Bridgeport Village

Neighborhood bridges city and suburbs

Bridgeport development in one of the city's best-known neighborhoods, but it sure seems like a suburb

Chicago Sun-Times
January 21, 2005
By Larry Finley

After a stay in the suburbs and a few North Side neighborhoods, Bridgeport proved to be just what the young couple wanted -- "a suburb in the city." Bridgeport now has the large, modern homes they were looking for, plus a real neighborly feel, explained Peggy Walsh, who lives there with her husband, Joe, a Chicago school teacher, and their two daughters.

"It's like living in a suburb in the city," she said. "It is very friendly. You know the people. I've met some of the people through my kids. They are the same ages and can play with each other." The couple and their girls, Maggie, 4, and Kate, 2, have a 4-bedroom brick home in Bridgeport Village, the Near Southwest Side development that covers about 40 new city blocks along the South Branch of the Chicago River, near 3300 S. Racine.

"I lived in Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Old Town and River North," she said. "Then we moved to the suburbs for a year and didn't like it. That's when we moved into the city and it was perfect." Walsh commutes to work at a major public relations firm downtown, either by car or on the CTA Orange Line, she said. On her trips, she is pleased to see the number of new homes in the area being built and rehabilitated.

"The proximity to the Loop is very, very convenient and there is not a lot of congestion," she said. "I moved from the North Side. I was accustomed to the traffic and never finding a parking place."

She does her major grocery shopping in the South Loop, which is between downtown and her home neighborhood. Hopefully all the new construction will encourage more commercial and retail development, she said.

Ald. James Balcer (11th) said that help is on the way. Plans are in the works to bring in more retailers as part of the city's Halsted Street redevelopment plan, he said. "More high-end commercial development, including restaurants, shopping and mixed-in residential will be developed along Halsted," he explained.

Since Bridgeport Village began two years ago, about 10 other residential developments have started in the area, including more single-family homes, town houses and condominiums. The number of young couples and families from popular North Side neighborhoods moving into the new, upscale development has been significant, according to Thomas A. Snitzer, president of Snitzer Homes.

"About 45 percent are from the North Side, meaning Lincoln Park, DePaul, Lake View and River North," Snitzer said. "About 25 percent are coming from the South Loop and West Loop area."

The remainder of the first 100-plus buyers there have been from the immediate neighborhood, out-of-town or the suburbs, he said. Most of them are young families or couples who want to start families, Snitzer said.

The first residents to move there were looking for housing that seemed a good value and was convenient to the Loop, he said.

"Now, people are moving here because of the community that's developed," Snitzer said. "We have had several local block properties and there are tons of kids, kids who can go out at night. It's safe. You get to know your neighbors."

People are looking for larger, single-family homes there, he said, some with optional third floors, double lots and elevators. Home prices start at about $875,000 for a three-story, 5-bedroom model, with more than 5,700 square feet and a finished basement. The largest homes are priced at more than $1 million, have more than 6,000 square feet of space and are on 32- or 38-foot lots.

"We are almost sold out and will announce plans for more homes in the spring," he said. The sales office is at Racine Avenue and 33rd Street, (773) 254-9200.

The Bridgeport Station Lofts, at 35th and Morgan, is bringing new-construction lofts to a neighborhood that has been heavily single-family, explained Paul Marks, co-developer with Paul Dincin in Tandem Developers LLC.

"Our buyers are the sons and daughters of Bridgeport people who have a connection to the neighborhood," Marks said. "They are familiar with the neighborhood and have found an opportunity to buy something that has been unobtainable or extremely expensive until now."

Many of the residents there are buying their first home, he said. Many work for the police or fire department or the city schools, Marks said. The same combination was attracted to their earlier Bridgeport building, the Union Lofts, at 939 W. 35th St.

The Bridgeport Station Lofts all have balconies and include 1-bedroom plans at $186,900; 1-bedroom, plus den, for $209,000, and 2-bedrooms for $264,900. The 66-unit building is brick and limestone and has both indoor and outdoor parking. The four-story includes a lobby with a video security system.

Another major single-family development, Bridgeport Landing, is awaiting approval from the city for 31/2-acres near the river, at 2500 S. Senour. The 42 homes, by C.A. Development, will include 29 two-story plans and 13 three-level homes. Prices are expected to start from about the mid-$300,000s to the $400,000s, according to Paul Bertsche, company vice president.

The traditional-style homes will have 3 to 7 bedrooms, 3 or 31/2 baths and 2,450 to 3,200 square feet. They include basements, 2-car garages and decks. Lot sizes will range from about 271/2 by 100 feet to 34 by 113 feet. The homes, Bertsche said, should appeal to "working-class families, including policemen, fire fighters and school teachers."

The development is within about 100 yards of the South Branch of the Chicago River. Plans call for the reconstruction of Mary Street, at 1100 West, which was vacated about 30 years ago, Bertsche said. The information number for Bridgeport Landing is (773) 777-8910.

Bridgeport's popularity has attracted suburban developer James McNaughton Builders, of Hinsdale, to the city for his first Chicago project. (630) 655-0559. He has introduced the McKinley Park Manor, 15 single-family homes and 20 town houses on Pershing Road, between Ashland and Damen. "We are very pleased and optimistic so far," McNaughton said. "People have been coming in from the neighborhood. They want to upgrade and stay in the area."

The 3-bedroom, single-family houses start at about $450,000 and include 21/2 baths and 2-car garages. They average 2,200 square feet. A third floor can be added to increase the space to 3,000 square feet for about $530,000. The first floors are handicapped accessible.

Standards include: granite counter tops, air conditioning, red oak or tile flooring, carpeting, appliances and unfinished basements.

The 2,000-square-foot town houses are all three levels, with 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths and 2-car garages. The ground floor also has a recreation room and laundry. The second floor has a kitchen, family room, great room, study and balcony. The bedrooms and 2 baths are on the top floor. Prices start at $310,000.