, 773 427 8900). Here, the brick oven kicks out warmth and aroma into the small dining area, which looks out onto Montrose Avenue through floor-to-ceiling windows. When ordering, we have the traditional option of choosing what we want on our pizza, but the kitchen has about ten recipes of their own on the menu -- that are worth straying from our routine topping choices. The house specialty is a tasty roast beef pizza with mushrooms and caramelized onions. Other neat pies worth a try are the Rach (chipotle sauce, beans and chorizo) and the Hawaiian (ham, pineapple, bacon and peppers). For those not in the mood for pizza, Alex serves an array of paninis, subs, and pasta.

For a pleasing taste of Italy, Jefferson Park offers Villa D'Oro Risotrante Italiano (5531 N. Milwaukee, 773 775 2820). The establishment is intimate and casual, and delights in pumping opera music into the cozy atmosphere. D'Oro has been open since 1969, and the Maranto family designed their menu using old family recipes from Sicily. We're fans of the pasta dishes and their cuts of meat are a real treat, prepared the way you like it with that special touch of Italian seasoning. The Marantos haven't overlooked a thing, they provide a full list of tastes to suit patrons' every whim -- veal enthusiasts will love the selection of different lamb dishes, and D'Oro also serves (and delivers) thin crust, pan, and stuffed pizza. The food is not only good for the palate; it's good for the pocket book as well with prices that are exceptionally reasonable.
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Best Shopping Stops

You probably won't find yourself on an all-out shopping spree in Jefferson Park, but the neighborhood certainly has a couple of stand out shops that are sure to grab your attention.

If you have a child trying to figure out what to do for that upcoming science project, take him or her to American Science & Surplus (5316 N Milwaukee, 773 763 0313). This is quite the specialty store -- and a dream for the science-minded individual. Test tubes, beakers, microscopes, motors, magnets, robot parts -- the list goes on and on, and on. A ton of fascinating toys and captivating games lie here in wait, such as the flying and screeching monkey or a room-sized air hockey set. Prices are typically very low since the store builds its stock up with items that are no longer produced or over-bought by other shops. These guys even have the original Slinky, for hours of stair-descending fun. We can easily lose ourselves here for an hour or so, browsing the unique selection and reminiscing on our childhood days.

The Morgan Art Gallery (5350 N Milwaukee, 773 631 0680) provides Jefferson Park residents and local Chicagoans with a little creative culture and artistic flair. The gallery has been a neighborhood fixture since the 1970s. Originally exhibiting and selling only Polish artwork, it eventually expanded to include additional European works. Morgan frequently rotates its selection, which is a mix of widely recognized artists as well as local talent. Along with the fine art for sale, Morgan can restore and clean paintings. They also do framing and can be hired to do interior design for a home or office.
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Night on the Town

This northwest side Chicago community boasts a handful of fun neighborhood establishments and watering holes that draw a solid crowd of Jefferson Park dwellers.

Since 1957 Habetler Bowling Alley (5250 N Northwest Hwy, 773-774-0500) has attracted countless people to its lanes. Even after half a century of use, this place maintains modernity with frequent updates -- both in style and technology -- staying ahead of the times, and most other bowling alleys in the city. Whether you notice the newly finished lanes or not, there's no way you can miss the alley's lively decor ... the walls are painted in bright orange, yellow and green. Habetler's is able to accommodate a large number of bowlers with 32 lanes and when we're looking for something to do on Tuesday nights we always stop by for $1 games after 9:30 pm.

The Irish Pub of choice in Jefferson Park, by show of hands, would most likely be Galvin's Public House (5901 W. Lawrence, 773 205 0570). This corner joint with brown and gold façade invites you in with open arms to a spacious room anchored with hardwood floors and enclosed by a bronze-toned ceiling. On the weekends Galvin's provides its pint-drinking visitors with live music, usually Irish folk. Food is served as early as 11 am, and diners can get Irish breakfast as long as the kitchen remains open. Other Irish faves such as corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd's pie are also deserving of attention.

Tom Cruise and Paul Newman, in the Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money. Yes, this is what Chris's Billiards (4637 N Milwaukee, 773 286 4714) is famous for. Scorsese picked Chris's after scoping out just about every other place in the city to film scenes for his 1986 film. This pool hall waits at the top of a long narrow staircase and can be a pretty serious venue to catch some expert players in action. Photos of billiards champions adorn the walls, surrounding over twenty tables. In the back is a set of bleachers for days when this Jefferson Park hotspot hosts professional tournaments. If you have the aspiration to improve your game -- or want to hang with the big shots -- Chris's offers lessons.
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Mark Your Calendar

Jefferson Park is the host of a couple stellar neighborhood bashes: Jeff Fest and Taste of Polonia.

Jefferson Park keeps the summer kicking with a neighborhood-wide party called Jeff Fest (Higgins and Milwaukee, 773 868 3010). The festival is held every year at the very end of June. Jefferson Park residents and Chicagoans from surrounding neighborhoods flood the streets to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of food, beverages, live music, kids activities and more. Like many outdoor neighborhood street festivals in Chicago, vendors set up arts and crafts tents to sell their wares -- but unlike other community celebrations, Jeff Fest festivities close out on Sunday evening with an awesome fireworks display.

If you haven't been before, Taste of Polonia (5216 W. Lawrence, 773 777 8898) is a deliciously distinctive and pleasurable event that brings in the crowds and their appetites. This Jefferson Park festival celebrates Polish culture, as there is a huge contingent that lives in the area, but it is fun for all. Live music, that of course includes polka and other Polish folk tunes, entertains the masses while the menu of kielbasa, pierogis, potato pancakes, and more, satisfies their rumbling stomachs. Taste of Polonia only happens once a year over Labor Day weekend, so make sure to mark that calendar!
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Getting Around

Jefferson Park has historically been (and still is) a busy site for transportation. A convergence of roads and rails cut through the neighborhood's center giving residents and visitors plenty of options for easy and convenient travel.

The CTA Blue Line train, which goes to the Loop and to O'Hare International Airport, has a Jefferson Park stop (near Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues). And to make it simple, the Metra commuter rail has a stop right next door. This Union Pacific route runs between McHenry County and downtown Chicago.

Drivers have the option of using the Kennedy Expressway to get downtown or to the north and northwest suburbs. Alternate routes for drivers include Milwaukee Avenue, which takes a diagonal path straight into the city's near north side, or to the northwest suburbs in the other direction. Other popular thoroughfares include Higgins Road which begins in Jefferson Park and also goes to the northwest suburbs, and Northwest Highway, which does the same.

CTA Bus services through Jefferson Park are many and provide rides in just about every direction you could possible need to go. The Milwaukee Avenue #56 bus travels northwest to Devon or southeast to the West Loop; the Cicero Avenue #54 bus heads north to Skokie, Illinois and south to Midway Airport; the Montrose Avenue #78 bus goes east toward the lake and west to Harlem; but if we're heading out to the waterfront, we usually hop on the Foster Avenue #92, which starts in the heart of Jefferson Park, and takes you east to Lake Michigan in no time flat.
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School's In Session

Families in Jefferson Park have a bunch of schools to choose from. Below is a helpful list to assist in exploring them further, and for additional info on these and other Chicago schools, go to Great Schools or Chicago Public Schools.

Farnsworth Elementary School - 5414 N Linder Ave - (773) 534-3535
Hitch Elementary School - 5625 N Mcvicker Ave - (773) 534-1189
Kolbe School - 5841 W Strong St - (773) 283-3618
Northwestern Business College - 4829 N Lipps Ave - (773) 725-2731
Prussing Elementary School - 4650 N Menard Ave - (773) 534-3460
St Cornelius School - 5252 N Long Ave - (773) 283-2192
St Robert Bellarmine School - 6036 W Eastwood Ave - (773) 725-5133
St Tarcissus School - 6040 W Ardmore Ave - (773) 763-7080
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Basic Needs

Here is a handy contact list to help you track down those everyday essentials and useful services offered throughout Jefferson Park neighborhood.
Chicago Transit Authority - (888) 968 7282

Post Offices

US Post Office - 5401 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 736-0759

Libraries

Jefferson Park Public Library - 5363 W Lawrence Ave - (312) 744-1998

Parks

Dunham Park - 4638 N. Melvina - (312) 742 7603
Wilson Park - 4630 N. Milwaukee - (312) 742 7487
Ashmore Playlot Park - 4807 W. Gunnison - (773) 685 3316
Austin-Foster Playlot Park - 6020 W. Foster - (773) 685 3257
Jefferson (Thomas) Memorial Park - 4822 N. Long - (773) 685 3316
Gladstone Park - 5421 N. Menard - (773) 631 7859

Pharmacies

CVS Pharmacy - 4777 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 205-3270
Internatl Tower Drug Store - 5600 N Menard Ave - (773) 686-0220
Jewel-Osco - 4729 Central - (773) 777-1142
Nature Medicine Center - 4757 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 545-6055
Osco Drug - 6200 W Higgins Ave - (773) 775-9316
Walgreens - 5230 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 736-8920

Grocery Stores

Jewel Food Stores - 4729 Central Ave - (773) 777-1142
Produce Center - 5814 N. Milwaukee - (773) 775 3200
Domick's Fresh Food Store - 6312 N. Nagle - (773) 774 6006

Gyms

Inner Light Studios - 5430 W. Lawrence - (773) 685 4997
Michael Amundsen Sports Center - 6125 W. Foster - (773) 775 4041

ENTERTAINMENT

Chris's Billiards - 4637 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 286-4714
Habetler Bowling Alley - 5250 N Northwest Hwy - (773) 774-0500
Copernicus Foundation - 5216 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 777-9184
The Gift Theatre Company - 4802 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 283-7071
Jefferson Park Farmers' Market - N Milwaukee Ave & W Ainslie St - (312) 744-9187
Jeff Fest - Higgins and Milwaukee - (773) 868 3010
Taste of Polonia - 5216 W. Lawrence, - (773) 777 8898

SHOPPING

American Science & Surplus - 5316 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 763-0313
Baltika Inc. - 4754 N. Milwaukee - (773) 777 5800
Crafty Beaver Home Center - 4306 N Central Ave - (773) 725-4432
Fantasy Headquarters - 4065 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 777-0222
Morgan Art Gallery - 5350 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-0680
Once Upon a Child - 5316 N. Milwaukee - (773) 594-1705
Polonia Book Store - 4732 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 481-6968
True Value Hardware - 5329 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-5966

DINING

American Cuisine
Blue Angel - 5310 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-8700
Gale Street Inn - 4914 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 725-1300
Lucky Grill - 4454 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 282-2325
Pier 5736 - 5736 N. Elston - (773) 774 FOOD

Asian Cuisine
Chinese Kitchen - 5316 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-8836

Bakeries
Cake by Colleen - 5814 W Higgins Ave - (773) 777-7535
Chicago Sweet Connection - 5569 N Northwest Hwy - (773) 283-4430
Delightful Pastries - 5927 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 545-7215
Ideal Bakeries - 4765 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 685-4622

Deli/Cafes
Andy's Deli - 5438 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-7304
Frappe - 4431 North Milwaukee Ave - (773) 777-2250
Yolanta's Deli - 5914 W Higgins Rd - (773) 685-8359

Fast Food
Duke's - 5659 N Central Ave - (773) 763-1866
King No 2 Gyros - 5233 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 736-5406

Mexican Cuisine
Los 4 Hermanos - 5239 N Central Ave - (773) 545-2294

Pizza
Joe's Pizza - 5316 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-8836
Paterno's Pizza - 5303 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 631-5522
Villa D'Oro Restauran - 5531 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 775-2820

Polish Cuisine
Golden Duck - 4801 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 205-7300
Halina's Polish Delights - 5914 W Lawrence Ave - (773) 205-0256

Nightlife/Bars
Babe's on Milwaukee - 4416 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 545-3137
Capital Club - 4431 North Milwaukee - (773) 777-2250
Fischman's - 4776 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 545-0123
Ham Tree Inn - 5333 N Milwaukee Ave - (773) 792-2072
Vaughan's Pub & Grill - 5485 Northwest Hwy - (773) 631-9206
Martini Club - 4933 N. Milwaukee - (773) 202 9444
Prohibition Club - 5600 N. Milwaukee
Galvins Public House - 5901 W. Lawrence - (773) 205 0570

More Jefferson Park information:
www.jeffersonpark.net
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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 restand 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 Jefferson Park neighborhood 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson Park, all without ever having to go anywhere.
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