Neighborhoods
Board Members All Across Chicago Trust Our Services
The City of Chicago is home to numerous communities within its expansive borders. Each neighborhood showcases a unique blend of diversity, culture, history, shopping, dining, and architecture. Those characteristics define each community and make Chicago an amazing place to live.
Within Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs like Evanston and Oak Park, people choose to live in a wide-range of residences such as high-rises, condominiums, apartments, single family homes, townhomes and lofts. Many properties are established as community associations and cooperatives, which exist to ensure an affordable and enjoyable living experience for residents. Since 1998, association board members all across Chicago placed their trust in the hands of First Community Management to effectively assist their efforts. In fact, our team of management professionals partner with association board members on a daily basis all around Chicago in an effort to enhance their standard of living and help make neighborhoods a better place.
FCM's Team Proudly Oversees these Chicago Neighborhoods
West Loop
Initially an old warehouse district in Chicago, this more recently developed area of the city now features a young, hip, and vibrant feel. The West Loop neighborhood is located minutes from the Loop, the city’s thriving pulse. Many of the old warehouse buildings have been transformed into condominium developments that incorporate the original architecture.
We’ve had the privilege of providing our association management services throughout the West Loop area, as upward trending home and condo sales have precipitated demand for our expertise. This neighborhood is full of art galleries, entertainment, shopping and eateries serving everything from unique burgers to Asian or Greek cuisine. Overall the area has an up and coming vibe running through it. The West Loop’s residents’ median age is 34 and household income is a higher than average $87K.
South Loop
Bordering the West Loop to the southeast sits the South Loop, the location of which affords many of its residents to live, work and “play” all in the same spot. The South Loop is currently one of the hottest areas for new condominium development and, as a result, several condo and townhome associations in this neighborhood choose First Community to assist them with their property management services. From luxury high-rise buildings with breathtaking views of the city, to single family homes and townhomes, housing options are many in the thriving South Loop neighborhood.
The South Loop also caters to family activities, as about 47% of its residents are married couples with children. Chicago’s famous Museum Campus and numerous parks, including Grant Park and Maggie Daley Park, sit nearby. Additional family friendly opportunities abound, with Soldier Field, Chinatown, children’s parks, dog parks, restaurants, shopping, and the city’s downtown sector all just moments away. The median age of someone living in the South Loop is 36.
River North
Trendy, cosmopolitan, and modern are all adjectives that describe River North. This upscale community attracts a range of young professionals to empty nesters who settle into its trademark residential condo high-rises that feature awe-inspiring views of the city. Up until the late 1980’s, this area nestled near the Chicago River and the Loop served as an industrial center, full of rustic warehouses and factories. Many of those historical structures have been creatively renovated into offices or residential lofts.
Residents of River North love its nightlife and artistic culture, along with popular furniture stores, art galleries, fine boutiques, and premier dining establishments. The median residents’ age here is 34 and the median household income is $104K.
River West
Tucked away on the western bank, where the south branch of the Chicago River flows gracefully away from the city lies the River West neighborhood. This community is known for the amazing architecture of its older warehouse buildings, many of which have been converted into businesses and residences. One of River West’s most famous structures is the old St. John’s Cantius Church, a truly breath-taking building to behold. West Town is nestled within this neighborhood, with the Market District nearby serving as a hotspot for delicious “mom and pop” restaurants, artisan bakeries, trendy markets and even unique flower shops.
River West is home to a growing number of high-rise living spaces, as well as lofts, start-up businesses and shops. This is a very family oriented area, with 38% of its residents living as families, 28% of that number as married couples with children. People in River West also benefit from its easy interstate access into the city, making it a very commuter friendly neighborhood. The median household income in River West is $82K, while the median age of its residents is 32.
Rogers Park
Positioned on the north side of the city, with easy access to public transportation extending out to the suburbs, residents of Rogers Park enjoy beautiful Lake Michigan to the east. In the 1890’s, this friendly, ethnically diverse neighborhood was a sprawling, tree-filled park, and hence its name. Rogers Park has become a hot spot for many cultures, evidenced by the over 40 languages spoken here. World-renowned Loyola University’s campus lies within this community, a school that attracts students from all over the globe.
Residential properties in this area are as diverse as their inhabitants, with apartments, condos and townhomes all arranged neatly within the surroundings. Walking down the streets of Rogers Park, you’ll notice many theaters, art studios, ethnic restaurants and a slightly older population than some other neighborhoods in Chicago. In fact, the median age of someone living in Rogers Park is about 43, the median household income is $58K.
Lincoln Park
Probably one of the first things you’ll notice about Lincoln Park, situated north of downtown Chicago and west of Lake Michigan, is how sprawled out the community is, encompassing 2800 square miles. Within its boundaries are a number of natural areas to unwind from a long work day. Stone and brick structures positioned along tree-lined streets further define Lincoln Park. DePaul University sits nearby, and when the weather is conducive the enticing sounds of lakeside festivals and concerts fill the air. Lincoln Park has an interesting blend of old churches, historical landmark districts and new construction, all interwoven with a vibe of luxury, charm and success.
Many young professionals relocate to this community and frequent Lincoln Park’s high-end retail shops that dot Armitage Avenue, along with its myriad restaurants, bakeries, cafes, nightclubs, theaters and museums. It you want to stay active, the neighborhoods within Lincoln Park definitely have what you need! The area has seen a lot of new condo and high-rise living development over the past few years. The median household income is $85K in Lincoln Park and the median residents’ age is 30.
Old Town
Situated north of downtown Chicago, and known for being impacted by the Great Chicago Fire, is Old Town. Its landscape features a unique mix of older buildings, including Victorian Era houses, juxtaposed with newly constructed condos and townhomes. This is a fast-paced community coveted by up-and-coming professionals who desire a quick commute into the city, and who enjoy Old Town’s creative shops, rustic bars, restaurants and art galleries.
Wells Street within Old Town is well-known for shopping, dining and entertainment, most assuredly for its varied lineup of delicious, family-owned eating establishments. This area features fewer traditional families than other Chicago neighborhoods, with a median resident age of 38 and median household income of $68K.
Wicker Park
Just to the northwest of downtown Chicago sits Wicker Park, an eclectic, artistic community full of boutiques, galleries, and designer store fronts that wind all along Damen and Milwaukee Avenues. Trendsetting bars and avant-garde dining establishments also define Wicker Park, along with its wide-range of housing structures, including condos, single-family homes, mid-rise and multi-unit buildings. Many of these properties are newer and have replaced, or been renovated from, older buildings that still dot the area.
In fact, most of the Wicker Park neighborhood lies within Chicago’s Landmark District and several of the architecturally-inspiring, older buildings are even on the National Register of Historic Places! For those residents who call the Wicker Park community home, 606 Trail provides them with the opportunity to walk, run and bicycle when so inclined. The median age for a resident of Wicker Park is 32 and the median household income is $82K.
Evanston
This community blends higher education with business, and sits within a relatively wide open space near Lake Michigan that’s roughly 12 miles directly north of downtown Chicago. Evanston features its own downtown area with high-rise office and residential buildings, along with 85 restaurants, theaters, numerous nightclubs and specialty shops. The neighborhoods within Evanston’s spacious geography have nearly everything its inhabitants need within walking or bicycling distance, including plentiful employment opportunities.
Evanston has a lot of young families and young professionals within its ranks, it maintains a small town atmosphere given its proximity to the city, and it has become a vibrant and growing community. Additionally, one of the country’s finest institutions of higher learning Northwestern University, is in the heart of Evanston. The median household income in Evanston is $70K, while the median age of those who call it home is 37.
Oak Park
Those who live in this area, located just west of Chicago, embrace the neighborhood’s rich history, diversity and arts tradition. With respect to the latter, Oak Park features homes once owned by the likes of cultural icons Ray Kroc, Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Frank Lloyd Wright. The public transportation servicing Oak Park is top notch, the schools also highly regarded, and with all this the community has maintained a more “suburban”, family-oriented feel to it.
First Community Management has the pleasure of providing our proven association management services to some of Oak Park’s condo and townhome associations. Although there has been a lot of new property development, Oak Park still has a fair amount of larger, historical estates with tree-filled yards. With its convenient shopping, award winning schools, numerous local festivals, fine restaurants and parks, Oak Park truly is a great place to raise a family! The median age in this community is 37, with a household median income of $77K.