Gold Coast

GOLD COAST

 

Residents Love: 

• Strolling along picture-perfect streets teeming with residential character 
• Having a quiet, neighborly feel 
• Being able to walk to the Magnificent Mile 
• Having access to Michelin-starred restaurants 
• Living near the lakefront 

The Gold Coast Historic District is luxury, personified. Gold Coast, as the name denotes, is one of the finest neighborhoods in the country. Growing in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the legendary neighborhood gained an early reputation for affluence as it was home to many important Chicago families who have contributed to the social, cultural, and economic history of the city. To this day, it maintains this air of prestige, ranking as one of the most expensive areas of Chicago and the 7th most affluent urban area in America.

Bordering the Lake Michigan shoreline, Gold Coast is part of Chicago's Near North Side community area, roughly bounded by Chicago Avenue to North Avenue and the Lakefront to Clark. Historic mansions, boutiques, celebrated restaurants, and historic hotels line the main streets as several sections awaken at night. 

Living in the Gold Coast  

Home Types 

In the Gold Coast, you’ll find vintage row houses mixed with doorman high-rises, mid-rise condo buildings, and co-ops. The blend of architecture is part of its allure. The historical styles vary from Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque to Georgian Revival, but several prominent 21st-century high-rises dominate the skyline.  

Affordability Factor 

Gold Coast is one of Chicago’s more expensive districts. Home prices in Gold Coast are generally in line with their other nearby neighborhoods with glamorous penthouses and opulent mansions fetching the highest prices. 

A Night Out 

Chicago’s most glittering neighborhood is a trove of Michelin-starred dining and trendy food spots, including Somerset, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugos Frog Bar & Fish House, Maple & Ash, Le Colonial, La Storia, and Margeaux Brasserie. After dinner, take a quiet twilight stroll north of Division and enjoy some of the neighborhood’s romance and historic architecture. If it’s a cocktail you’re in the mood for then you're in luck. Be sure to try the old-fashioned hotel bar Sparrow for sugar cane spirits. 

The Perfect Sunday 

Since Gold Coast is home to the Magnificent Mile, you’ll want to take full advantage of all the luxurious shopping awaiting you. Just off Magnificent Mile are smaller but-oh-so-chic designer stores and posh salons lining Oak Street. If you fancy yourself a book lover, then you may also enjoy spending a quiet afternoon in the 100+ years-old Newberry Library, which is home to over 1.5 million books.   

Your Commute 

Like most Chicago neighborhoods, Gold Coast is a walker’s paradise. Even so, there are abundant local transportation options for getting around the city. By train, you’re 17 minutes from The Loop, 25 minutes from the Merchandise Mart, 32 minutes from Union Station, and 25 minutes from Millennium Park. You’ll have access to several CTA train lines and bus routes. Major highways are also fairly easy to access by car. 

Landmarks  

Culture lovers will have their pick of art, music, and theater in the Gold Coast. Perhaps one of its most famous landmarks is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which has grown to include more than 2,000 works of contemporary art. The historic Charley-Persky House, created by two of America’s most famous architects – Louis Sullivan and his young apprentice Frank Lloyd Wright – is another Gold Coast favorite. Fans of theater can drop in to see a play at A Red Orchid Theater, an edgy theatre company on Wells Street, or see a Broadway show at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in the Magnificent Mile. Each year in June, Gold Coast co-hosts the Gold Coast River North Art Fair at Grant Park, a family-friendly fair that features everything from paintings to sculpture and jewelry from 200 juried artists, plus live music, food, beer, wine, and sangria. Lastly, the stunning Cathedral District bordering Gold Coast is a must-see for architecture fans. 

 

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