Old Irving Park boasts tranquil neighborhoods and beautiful vintage homes on some of Chicago’s most spacious lots. Conveniently located only seven miles northwest of the Loop, the neighborhood is bordered by Montrose Avenue to the north, Addison Street to the south, Pulaski Road to the east and Cicero Avenue to the west.

In 1869, Charles T. Race purchased two parcels of farmland that included present-day Old Irving Park and, with a group of local businessmen, decided to build an exclusive suburban community. A deal was made with Chicago & North Western Railroad in which Race and his men would cover the cost of a new train station and the railroad would pick up local passengers headed for downtown.

Old Irving Park quickly attracted both Chicago’s wealthy, who sought more land and larger homes, and middle-class residents who wanted to escape the dangers of the city. After the Chicago Fire of 1871, Old Irving Park experienced a considerable building boom and over the course of two decades erected hundreds of homes and other buildings. To the delight of current residents, many of these original structures still stand.    

Unique housing styles abound in Chicago, most of which can be found in Old Irving Park’s eclectic variety of properties. House-hunters here will find Victorians, Queen Annes, vintage farmhouses, bungalows, graystones and Prairie School homes. Mingling with these old world-style homes is also a selection of contemporary townhomes and modern condominiums.

Prices run a pretty wide gamut in Old Irving Park. A one-bedroom condo will range between $135k and $220k, while slightly larger options easily reach up to and beyond $300k. However, the price tag on detached homes may surprise some newcomers. While a few single-family homes start at the high end of $200k, most private residencies start closer to $500k, with plenty of options passing the million dollar mark.

There’s plenty on the menu for residents of Old Irving Park. Catering to Chicago’s love of pizza is La Villa Restaurant & Pizzeria, with limitless varieties of deep dish, thin crust and even stuffed crust. Or, for those with more unique tastes, try Chicago’s Pizza & Pasta, featuring gourmet pies like prosciutto and goat cheese and the Grecian Delight. From there, cuisine offerings expand to include barbeque at Smoque, Middle Eastern at Shiraz Restaurant, Irish at McNamara’s and diner-style at Golden Nugget and IHOP.

In light of its largely high-class residency, Old Irving Park also includes plenty of retail shops, from national chains to local boutiques. The Six Corners shopping district includes stores like Sears, Office Depot, Payless and a Bally Fitness. Locally inspired shops include Hats Plus, Zeke’s Baseball Cards & Collectibles and Tippy Toes Children’s Shoes & Boutique.

There are numerous public and private schools to choose from throughout Old Irving Park, including Belding Elementary, Irving Park Middle School and St. Viator School. Additional schools in the surrounding area can be found at our Chicago Guide Schools page.

Commuting from Old Irving Park couldn’t be easier. The neighborhood includes two Blue Line stops and busses that run regularly along all the main streets. For those who prefer to drive, the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) runs through the heart of Old Irving Park, and when you arrive back home, you’ll find that parking here isn’t a premium as it is elsewhere in the city.

Old Irving Park Real Estate