Beverly Woods Facts

Location: about 17.5 miles southwest of the Loop
Bordering Neighborhoods: Morgan Park, Kennedy Park, Mount Greenwood, Merrionette Park
Boundaries: 115th Street to the north, Western Avenue to the east, 119th Street to the south and the Mount Hope Cemetery to the west
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents

Then and Now

Beverly Woods is a tiny neighborhood on Chicago's far southwest side. Tucked between Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood (just south of Kennedy Park), this four-block by four-block enclave is considered part of the greater Morgan Park community area.

Morgan Park was intended to be a residential and commercial zone when the Blue Island Land and Building Company purchased the property in 1869. It was their intention to create a residential and commercial district that was self-sufficient and separate from the city of Chicago. They saw their goals achieved in the short-term when Morgan Park incorporated as a township in 1892. This dream was short-lived, however, as almost immediately after the town was granted sovereignty, the pressure was on to become part of the city of Chicago.

Residents of Morgan Park rather liked their status as an independent community, completely separate from their growing neighbor to the north. But alas, with the proposed union came the promise of better schools and improved policing, and area locals could not resist. Subsequently, Morgan Park (including the area that would one day be Beverly Woods) was officially annexed to the city of Chicago in 1914.

Like the rest of the greater Beverly and Morgan Park area, Beverly Woods has benefited from the work of the Beverly Area Planning Association and their annual home tour. This tour has helped existing residents promote the housing developments in their community to attract new families. And the association is front and center when it comes to the historic preservation of the neighborhood's distinctive Prairie-style architecture. As a result, Beverly Woods has built up a reputation as a solid, safe middle-class neighborhood that offers Chicagoans the comforts of semi-suburban living with all the benefits of the big city just minutes away.
[Back To Top]

Real Estate

Rows of single-family homes line the orderly residential blocks of Beverly Woods with lot after lot of one- and two-story brick houses. This southwest side neighborhood is small, so home-builders didn't waste any space when constructing the residences here. Still the ample green lawns and individual back garages afford a sense of privacy, and the tall, leafy trees shade the sidewalks that edge each property. While the majority of the housing in Beverly Woods are single-family dwellings, there are some low- and mid-rise condominiums along Western Avenue and 117th Street. These typically sell for between $100,000 and $180,000 and usually include a street parking spot for one vehicle. Single-family detached homes in Beverly Woods start in the upper $100,000s for a three-bedroom house. But the range in property prices here is pretty varied because you can also find three- or four-bedroom homes in the neighborhood for as much as $450,000. So, it pays to shop around.
[Back To Top]

Morgan Park Residential Real Estate Info (Includes Beverly Woods Neighborhood)

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois

What's on the Menu?

Beverly Woods may be too small to support many restaurants but if you have a hankering for home-made baked goods, then you're in the right Chicago neighborhood.

Old fashion bakery treats are what's on sale at Am's Sweet Lil' Me Me Bakery (11836 S Western Ave, 773-233-7230). This small, homey bakery features an assortment of delicious made-from-scratch baked goods. Pecan, apple, strawberry or bean pies (an interesting twist with a filling made from navy beans, but don't worry, it's still sweetened with sugar) should do the trick for that sweet tooth and if you're looking for a cake for that special occasion, be it a birthday, anniversary, or wedding, Am's can help you with that too. But you don't need to buy a whole pie or an entire cake (although we usually can't help ourselves), just stop in and ask for a slice of your favorite sweet treat, and Am's will serve a generous helping of your favorite pie, cake or cobbler. Or pick out a cookie, if you haven't the time to sit and would rather take something to munch on the go.
[Back To Top]

Getting Around

It might take you ten minutes to walk across Beverly Woods, probably only five on bike or rollerblades, and that's the way we recommend you get around this little Chicago neighborhood. You can cut across Beverly Woods' shady side streets or take a stroll along the neighborhood's western edge for a peaceful view of next door Mount Hope Cemetery. Either way you go, nothing within the vicinity of Beverly Woods is more than a few-minutes trip on foot.

When you have the occasion to travel beyond Beverly Woods' comfy borders, Chicago's public transportation systems are on the job. The CTA #49A Western Avenue bus (with additional service provided by the #349 Pace bus) runs along the longest street in the city, Western Avenue, and takes passengers to countless destinations along its marathon route. You can also take the #49A north to the Western stop on the CTA Orange Line train which will zip you to Midway airport in a jiff. Beverly Woods residents jump on the #119 bus for the short trip east to catch the Rock Island Metra train (Chicago's suburb-to-city commuter rail) at the 119th Street station which travels north to downtown and the bustling Chicago Loop.

If you're a car owner it may be easier for you to just drive to your destination. Interstate 57 is just east of Beverly Woods so it's a snap to get on the expressway, which travels north to I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway) that goes directly to the Loop. That said, just because it's likely the easiest way to get downtown, doesn't mean driving's necessarily the fastest. Chicago's vehicle traffic can get pretty congested during morning and evening rush hours, and really any time in between, to be honest. So before you hop behind that wheel, just beware that you may have to schedule some extra travel time.
[Back To Top]

School's in Session

It's no doubt Beverly Woods is a small neighborhood, we're kind of surprised there's even room for one school. Residents know they can send their school-aged children to any number of schools in Chicago's school system, but there does happen to be one option in the Beverly Woods, in case families want an educational facility that is close to home. You can find more information on Chicago area schools at our Chicago Guide Schools page.

Nightingale School of Chicago - 11722 S Western Ave - (773) 445-0366
[Back To Top]

Basic Needs

Beverly Woods neighborhood is small, and there isn't much within its tight borders to accommodate all the daily necessities, but when it comes to the essentials, such as say, pizza, cakes or just the nuts and bolt, you'll find it right here in Beverly Woods.

Dining

American Cuisine
Domino's Pizza - 2411 119th St - (708) 239-0009

Bakeries
Am's Sweet Lil' Me Me Bakery - 11836 S Western Ave - (773) 233-7230

Mexican Cuisine
Pepe's Mexican Restaurants - 11652 S Western Ave - (773) 881-8142

Shopping

Elston Ace Hardware - 11810 S Western Ave - (773) 239-1600 www.acehardware.com
[Back To Top]

There's a lot of mystery involved in searching for a new home, it starts with the property and expands outward to encompass the street, the block, the neighborhood, the entire city! Every little thing matters from the color of the walls to the attractions of the town. That's why a guide like this one on Beverly Woods is so helpful to potential homebuyers. Without leaving the comfort of your desktop computer or laptop, you've got an extensive pool of information on all of Chicago's neighborhoods that includes first-hand descriptions of dining, entertainment, shopping, bars, and events, in addition to lists of schools, hospitals, post offices, and gyms. We've done all the research to carefully craft this one-stop online spot, and create your hub for the real deal on Beverly Woods. So as soon as a Chicago loft, condo, townhome or house catches your eye, you know where to come for the low down on the digs around that prime piece of real estate.
[Back To Top]