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Welcome To Woodlawn

This south side Chicago neighborhood is home to an idyllic golf course, two yacht clubs and a lovely public beach. Woodlawn's residents enjoy a community conveniently located near recreational parks, the scenic lakefront, and the bustling University of Chicago campus. The area has all types of real estate where folks from all walks of life happily make their home. Affordable detached houses with private yards and their own garage give families enough room to grow, and condominiums are great properties for students, couples and young families just starting out. A number of schools and academies are situated in Woodlawn, giving homeowners plenty of options for their children's education, without straying too far from home.

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[Demographics, Shopping, Entertainment, and more...]
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Woodlawn Facts

Location: about 8 miles south of the Loop

Bordering Neighborhoods: Hyde Park, Washington Park, South Shore, Jackson Park Highlands, Grand Crossing
Boundaries: 60th Street to the north, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the west, 67th Street to the south and Lake Michigan to the east

Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents

Then and Now

From farmland to fairgrounds to civic protest, the Chicago neighborhood of Woodlawn has seen it all. With a lovely park on the lake and the University of Chicago's campus to the north, Woodlawn is positioned to enjoy much of Chicago's advantages. But, it hasn't all been rosy.

Dutch farmers first settled Woodlawn in the 1850s. The population swelled from 1,000 inhabitants in 1890 to over 20,000 in 1893, the year of the World Columbian Exposition, which was held in Jackson Park, a lakefront location on the eastern part of this Chicago neighborhood. The World's Fair celebrated 400 years since Columbus landed in America and it was a great boost to Woodlawn's economy, bringing with it entrepreneurs, artists and a buzz of activity to many neighborhoods in the south side of Chicago.

In the early part of the 20th century, Woodlawn underwent a demographic shift as an influx of African American families to the neighborhood occurred. These families were part of the Great Migration; people leaving the South looking for work in Chicago's factories and other northern industries. Absentee white landlords with strong racial prejudices didn't make Woodlawn an easy place to live for African Americans. In fact, the difficult living conditions were dramatized in a play by Lorraine Hansberry, called A Raisin in the Sun. Drawing on her own childhood in Woodlawn, the author described the crowded tenements and her father's legal battle against unfair standards. A little side note: Starring Sidney Poitier, this was the first play by an African American woman to reach Broadway.

In the late 1950s, Dr. Brazier (now the pastor of Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn) asked Saul Alinsky (a champion of organized protest) to help Woodlawn residents organize themselves and fight for better living conditions. Collectively they formed the Temporary Woodlawn Organization (or TWO), which protested crowded public schools, slum landlords and fought the University of Chicago's plan to expand into Woodlawn. They helped bring together many block clubs, churches and other existing groups in hopes to build the neighborhood up as a more powerful force that could effect change in Woodlawn. TWO's efforts forced landlords to improve and repair their buildings and gave Woodlawn residents the tools to wield more political power through organized demonstrations and civic action. To this day, TWO continues its proud presence in this Chicago neighborhood assisting with senior citizen and public housing, truancy intervention, and substance abuse.

Today, Woodlawn's residents enjoy a neighborhood conveniently located near recreational parks, the scenic lakefront, and the bustling University of Chicago campus. It is certain things have changed a lot over the last 50 years, though there is still important work to do in Woodlawn.
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Parks

If you happen to own a yacht, Jackson Park Harbor (6400 S. Coast Guard Drive, 773-288-1065) is a great place to dock for the summer boating season. The rest of us are happy enough just to stroll along the waterfront marina to catch a glimpse of the sleek boats in their slips and dream of lounging with a martini on the sundeck, But back to reality, Jackson Park is packed with fun outdoor activities and leisurely pastimes.

Don't despair if you're toting a bike instead of a yacht. Jackson Park's 600 acres (about a fourth of the neighborhood) affords you plenty of places to break a sweat, whether peddling or walking. In summer, we like to go to 63rd Street Beach (63rd Street and Lake Shore Drive, 312-742-5121) and contemplate whether we are bold enough to take a plunge into the chilly yet refreshing water of Lake Michigan. And trust us, we're not the only ones with this idea -- especially on the weekends -- this beach fills up fast. When temps outside really sizzle, many beach-goers even brave the cold lake to cool off. Get here early to stake out a prime spot on the sand, and don't forget to bring plenty of drinking water.

The lake may be freezing in winter, and the wind really bites at your nose, but that is no excuse to be idle for four months out of the year. Just head back over to Jackson Park, for a run on the treadmill at the park's indoor fitness center, or bring a few friends and shoot some hoops.

For golfers, the historic 18-hole golf course in Jackson Park (773-667-0524) offers a particularly scenic and challenging game. Par 5 shots of over 500 yards will have you utilizing every single golf club in your set. And whether you're an avid player or a non-golfer, puttering about on the putting green is always fun, and it provides good practice for the course. As we all know, puts can make or break your score.

When we're not sunning it up at the beach or yelling "Fore!" on the golf course, we love to stroll through Osaka Garden on the Wooded Island. This small island in between Jackson Park's East and West Lagoon was created for the Japanese exhibit at the World Columbian Fair over a century ago. Today Woodlawn residents and Chicagoans from all over the city are still enjoying the peace and tranquility of Japanese culture with every visit. The sound of trickling water and gentle waterfalls is so relaxing, just steps away from the bustle of Chicago city life, and a Japanese tea pavilion sits in the garden, inviting thoughts of traditional tea ceremonies. There is a sense of eternity in this quiet garden, which was landscaped with rocks brought in from all over the Midwest that are millions of years old. We love to reconnect with nature, revel in history, and find balance in this Zen-like south side garden.
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Real Estate

Woodlawn neighborhood has an array of housing options for Chicagoans -- and any re-locaters planning the move to Chicago -- everything from inexpensive single-family homes with up to five bedrooms to newfangled condo conversions. It's hard to resist the allure of affordable condominiums with luxury trimmings like granite countertops, hardwood flooring and stainless steel appliances, but some prefer the cozy comforts of vintage design, hard oak moldings and creaky floorboards. Luckily, Woodlawn neighborhood has all types of real estate where folks from all walks of life happily make their home.

No matter what you are looking for in a living space, Woodlawn's residential streets are a good place to start your search. Families will be pleased to find plenty of detached homes with their own yard and garage parking, while other homebuyers might love the large condos with individual decks, which have many of the same features as the private homes, without the maintenance.

The average price for a single-family home with three bedrooms in Woodlawn is approximately $200,000, although some properties cost as much as $400,000. A house with four or five bedrooms sells for $235,000 on average, however, the value for a home of this size varies greatly in this area. Some places are sold for less than $100,000 while others go for $700,000. Condominiums in the Woodlawn neighborhood can cost as much as a detached house, although the average sales price for a two-bedroom unit is only around $166,000.
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What's on the Menu?

Pickings are slim in Woodlawn neighborhood, so we head just a few minutes north to Hyde Park or to downtown when we want to eat out. In summer though, we like to try the catch of the day at Marina Cafe (6401 S Coast Guard Dr, 773-947-0400). Located in Jackson Harbor, the views of the lake are great, and you can't beat the setting, even if the service is not always stellar.
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Getting Around

Chicago is a big city, so we're thankful that the CTA transit system is so handy, making Woodlawn easily accessible by bus and train.

Our first choice if we're heading downtown is to take the CTA Green Line "El" (El being a nickname that refers to train's sections of elevated track). The stop is right in the middle of Woodlawn (at 63rd Street and Cottage Grove) and the train transports riders straight up to the Loop in no time. You can also catch the Metra train (Chicago's city-to-suburb commuter line), further east on 63rd Street, near Stoney Island Avenue.

If you prefer the bus, a few notable CTA lines run through the neighborhood picking up passengers at 63rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. The Cottage Grove Express will get you up to the Loop in 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic, of course. But for a more scenic route try the Jackson Park Express, which travels along the lakefront and up to Millennium Park.

Sometimes we decide to drive, taking Lake Shore Drive, which can be picturesque, but quite congested at rush hour ... does the word "gridlock" mean anything to you? The Chicago Skyway (I-90) is also close by and a rather fast route -- if the traffic cooperates with your travel plans -- and make sure to have exact change for the tolls to speed things up. Of course there are always surface streets to take, which is what many Woodlawners end up doing. When in doubt, take the train. It will most likely be faster and definitely better for the environment.
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School's in Session

We think computers are the cat's meow and here in Woodlawn, we're in good company. Many of the neighborhood's public schools participate in CUIP, which is a collaboration with the University of Chicago that works to integrate technology into the classrooms with programs like WebDocent and Digital Library. Looking to enroll your son in an all-male Catholic preparatory high school? Then check out Mt. Carmel, also located in this south side Chicago neighborhood.

In addition to the following list, you can find out more information on Woodlawn and other Chicago area schools at Chicago Public Schools and Great Schools.

Carnegie Elementary School - 1414 E 61st Pl - (773) 535-0530
Dumas Elementary School - 6650 S Ellis Ave - (773) 535-0750


Fermi Elementary School - 1415 E 70th St - (773) 535-0540


Hyde Park Academy - 6220 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 535-0880


McCosh Elementary School - 6543 S Champlain Ave - (773) 535-0570


Wadsworth Elementary School - 6420 S University Ave - (773) 535-0730


Woodlawn Community Elementary School - 6657 S Kimbark Ave - (773) 535-0801


Tesla Alternative High School - 6657 S. Kimbark Ave. - (773) 535-0780


Mt. Carmel High School - 6410 South Dante Avenue - (773) 324-1020
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Basic Needs

We know that yachting clubs and golfing don't necessarily cover the bare necessities of life, so here is a list of where to find those important everyday essentials in the neighborhood from baby food to library books.

Hospitals

La Rabida Children's Hospital Research Center - E 65th St at Lake Michigan - (773) 363-6700

Libraries

Bessie Coleman Library 731 E 63rd St - (312) 747-7760

Post Offices

US Post Office 700 E 61st St - (773) 493-0731

Pharmacies

A & F Pharmacies - 6740 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 667-5158
Walgreens - 1533 E 67th - (773) 493-0733

Grocery Stores

Farmer's Food Basket - 832 E 63rd St - (773) 324-0777
South Stoney Island Super Market - 6458 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 363-7178

Gyms

Curves - 1514 E 63rd St - (773) 324-0060
YMCA - 6330 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 947-0700

Recreational Facilities

Jackson Park - 6401 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 256-0903
Jackson Park Inner Harbor - 6400 S Lake Shore Dr - (773) 288-7106
Jackson Park Yacht Club - 6400 S Promontory Dr - (773) 684-5522
Southern Shores Yacht Club - 6401 S Richard Dr - (773) 752-9686
Jackson Park Golf Course - 63rd St and Lake Shore Dr - (773) 667-0524

Shopping

City Sports - 823 E 63rd St - (773) 752-1242
Rainbow - 6300 S Cottage Grove Ave - (773) 493-7494
Sole Lounge - 1516 E 63rd St - (773) 363-099

Dining

American Cuisine
Daley's Restaurant - 809 E 63rd St - (773) 643-6670
Marina Cafe - 6401 S Coast Guard Dr - (773) 947-0400

Bars/Restaurants
Flamingo Cocktail Lounge - 6644 S Cottage Grove Ave - (773) 684-0600

Caribbean Cuisine
Jamaican Jerk Choice Restaurant - 6500 S Cottage Grove Ave - (773) 955-4333

Pizza
Pizza Hut - 6700 S Stoney Island Ave - (773) 947-6770
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There's a lot of mystery involved in searching for a new homeit 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 Woodlawn 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 Woodlawn. 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.
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