West Morgan Park Facts

Location: About 13 miles southwest of the Loop
Bordering Neighborhoods: Morgan Park, West Beverly, Kennedy Park, Beverly Woods, Mount Greenwood
Boundaries: Western Avenue to the east, 107th Street to the north, 111th Street to the south and California Avenue to the west
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents

Then and Now

West Morgan Park is an eight square block neighborhood adjacent to the greater Beverly/Morgan Park community area. The neighborhood takes its name from English settler, Thomas Morgan, who owned much of the land that would one day become his namesake. When the Blue Island Land and Building Company purchased the property from Thomas Morgan's heirs in 1869, it was their intention to develop the area for residential and commercial purposes. To this end the company donated a plot of land for the establishment of the Mount Vernon Military Academy (present day Morgan Park Academy) and even persuaded the Baptist Theological Union to relocate to the vicinity. A little side note: Among the Union's members was William Rainey Harper who would go on to become the first president of the University of Chicago.

The streets of Morgan Park proper were designed in a style that conveyed the setting of an English country town complete with small parks, roundabouts and meandering roads. However, Morgan Park's western section was much more attune to the typical Chicago grid layout with standard rectangle blocks and fewer cul-de-sacs. Incorporating in 1882, the tiny town enjoyed over thirty years as its own municipality before it was annexed to Chicago in 1914. This was rather late compared with most of Chicago's towns-turned-neighborhoods and it did not come without a fight. Wishing to remain an independent community, Morgan Park's residents resisted annexation for years but finally voted for the union on the promise of improved schools and better police and fire protection.

Today West Morgan Park is a stable neighborhood that has attracted many families to its quiet backdrop, due largely to the Beverly Area Planning Association and their annual home tour which has promoted housing and the historic preservation of the neighborhood's Prairie-style architecture. This non-profit grassroots group of businesses and civic organizations has been working for the betterment of the Beverly/Morgan Park region for the past 60 years.
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Real Estate

Among the healthy green grass lots and shady tree-lined streets, there is a variety of affordable and attractive housing stock in West Morgan Park that suits the needs and interests of Chicagoans from all walks of life.

This southwest side neighborhood is predominantly residential with some multi-unit condos and older brick apartment buildings, but mostly you'll find rows of well-kept single-family homes with front porches, manicured yards and back alley garages. The type of real estate in West Morgan Park ranges from good-sized two-story Colonials to quaint redbrick bungalows. The few residential buildings in the area are limited to low-rise condominiums and vintage courtyard apartments.

The average sales price for a two- or three-bedroom condo or attached housing unit in the West Morgan Park neighborhood is around $214,000. You can find a place for as low as $135,000, however, the higher-end reaches into the low $300,000s. For a three-bedroom single-family detached home, the average sales price is approximately $290,000 in West Morgan Park. If you are looking for something larger, with more bedrooms, the average price goes up to around $420,000. There are spacious four- and five-bedroom properties for as low as $325,000 in the neighborhood, but some of these sizeable homes are valued at closer to $530,000.

Morgan Park Residential Real Estate Info (Includes West Morgan Park Neighborhood)

Type of Housing	Average Sale Price 2005-2006	# of Units Sold	One Year Price Change	Price Change Since 94
Single Family Detached	$192,741	199	5%	92%
Single Family Attached	$143,086	38	24%	129%

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois
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What's on the Menu?

West Morgan Park is a small area but that doesn't mean good food isn't just steps away from the front doorstep. Leona's Restaurant (11060 S Western Ave, 773-881-7700) has been a Chicago institution for almost 60 years with thirteen locations in the Chicagoland area. Like all Leona's Restaurants, this West Morgan Park location offers a selection of healthy food choices and accommodates vegans and vegetarians with their organic tofu and Big Fat Vegan Burgers. Meat lovers need not worry, however, filet mignon salads, Romano chicken sandwiches and the modestly titled Darn Good Burgers will whet the carnivorous appetite. Tasty appetizers include cajun fried shrimp, bruschetta, and Big Obnoxious Onion Rings (which are a must-try). Leona's also offers an array of pizza and pasta dishes, since it is first and foremost an Italian joint. We like that this local Chicago chain is family-owned -- maybe that's why it feels like going to dinner at a friend's house each time we visit. The inviting atmosphere and gracious staff are the perfect touch, giving this neighborhood fixture a thumbs-up from West Morgan Park residents.
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Best Shopping Stops

If you're looking to add an antique motif to your home or condo, West Morgan Park has a few options for the bargain hunters among us. Grich Antiques (10857 S Western Ave, 773-233-8734) is a great place to start although you better brush up on your bartering skills because haggling is a requirement. In addition to vintage furniture, this small shop offers customers an assortment of old-fashioned light fixtures and mid 20th century electronic gadgets, as well as a variety of paintings and sculptures. David McClain runs David McClain Antiques (2716 W 111th St, 773-239-4683) out of his West Morgan Park house creating a comfortable and -- yes, homey -- shopping environment. And believe us, this is the spot for thrifting in West Morgan Park. McClain has stocked his home with all sorts of furniture pieces, paintings, sculptures, stained glass and crystal. But the fun is uncovering that hidden gem -- the one you don't necessarily know you're looking for.

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Mark Your Calendar

In general West Morgan Park is a quiet, peaceful little neighborhood, however, there is one time a year that things perk up a bit and the streets flood with the sights, sounds and smells of a celebration...with a particularly Irish flair. If you think the north side loves a parade, you should come on down to the South Side Irish Parade (Western Ave, 773-393-8687) held every year the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day. When the first Mayor Daley had the parade moved from its original home in the south side Gresham neighborhood in 1955, the event did enjoy a larger audience in its new downtown Chicago setting. However, it wasn't too long before the south side -- rich in Irish heritage -- fought back, forming their own St. Patty's Day spectacle in 1979. This procession, known to south siders as the real St. Patrick's Day parade, never fails to turn the streets of Chicago's far south side neighborhoods into a festive river of green that rivals the Chicago River's Irish hue (which is dyed for the holiday). With the festivities marching down the eastern border of the neighborhood, West Morgan Park residents get a head start on the prime viewing spots before the crowds show up. The route takes participants down Western Avenue from 103rd Street in Beverly to 115th Street in Morgan and West Morgan Park. All along the way you'll be hard up to find a single spectator who isn't dressed in head-to-toe green. And, it wouldn't be an authentic St. Patrick's Day celebration without some serious Guinness drinking, now would it.
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Getting Around

You may be able to walk across West Morgan Park easily enough, but we've got some good pointers on how to access points beyond. Many of West Morgan Park's residents own their own vehicle for getting around. Practically on the city limits of Chicago, this neighborhood maintains a suburban setting that lends itself to suburban-style travel -- basically, that means driving. From here, the best route to downtown is heading east to interstate 57, which connects with I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway) and then shoots right to the Chicago Loop. While in West Morgan Park, tooling around to local destinations and parking are accomplished easily enough, but we think walking or bike riding is a great way to get the errands done, and a better alternative if you're at all concerned about the environment. Save on gas and help save the ozone by cruising or strolling down California Avenue that offers a peaceful ride and an excellent view of the Mount Greenwood Cemetery.

Speaking of conserving gas, the public transportation in West Morgan Park provides a solid network of buses that get residents where they need to go. The #112 runs east/west on 111th Street, while the #49A on Western Avenue travels north and south, as does the #52A which operates along Kedzie Avenue. There's no CTA train line in the neighborhood, however, the Metra Rock Island commuter train passes right through the area, just to the east of West Morgan Park, offering a quick and carefree route to downtown.
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Basic Needs

By now you know West Morgan Park is a purely residential Chicago neighborhood. Considering its small size, there just isn't room for a Starbucks on every corner. Still, there are a few local businesses that provide a bit of convenience, and for any other needs, it's easy enough to scoot over to a next door neighborhood.

Transportation

Chicago Transit Authority (888) 968-7282

SHOPPING

David McClain Antiques 2716 W 111th St 773-239-4683
Grich Antiques 10857 S Western Ave 773-233-8734

DINING

Italian
Leona's Restaurant 11060 S Western Ave - (773) 881-7700

Asian Cuisine
See Thru Chinese Kitchen 10938 S Western Ave - (773) 238-9898
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Sometimes it makes more sense to view the city of Chicago as a bunch of separate neighborhoodsespecially when it comes to real estate. Whether you are in the market for a loft, condo, townhome, or house, it is just as important to inspect the surrounding area as it is to inspect the home's foundation. West Morgan Park neighborhood is just one Chicago community with an abundance of residential properties, and a life all its own. From where you send your kids to school to where you dine at night, the information we provide is an essential piece of the puzzle when you're trying to decide whether or not to buy that beautiful loft or adorable house in West Morgan Park.
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