The Chicago 77 - Chicago's Neighborhoods starting with Edgewater

For many months I have been writing about market updates and observations for the Chicago 77 Real Estate Blog.

The blog was started by Rod Holmes to speak to Chicago's real estate market. Rod is a partner in Chicago Style SEO working primarily with real estate firms to improve their Internet marketing. The blog name comes from the 77 official community areas that make up the City with Big Shoulders. As I was writing my update for Monday, it occurred to me I have never really told the stories of any of these communities, many in which I have lived, worked in and enjoyed all they have to offer.

As an active member of the Goverment Affairs Committee for the REALTORS®, as well as chairing the committee on and off throughout the last decade, I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit all 77. I have gained great insight through Brian Bernardoni, the Govermental Affairs Director for the Chicago Association REALTORS® driving and walking the streets, visiting with members, businesses and residents as well as the local alderman.

Next week I will be taking on that leadership postition again for another year. I look forward to getting back to Chicago's gems again, its neighborhoods,

Today, my first neighborhood story was posted. I started with number 77 first and will be zigzagging through the city over the next months. Please read my short story about the Edgewater neighborhood.

Hope & Change “Chicago’s Good Neighbors”

At a dinner On May 21, the Chicago Association of Realtors presented the 2009 Good Neighbor Award winners. As I saw the recipients walk to the podium to receive their awards, the words of the evening’s emcee kept running through my head.

In his remarks, Brian Bernardoni the Government Affairs Director for the Association said, “There is a yin and yang; there is a balance the concepts of HOPE and CHANGE present – they need to work together. Without the inspiration of HOPE people will not find resources for CHANGE. And without prospects of CHANGE there is no HOPE. Developers and REALTORS® in the room know these words all too well.”

Hope and Change
They are words we heard through the presidential election as a Chicagoan worked to create hope that change will happen. Locally those words define the work, dedication and partnerships of the developers, banks, Realtors®, and in many cases the City of Chicago through its Department of Community Development. The award winning projects where scattered throughout Chicago, from North to South East to West. They were residential, commercial and mixed use renovations and new construction. Working together their work filled vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and in some cases the starting point for hope there will be change for an entire community.

Affordable Housing Without Displacement
This year’s Bruce Abrams Award winner—the program’s highest honor—was awarded to Benjamin Van Horne of Greenline Development for the Greenline Condos in the Woodlawn Neighborhood. With this 37 unit project, Mr. Van Horne achieved his goal of quality affordable housing without displacement. He was able to do this in cooperation with the City of Chicago’s Department of Community Development.

Saving a Historically Significant Building
Another winner that stuck out in my mind was one of a colleague of mine at Sudler Sotheby’s International Realty, Ron Meadows. In the Lincoln Square neighborhood where even in this current real estate market, developers are still tearing down and building new condos and single family homes, Ron saved a building built in 1893 with historical significance from a developer who was going to tear it down. He took this structure, known as the Alley House of Lincoln Square, did a total renovation and is maintaining it as a rental property in an area where there is very little rental inventory left.

Every award recipient has their own passionate story about their project. They all faced challenges. But they saw through them—all to make a difference. Project by project, partnerships bring about change throughout the entire city and hope in many neighborhoods where it did not exist before.

Mr. Bernardoni went on to say “When you INSPIRE HOPE and bring about CHANGE – you build this city. You are all winners and great Chicagoans. Thanks for doing your part.”

Orignally posted on the Chicago 77 Real Estate Blog