On the northwest side of Chicago, you’ll find a burgeoning residential neighborhood named after a 36-acre park. Portage Park real estate, like the real estate offerings of many northwest Chicago neighborhoods, is surrounded by a neighborhood with a historically Polish influence. It is a favorite of young families looking for Chicago real estate in a quiet residential area with shops, eateries and a tight-knit community to buy into.
A recent article in Chicago Tribune profiled the community as a place where there are long-time residents and an influx of new buyers who are equally pleased with the neighborhood. According to the Tribune “‘People know each other, and look out for each other,’ said longtime resident Jennifer Dianovsky. ‘There are some old-timers on my block who were here when I was a baby. They embrace new people who come in as if they were their own family members.’” In a strong buyer’s market, where potential homeowners are looking for a little something extra to convince them to buy, this neighborliness might be what seals the deal. Improvements to the area are being planned by the city as well, including a major streetscape overhaul with new sidewalks, trees, planters and streetlights in the works.
Portage Park is accessible by various buses, including those running regularly on the neighborhood’s main drags of Milwaukee Avenue and Irving Park Road. Quick bus rides will also take you to the Green and Blue Lines of the El which run into the Loop, and proximity to the Expressway is good for Portage Park dwellers who reverse-commute to the suburbs.Real Estate Values in Portage Park
- According to Trulia.com, the median sale price of homes in Portage Park from March to May was $207,000.
- The average listing price of homes for sale was $259,507 in early June.
- The area is part of Chicago’s “Bungalow Belt,” so buyers can find octagonal, bungalow-style homes on large corner lots.
- New and resale condos are also readily available in many developments along Milwaukee Avenue.
- According to the Tribune, “Average home price in Portage Park is $218,000, with a range that has recently extended from $70,000 to $580,000[...]. Two-bedroom condos range from about $120,000 to $140,000.”
Attractions in Portage Park
First of all, there is the 36-acre park that gives the area its name. Portage Park is what brings the diverse neighborhood together; according to the Tribune, “At the park, differences between Portage Parkers disappear in the dust of a softball game or are whittled away in a woodworking class at the field house.” The park also has an Olympic-size pool where longtime residents of the neighborhood recall seeing Marc Spitz swim in the 1972 Olympic Trials. Learn more about the park on Facebook.Six Corners, or the intersection of Milwaukee, Irving Park and Cicero, provides the main shopping locale of the area. It is also home to many of the unique boutiques, restaurants, delis and neighborhood bars that display the personality of Portage Park. The outdoor shopping area has everything from large retailers like Sears to smaller specialty shops, like a Halloween costume store and a 50-year-old canoe shop.
Portage Park’s populace expresses a particular interest in the Arts. The historic Portage Theater was built in the 1920s, and these days, you can catch live shows, independent films and features of the Silent Film Society of Chicago which is housed in the building. Plus, the Portage Park Center for the Arts in the old Nebo Church building provides a place for Portage Parkers of any age to take part in classes from yoga to art.
For more information on Portage Park properties, contact one of our informed agents or try out our interactive map search.
