Expert: Betsy Martens - 9/7/2001

Question
Could you tell me the boundaries for the Andersonville and Logan Square neighborhoods? Beyond the boundaries can be totally not what one is looking for in a city.   Do you have a third or fourth choice of neighborhoods?
Thanks again
Diane

Answer
Hi Diane,

Good question! Andersonville is generally regarded as between Foster on the south, Peterson on the north, Ashland on the west, and Halsted on the east. Boundaries are not such a big deal in this neighborhood, though, because on all sides there are additional interesting neighborhoods. Even Uptown, on the north and traditionally considered a more rocky neighborhood, has begun to be gentrified.

Logan Square is somewhat different, with a significant Latino population that is both educated middle-class and more the welfare state types in some of the surrounding 'hoods. I've been living in a "less desirable" section of Logan Square -- east of Kedzie, south of Fullerton -- for 25 years and have had few problems: no break-ins, minor stuff stolen from yard or porch, and no personal violence. However I think this is a question of attitude and mutual respect. I say hello to everyone when I walk down the street, and I don't cop an attitude of moral superiority with gangbangers and drug dealers. (Even though I personally can't wait until they leave the neighborhood!) West of Kedzie and south of Fullerton is still pretty rough, although cosmopolitan crowds flock to Rosa's Blues Lounge on weekends and it's in the heart of the rougher neighborhood.

The more recent gentrifiers have seriously gotten into the architecture of the neighborhood, which is quite beautiful. In fact, the Logan Square Preservation Society (http://www.logansquarepreservation.org) is having a garden walk this Saturday from 10am til 4pm. If you're already in town this would be a great way to get a sense of the "better" part of Logan Square: east of Kedzie, north of Fullerton, west of the Expressway, and south of Diversey.

Other neighborhoods: did I mention Lincoln Square before? South of Lawrence, east of Western, north of Montrose, west of Damen. Wonderful cultural stuff going on here: Villa Kula Tea Room on Lincoln, the Old Town School of Folk Music just two doors north of the tea room, the Sulzer Regional Library down the street, the Kelmscott Gallery, on the National Register of Historic Places and a gem of a little building designed by Louis Sullivan or one of his students.

If  you want to go closer to the lake, there are all sorts of high rises in Lincoln Park, all the way from Armitage on the south up to Hollywood on the north, along Sheridan Road and Lake Shore Drive. Printers Row (Dearborn and Polk) is closer to downtown, with Dearborn Park having some rental units available, as well as the Fisher Building on S. Dearborn and Van Buren, in the heart of the Loop. This is a marvelous old building that's full of nifty old architectural detailing, and you can't get any more convenient in terms of public transportation.

That's about all I can squeeze out of my brain for now. Once again, good luck, and do sit down with that map. Have fun.

Betsy Martens