Surprise! I’m talking about the actual raising of Chicago! That kind of uplifting! Back in the plank road days, street level was barely above Lake Michigan itself. And yes, Chicago is built on a lot of swamp land that just kept growing and expanding – in size and population. Needless to say, things were getting pretty gross here, with the road apples, the mold, and the diseases that followed. So, they started hoisting up buildings to raise the street levels, by several feet. And in many cases, they were moving houses and shops into other areas – sometimes with the residents inside! (Early mobile homes?)
Less than twenty years after the raising, in what’s now the downtown area (and many outskirts), most of the buildings burned down during the Great Chicago Fire. And so, the buildings you see there now were not the ones hoisted, but rather they built over the rubble that were lifted (and they spread that debris into the lake to add more land!). However, the sunken houses you see in many older neighborhoods, including the ones with a cement bridge connecting the sidewalk to the front door, are a remnant of that pre-raising era.
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Here’s another piece of trivia:
Did you know some of the double- and triple-decked streets are also a result of the raising?
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Thanks for reading! And I hope you’re all still safe and healthy!
And here’s something else you can learn about: My current listings!
*~* And remember, I represent buyers and sellers, too! ~*~
~*~ And, I’m happy to connect folks to agents outside the Chicagoland area via referral! ~*~
And now you’ll know even more interesting info from my neighborhood snapshot below! Check out and compare some of these facts and figures below from areas I know well, harvested from MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data) on March 18th, 2022. With 77 official neighborhoods in Chicago, plus dozens, if not hundreds, of surrounding suburbs (depending on who you ask), there’s a whole lot more info readily available.
In you have any questions on the information provided below, or you would like to learn about an another area, city or suburbs, please give me a call! 773-697-4474
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Data harvested from MRED on March 18, 2022
Did you know wire fraud is real? I don’t want you to become a victim!
Thanks again for reading! Take care of yourselves, and check in on your neighbors- especially the elderly and those with disabilities. If you need help with getting by, even if it’s just to have someone to talk to, let me know. I’ll find a way to help. Black Lives Matter.
And please remember, I always have time for you and your referrals!
Lori Dake, an Illinois Licensed Broker
www.LoriDake.com
P: (773) 697-4474
F: (773) 717-5500
E: LDake@KaleRealty.com
Your referral is my greatest compliment!
Kale Realty
2447 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
www.KaleRealty.com
(312) 939-5253