CHICAGO AVENUE: A HOOD IN LIMBO by Janina R. Williams
Chicago Avenue used to have it all -- shops, theaters, department stores and restaurants. People used to hang out on the stretch of road between Damen and Ashland to catch dinner and a movie and to do some shopping afterward. It was a 1960s urban oasis if you will.
Over the years, the area began to change. Businesses closed down, residents moved out and condos moved in. In a sense, it was like a death to the 'hood. But there is still a strong presence, a scent in the air that smells like a mix between leisure and fun with a hint of old school hard work. This is an area in limbo, trapped between beauty and grit, between no money and new. There's an evolution going on. And you can see it, in the eclectic shops and eateries that stand in the shadows of deserted storefronts and rundown brick buildings. But like many neighborhoods in the city, its charm lies in the unchanged.
The Unchanged-like Deitch Pharmacy, the iconic Goldblatt's Building and the two fossilized theaters known back in the day as The Hub and The Alvin, which still stand today, all reminders of a simpler time.
According to Richard Alcala, owner of Alcala Western Wear, "This place was hopping, especially on the weekends. You couldn't find a parking spot anywhere. It was jumping with shoppers because people would come all over just to shop at all of the shoe stores, all the clothing stores, Goldblatt's and Woolworth's. You remember Woolworth's?" Who doesn't remember Woolworth's?
Deitch Pharmacy is alive and well. "We're still going strong and a lot of people are very happy that we're still holding on as far as an independent pharmacy. We do a lot of consultations. We get a lot of people who travel from all over the city just because of the personal, special touches they get," says Marta Kozyckyj, a Pharmacist at Deitch Pharmacy. And that's what this area is all about -- the special touches, the details like the façade on the old Goldblatt's building dressed in white terra cotta with wide, old Chicago style windows.
"Chicago Avenue was a shopping district and our number one anchor was Goldblatt's. They had furniture, they had clothing, they had electronics, they had a basement filled with home goods. You walked into Goldblatt's and you could buy anything. They even had jewelry. When Goldblatt's stopped, that's when the retail went down a little bit," Alcala said.
According to the Public Buildings of Chicago website, "The Goldblatt's was spared from demolition at the request of local neighborhood groups and declared a Landmark." It now houses various city departments.
The Hub and The Alvin still stand, but both have altered functions. The Hub is home to Catholic Charities, while the old Alvin spot sits trapped in time. It's lined in brown butcher paper, hiding from the outside world, waiting to be sold, praying that it won't turn into dust in the meantime.
These once bustling theaters were the heartbeat, but they're now dead. Can they be revived? Probably not. "I don't think it's going to be like the old days anymore. I don't think this is going to become a shopping mecca," Alcala said. But it will evolve.
There is a lovely, life-size horse sitting outside of Alcala's Western Wear. This majestic and strong statue captures the spirited feeling of the neighborhood, the new heartbeat. According to Alcala, "The horse came from Lacrosse, Wisconsin. It belonged to another western store that was going out of business. Ever since we put the horse on the sidewalk, people know who we are now. When people saw the horse, it really made us a landmark."
And the folks from the neighborhood do notice the horse; they care about it, even inquiring where it was when it was taken down for renovation. The children and the new residents stop to look at it. It is a landmark.
Although some of the old businesses remain, there are many new businesses opening up in this changing neighborhood. Fayyad Abdallah, owner of Alliance Poultry Farms, noticed a significant change in the demographics of the community, especially in the last five years. "It used to be all Latino and now there are many urban professionals. New buildings and condominiums are popping up. Before, people moved to the suburbs and worked downtown. Then they thought, why don't we buy buildings, fix them up and live near downtown."
Many businesses welcome the changes on Chicago Avenue. "You see a lot more foot traffic. Young couples have gone into some of the rehabbed buildings. I think it's been a positive change. The only downside is obviously the economy, which has forced some people out of their homes. It would be nice to have some of the independence stay in the area -- they serve a purpose," Kozyckyj said.
And there are numerous small businesses taking interest. There is an avant garde salon, a pie shop and an indie record label. Will these new businesses propel Chicago Avenue to the next "hip" 'hood status? Maybe. Maybe not. Instead of the whole old-versus-new argument, there may be a way to fuse the neighborhood without depleting it of what makes it so special. If the changes occurred slowly, then maybe the original vibe of the hood could still be intact. Sure, it won't be seamless, but it may work.
According to Kevin Kerr, owner of Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery, "Chicago is a city of neighborhoods and there's a constant change, but it's painful to see neighborhoods change so fast that real estate prices go up. People that are in the neighborhood can't afford to stay there anymore. That said, this neighborhood was gentrified a long time ago. I mean, I can't afford to buy a home in this neighborhood, but I can't afford to buy a home in a lot of neighborhoods. That's not necessarily a great thing for me to watch. I like that fact that it is slowly improving. Gentrification for a lot of these neighborhoods is inevitable. I'd like to see it happen kinda slowly, in moderation -- see the neighborhood get interesting without destroying what was originally good about it."
Jenn Frank, a sales clerk at Rotofugi, chimed in by saying, "Isn't it always the same story? It always starts out a rough and tumble neighborhood. Starving artists always move in. Then slightly less starving artists move in and then the bar and the boutique wants to move in next to the hip, hip artist enclave. Pretty soon, it's just boutiques and the artists move out because they can't afford it anymore." Indeed.
The pulse of the old community was linked to the old theaters, department stores and restaurants. The Alvin is for sale. What a great little place this could be if it were resuscitated, if small businesses opened in all of the empty storefronts, in the storefront that will be vacant in the coming weeks when Rotofugi moves to its new location in Lincoln Park. And don't get them wrong, it's not because they don't love the area, but because they need more space.
"We didn't look to move, we looked for a bigger space. We looked for locations that were off the beaten path," says Kerr. "When we moved here, we were pretty off the beaten path. We still are. I think this neighborhood is slowly crawling towards gentrification, but maybe in the right way." Everybody knows change is inevitable, but it may be possible to beautify the neighborhood without a massive displacement of its current residents.
This is a great spot for families, new stores, galleries, restaurants and entertainment and everybody should have a chance to live here. "Are we happy because the neighborhood is changing? Yes, because it means new customers for us," Alcala said. Kerr loved the area from the beginning. "I think it's the right mix of bohemian, lots of artists and young families. It was the right fit for us. I like that the neighborhood is diverse. It's kinda like Mayberry."
Now, if only Mayberry and Michigan Avenue would get married, the fusion would be complete.
Published on Gapers Block: Chicago Avenue: A 'Hood in Limbo
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