Edgewater

edgewater apartments come in a great many varieties: apartments in lakefront high-rises, apartments in "four-and-ones," apartments in vintage inland skyscrapers, and apartments in brownstones, among many other varieties.  better yet, edgewater renters are never far from an ethnic restaurant, and practically all ethnicities are covered.  of course there's plenty of burger and pizza joints too.

the Edgewater community was once considered among the most prestigious neighborhoods in chicago.  for a short time, it was the only Chicago suburb with electric light, and its famous (but since demolished) pink Edgewater Beach Hotel opened in 1916.  from the standpoint of property values, Edgewater peaked in the 1920's.  after the Second World War, the area became much more crowded, and many of the apartment buildings were subdivided.  stately residences were also torn down, mostly along the Winthrop and Kenmore corridors, with "four-and-ones" (four story apartment buildings with parking underneath) substituted in their place.  meanwhile, the mansions along the beach were razed to make room for skyscrapers with gorgeous lake views.

today, edgewater includes both Andersonville and Lakewood-Balmoral (each treated as a separate neighborhood on this website), and it stretches from the shores of Lake Michigan all the way to Ravenswood Avenue.  in the summer, the Foster and Hollywood beaches are magnets for sports enthusiasts and sun-bathers alike, and the park district offers free entertainment with its "Movies In The Park" series.  transportation to and from edgewater is easy, thanks to the red and purple el trains which run directly through the neighborhood.