Irving Park, Albany Park & Lincoln Square: Area Guide

Irving Park

Irving Park has some of the oldest houses on the Northwest Side. Old Irving Park is known for Queen Anne, Victorian and Italianate homes, and The Villa, with its Craftsman and Prairie-style homes, is an official Chicago Landmark District, so exterior changes there go through the city's landmarks review. Elsewhere you will find bungalows, two-flats and early 20th-century apartment and condo buildings. Independence Park is the neighborhood's largest park.

Albany Park

Albany Park lies inside a bend of the North Branch of the Chicago River. The Brown Line starts here at Kimball, so commuters board at the first stop. Ravenswood Manor, along the river, is a historic district of single-family homes; the rest of the area mixes bungalows, two-flats and condo buildings. River Park, Ronan Park and Gompers Park are among its parks.

Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square is known for its walkable center around Lincoln and Western Avenues, the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Sulzer Regional Library and Welles Park. Sub-areas include Ravenswood, Ravenswood Gardens, Budlong Woods and Bowmanville. Homes are mostly single-family houses and small apartment and condo buildings.

What buyers should know

• Older homes: many houses here are about 100 years old; plan for a thorough inspection of the roof, masonry, electrical and plumbing.
• Landmark district: in The Villa, exterior work needs the city's landmarks review.
• Near the river: for homes close to the North Branch, ask about flood history and flood insurance.

Working with Radu here

I have closed more than 30 sales and leases in Irving Park, Albany Park and Lincoln Square. I work in English and Romanian.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Irving Park, Chicago
• Wikipedia: Albany Park, Chicago
• Wikipedia: Lincoln Square, Chicago