East Village

[Featured Photo: Winchester Street’s perfect tree canopy at night.]

East Village’s borders are Grand to the south, Division to the north, Milwaukee to the east, Damen to the west. And, although it lies just to the east of Ukrainian Village and indeed, the name is short for East Ukrainian Village, East Village has an identity of its own. An eclectic mix of vintage and modern, East Village’s tree-lined streets and vibrant shopping and dining corridors create the perfect backdrop for urban life, close to downtown but bucolic enough to almost seem suburban in certain areas.

While the official border stops at Chicago Avenue on the south, we’re extending this to Grand for the purposes of this article. The area between Chicago and Grand shares many of the same characteristics and is often lumped in with the somewhat nebulous “West Town” label.

The Ukrainian influence is less pronounced in East Village, with most of the churches and cultural institutions located west of Damen in Ukrainian Village proper. The primary shopping districts are Chicago Avenue, recently named as the most vibrant dining destination in the city, and Division Street (once known as the Polish Downtown), whose wide sidewalks offer the perfect backdrop for outdoor dining in the summer. And those wide sidewalks and general pedestrian experience are no accident. Local residents worked to ensure that Division retained its charm by actively designating the strip between Leavitt and Marshfield a pedestrian zone. This designation prohibits curb cuts, effectively eliminating drive-through restaurants and parking lots, while ensuring that businesses maintain street-level open windows, making for an inviting place to shop and dine. When I was president of the East Village Association, we extended that designation east to Milwaukee.

For buyers searching for single-family homes, East Village can be a relative bargain, although its recent popularity has limited this somewhat.

With R3 zoning predominating, East Village offers many single-family homes, with a mix of classic bungalows and worker’s cottages. Three-flats are also well represented, both vintage and more modern, due to a wave of demolitions in the 90s. In addition, some of the old factory and warehouse buildings in the neighborhood have been converted into loft condos.

Much of the neighborhood is also protected by landmark designations, although less than Ukrainian Village to the west. Interior remodels with original facades are now significantly more common, although the area south of Chicago is less protected and more populated by new-builds.

Chicago Truborn: One of the first of a wave of galleries on Chicago Avenue, Chicago Truborn offers surprisingly affordable underground and street art. Watch their Facebook page for their legendary art openings! Even their building is an art exhibit – the full-building mural by Dutch artist Eelco is worth the trip!

Penelope’s: Men and women can both find hip fashions at this long-term Division street staple. The owners recently doubled-up on their commitment to Division Street, opening Gemini immediately across the alley from the original location.

Paperish Mess: A great place to pick up cards, art or find the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for friend. Paperish Mess focuses on local artists and artisans.

Epic Spices: This hidden gem, concealed behind an original vintage menswear façade, can be tough to find, but the affordable spices and knowledgeable staff make it worth the effort.

East Village businesses and residents are both well-served by established organizations representing their interests. For businesses, the West Town Chamber of Commerce offers services and champions their interests. Residents are served by two different organizations.  The East Village Association serves those in East Village proper – between Damen and Milwaukee and Division and Chicago, while the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association serves those living between Chicago and Grand and Ashland and Damen.

East Village is relatively easy for commuters with major bus lines on Chicago, Grand and Division, convenient access to expressways, and a Blue Line stop at Division for those in the north-east of the neighborhood. For Loop travel, the 66 bus on Chicago and the 65 on Grand both connect to the Blue and Red lines, and while the 9 Ashland bus and the 50 Damen bus offer north/south transportation.  The 66 bus in particular has been a focus for the city, adding bus-only lanes during rush hour in order to significantly speed bus travel times on this busy route.