Rogers Park

The Lowdown: Rogers Park

Would you believe us if I told you the best lakefront living in Chicago can be found in one of its most affordable neighborhoods?  I kid you not.  Located just north of Edgewater, Rogers Park is the last North Side hood before you get to the suburb of Evanston.  Most importantly, it´s the only neighborhood in the city where your condo or apartment building may actually sit right on the lakefront with nothing but beach between you and the water.

   If Rogers Park were a person, “diversity” would be its middle name.  It appeals to a variety of ethnic, age and income demographics. Residents are proud of the area´s multiculturalism and wear it like a badge of honor. 


More for the Money: Rogers Park Housing

During the last few years, Rogers Park has finally started to get the respect it deserves and it has the rising real estate and rental prices to prove it.  And while there are pockets that are a little rougher as you go west, the area still ranks high with students, artists and other folks who like a good bargain.

  Many of the streets in Rogers Park are calm and peaceful.  They´re shaded by mature trees and dotted with rows of historic homes.  Several townhouse developments have also been added to the mix in recent years, offering a more affordable alternative to single-family homes.  Stroll down Glenwood Avenue and you´ll find a blooming artists´ community.   Studios line the street and it´s the location of an annual open studio walk and arts festival. 

Vintage apartment buildings border the lakefront along Sheridan Road – the main street that snakes through Rogers Park.  These are usually older buildings, so if you´re looking for new construction, you´ll probably have to take your apartment search inland or seek out a recent rehab.  Both on Sheridan and the neighborhood´s side streets, you´ll find vintage condo conversions priced at least twenty percent lower than in other popular North Side areas.



Few and Far Between: Rogers Park Amenities

All this value comes with a catch.  As the northern most Chicago neighborhood, it takes a while to get in and out of Rogers Park.  Luckily, if you´re headed toward downtown, Lakeview or Lincoln Park, Lake Shore Drive is relatively accessible.  Once you finish chugging along the Sheridan Road traffic jam, it´s smooth sailing. 

 As for amenities, a few shops and restaurants have recently joined some of the old stand-bys.  And while there is a Chipotle and Starbucks, Rogers Park isn´t quiet a cornucopia of urban commerce and dining yet. 

 For some residents, the far north location is a plus instead of a minus.  It´s a convenient spot for people who commute to the northern burbs such as Northbrook or Glenview.  Its close proximity to Evanston also makes it a doable alternative for Northwestern students — particularly grad students who don´t socialize as much on campus.