It’s a Beautiful Day in Roscoe Village

It’s a Beautiful Day in Roscoe Village

In this series of blog posts, we’re providing a summary of the neighborhoods where we’re currently listing and developing homes.

Roscoe Village is small as far as Chicago neighborhoods go, but it’s home to plenty of local businesses and beautiful residences. It’s bound by Western Ave on the west, Addison on the north, Lincoln on the east, and Belmont on the south. Namesake Roscoe Street runs through the center of the neighborhood, acting as both its literal and figurative heart.

The Roscoe Village community board on Roscoe Street

Hamlin Park is just south of Roscoe Village and, according to Time Out Chicago, “is a huge reason so many families call Roscoe Village and West Lakeview home.” It has basically all of the amenities that a park could offer, thanks to its fieldhouse and large outdoor space, and has some of the best programming in the city.

Wide-open green space in Hamlin Park

Read on to see why it’s always a beautiful day in Roscoe Village.

Entertainment and Eating

Despite being a relatively small neighborhood, Roscoe Village has plenty of options for dining, shopping, and the arts.

Roscoe Street has an eclectic mix of independent businesses — it’s a great place to spend a Saturday. There’s brunch at Kitsch’n Roscoe or Victory’s Banner (vegetarian and vegan), bike tune-ups at Roscoe Village Bikes, Mediterranean food for lunch at Turquoise Restaurant, shopping at Roscoe Books and Shangri-La Vintage, and dinner and drinks at Volo Restaurant and Wine Bar.

Lincoln Avenue also has a lot to offer, including Loba Pastry + Coffee and Dinkel’s Bakery for treats, renowned butcher shop Paulina Market, and Chicago Music Exchange for instruments and gear. Head south to Belmont for live music and entertainment (every single day) at Beat Kitchen, vintage furniture at Praha (only open 1pm to 6pm, Wednesday through Sunday), and snacks at Pizzeria Serio and Scooter’s Frozen Custard (though they close for the winter). Lastly, Constellation is on Western and is a fantastic venue with progressive acts focusing on jazz, improv, and contemporary classical music.

The Numbers

A typical commute to The Loop by rail from Roscoe Village is about 40 minutes, door to door. To O’Hare Airport, it’s about 50 minutes. By car, a typical drive to The Loop without traffic would take about 15 to 20 minutes, and a trip to O’Hare is 15 to 25 minutes, sans traffic.

Walkscore.com gives Roscoe Village a walk score of 88, a “very walkable” rating that means most errands can be accomplished on foot. It’s also very bikeable, meaning that biking is convenient for most trips, and public transportation options are good. The neighborhood’s main subway station is Paulina, on the Brown line, which is accessible from Lincoln. This is the east border of the neighborhood, meaning commute times can decrease and walkability may increase closer to east side of Roscoe Village.

According to Zillow, home values in Roscoe Village have gone up 12.1% in the past year and are projected to go up 3.9% in the next. The median home value in this neighborhood is about 17% less than North Center, 12% less than Wrigleyville, and 4% less than Bucktown. It’s a bit pricier than nearby Lake View and Avondale. Furthermore, a Lathrop Homes renovation just south of Roscoe Village that’s been in the works for a while is finally starting, which should be great for home values in the next five to ten years.

A Bit of History

A historic image of the Wahl-Eversharp building

Interestingly, and despite how mature Roscoe Village feels today, the post-WWII development boom that hit in much of the country didn’t impact Roscoe Village. Developers were buying buildings in the early 1970s for as little as $20,000.

The Wahl-Eversharp Building, also known as the old pencil factory, was converted to condos in 1990 or so (see this Chicago Tribune article from 1988 announcing the project) and marked a big part of the neighborhood’s turnaround. The lofts sit behind the neighborhood’s iconic “Welcome to Roscoe Village” sign today.

The old pencil factory building today

Find more information about Roscoe Village’s history on the Roscoe Village Neighbors website. This page has lots of good details.

If you’d like to learn more about Roscoe Village, I’d recommend exploring the following resources:

If you’re interested in living in the Roscoe Village area, check out the following homes, including active listings and some that are under contract:

  • 3250 N Hoyne (Roscoe Village)

  • 3013 N Honore (Roscoe Village–Under Contract as of 12/6/17)

  • 1835 W School (Roscoe Village–Under Contract as of 12/6/17)

  • 2025 W Waveland (North Center)

  • 1122 W Wolfram (Lakeview)

Please contact me directly for more information on buying a home and living in Roscoe Village.

Work With Us

Get assistance in determining current property value, crafting a competitive offer, writing and negotiating a contract, and much more. Contact us today.

Follow Me on Instagram