In this series of blog posts, we’re providing a summary of the neighborhoods where we’re currently listing and developing homes.
The Mayfair neighborhood runs from Montrose to Lawrence and Pulaski to the expressway/Cicero. North Mayfair, with its historic bungalow district, is just to the north, and the forest preserves are north of that. Mayfair is small as far as Chicago neighborhoods go, but that gives it a true neighborhood feel with a Chicago mailing address. It has a residential vibe, with frequent block parties in the summer and plenty of neighborhood activities in the parks.
Speaking of parks, Mayfair has its namesake park and is a short walk through North Mayfair to gorgeous Gompers Park, pictured below. The neighborhood also has its own branch of the Chicago Public Library system, on Lawrence.
A leafy walkway in Chicago’s Gompers Park
Read on to see why it’s always a beautiful day in Mayfair.
Entertainment and Eating
The Irish American Heritage Center entrance
Mayfair is home to the Irish American Heritage Center, which has excellent community programming and gathering spaces. The historic building houses a library, museum, art gallery, auditorium, and, of course, a pub. The center hosts a book club, concerts, art and dance classes, and the occasional wedding.
The area has some great locally run restaurants and places to get food to cook at home. Lalich Delicatessens is a family-run spot that’s been open since the 1980s. Stop by for some freshly smoked meats anytime and roasts on weekends. Mayfair is lucky to have The Fishguy, a fantastic fish market that also offers a fresh daily menu for sit-down luncheon. For those with a sweet tooth, Red Ribbon makes classic Filipino desserts that you can take away, as well. Mangos from the Philippines are supposedly some of the best in the world, so you can’t go wrong with their Mango Supreme Cake, or try one of their ube cakes for a uniquely purple treat.
The Numbers
Divvy bike station in Mayfair
A typical commute to The Loop by rail from the Mayfair is about 50 minutes, door to door. To O’Hare Airport, it’s about 30 minutes. By car, a typical drive to The Loop without traffic would take about 20 minutes, and a trip to O’Hare is 10 to 15 minutes.
Walkscore.com gives Mayfair a walk score of 82, a “very walkable” rating that means most errands can be accomplished on foot. The most walkable portion of the neighborhood is in the NE, near the intersection of Lawrence and Pulaski. It’s also very bikeable, including a Divvy Bikes–a bike sharing system–station at Keystone and Montrose, pictured above. Public transportation options are also good.
According to Zillow, home values in Mayfair have gone up 5.6% in the past year and are projected to go up 3.2% in the next. The median home value in this neighborhood is about 4.2% less than North Mayfair, immediately to the north, and 2.2% less than Old Irving Park to the south. Because Mayfair is small, residents can easily enjoy the benefits of the pricier surrounding areas!
A Bit of History
Homes from the “village of Mayfair” circa 1905. Details on Flickr.
While North Mayfair has a historic bungalow district, Mayfair is also known for its historic architecture. The area used to be known as Montrose but was renamed Mayfair in the early 1900s.
They Mayfair Pumping Station–which can seen by many Chicagoans from the highway–has an interesting history of its own.
Historic bungalows in the Mayfair neighborhood today
If you’d like to learn more about Mayfair, I’d recommend exploring the following resources:
- Mayfair Civic Association (active since 1945!)
- Pulaski Elston Business Association
If you’d like to live in the Mayfair area, please check out the following listings:
- 3919 N Monticello (Irving Park)
- 3941 N Francisco (Irving Park)
Please contact me directly for more information on Mayfair.
