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In a community that once buzzed with the heavy production of US Steel (one of the country's major steel manufacturers), South Chicago is a neighborhood rich in history centered about industry and organized labor. Today, these former industrial areas near Lake Michigan are some of the last few fleeting frontiers for development in the city. Acres of land along South Chicago's lakefront have not yet been built up — begging the interest of commercial and residential developers who continue to push south in search of prime real estate property. The neighborhood is bordered to the west by the Chicago Skyway, providing the region with good transportation. Both public schools and private academies dot the area, affording families their choice of scholastic options.
Your home is your castle wherever you live, be it condo, townhouse or bungalow. Whatever your real estate needs, South Chicago is an affordable neighborhood that holds the key to homeownership for many Chicagoans. With market listings that run the gamut, this south side section of town has a wide assortment of modest housing options that caters to folks from local city dwellers to re-locaters planning the move to the Chicago area. Many families are attracted to living in the South Chicago neighborhood. Kids love the private yards where they can play outdoors, while parents appreciate the front patios and garage parking.
The residential streets in South Chicago neighborhood are lined with everything from traditional brick bungalows that have been around for more than 100 years to new construction three-story homes with modern amenities and contemporary layouts. Of course, the price varies greatly from one to the next, and there is a good mix of housing in between as well. Generally speaking, though, the average sales prices for a three-bedroom single-family detached home in South Chicago is around $133,000 with plenty of less-than-perfect houses selling for well under $100,000. A little larger home (something with another bedroom) jumps the average price up to $160,000, but don’t be surprised if you find a lot of properties that size selling for closer to $300,000. Multi-unit housing is less common around here, but the average price for a one- or two-bedroom condo or attached townhome typically hovers around $100,000.
While a good portion of the real estate in South Chicago is well-maintained, there are a number of properties that need updating and decorating. So, if you’re handy, you might just find a project worth your attention in this far south side Chicago neighborhood.
For more than a hundred years, South Chicago factories provided employment to steel workers. These laborers eventually banded together to form a powerful union, which vastly improved their working conditions.
It’s no wonder that the South Chicago neighborhood became a magnet for industry. Back in 1833, smart businessmen pegged the community as an area ripe for development due to its location perched between Lake Michigan, the Calumet River and several major railroad routes, so they snatched up plots of land with visions of vast manufacturing growth dancing through their heads. Big companies like Brown Iron and Steel Company and South Works roared into operation in the 1870s. The area soon bustled with immigrants from Ireland, Poland and Italy, who moved there to work in the factories. It was inexpensive and convenient to obtain the iron ore from Lake Superior for processing in the South Chicago plants and as a result, South Works quickly became a world leader in steel production. (A bit of local trivia: South Works manufactured the steel that supports the Sears Tower and other Chicago skyscrapers.)
US Steel bought South Works in 1901, though the factory name remained the same. Even back in 1911, South Works employed 11,000 people. But it was a hard job, usually with 12-hour shifts, six or seven days a week, and safety regulations were hardly sufficient. Workers repeatedly held strikes, but it wasn’t until 1923 that the steel industry finally agreed to the more humane eight-hour day.
Fast forward half a century: The steel industry dramatically changed in the 1970s and ‘80s, as local manufacturers had international competition to contend with, coupled with less demand on the home front. Consequently, thousands of Chicago steel workers lost their jobs and South Works finally closed its doors for good in April of 1992.
The roar of machines may be gone, but city planners are now pondering the opportunities for the spacious undeveloped portion of South Chicago’s lakefront. The former site of South Works itself covers more area than the Loop and is nothing more than a large dirt-filled field with great potential for future development.
As Chicago neighborhood experts, Dream Town has successfully sold properties in South Chicago. Dream Town holds a well-earned reputation for its impressive sales volume and dedication to personal, attentive service. Benefit from the Dream Town advantage when selling your South Chicago home. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Dream Town drives more sales than any other Chicago brokerage.
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