Hyde Park

The Lowdown: Hyde Park / Kenwood

Two of the most popular neighborhoods south of the city (and we mean really south – not the South Loop) are Kenwood and Hyde Park.  The South Side gets a bad rap, but visit Hyde Park or Kenwood and you´ll see plenty of reasons why you shouldn´t believe the hype.

  Hyde Park (which begins around 51st Street and ends at 60th) is home to the University of Chicago.   What this means is that in addition to having what might possibly be the highest brainpower per block than any other part of the city, it´s also one of the most diverse.   College students, professors and South Side residents live next door to each other here. 

The main streets where the action goes down are 53rd, 55th and 57th streets.   Despite the school´s proximity, Hyde Park doesn´t really have the feel of a college town or neighborhood. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on what you´re looking for. 

 Dining options are limited, but there are some places offering cheap eats.   A few upscale restaurants have also recently taken a gamble on the South Side.   But in general, amenities are lacking.

Show Me the Money: South Side Housing

What Hyde Park lacks in amenities, it makes up for in value.  Rents and home prices are significantly lower than on the North Side, but Hyde Park is still the most expensive area beyond the South Loop.  

Vintage buildings are shaded under trees along the neighborhood´s streets.   Hyde Park also has some of the city’s few co-op buildings.   These high-rises located along the lake have skyline and lakefront views spectacular enough make you wonder who needs the North Side anyway. 

  In addition to its appeal among university staff and faculty, Hyde Park is a magnet for Black professionals.   Many choose to live in Hyde Park despite the limited amenities and proximity to some of the South Side´s rougher areas in exchange for the amount of space they can get for their money.  This has led to the growing popularity of North Kenwood, just beyond the official Kenwood boundary of 47th street.

   Back in the day, Kenwood was the neighborhood of choice for to many of Chicago´s wealthiest families.   The families have now fled to other parts of the city, but their mansions remain well maintained by their new owners who are typically professionals or people affiliated with the university. 



Learn to Love Your Car: Getting Around

With nowhere close to the congestion of the North Side, Hyde Park and Kenwood are easy to navigate by car. You also have access to the Metra to the east and the Red and Green Lines to the west.  But be warned that if you´re planning to travel by El you´d better be comfortable walking through the hood.  

You won´t be strolling the streets and window-shopping at boutiques, but if you´re looking to spread out and enjoy your domain, this is the neighborhood for you. There are a good variety of residential options including new and rehabbed houses, condos, townhouses and apartments. 

 North Kenwood has blown up to the point where single-family home prices have surpassed the million-dollar mark so you´ll need to have some serious paper in the bank to buy a house here.  When you need a change of scenery, the South Loop and West Loop are just ten minutes away, making city access easy for both work and play.

 And while Kenwood and North Kenwood have increased both in terms of prices and new real estate developments, Peanut and ‘em are just a few blocks away so you can´t leave your doors unlocked when you go to bed just yet.