Its tranquil, tree-lined streets and picturesque home styles belie the strange beginnings of Schorsch Village. The neighborhood today is a pleasant departure from the bustle of city living, as it’s tucked into Chicago’s far northwest quadrant, and offers residents a quaint variety of retail shops and eclectic dining. Its borders run from Addison Street to the north, Narragansett Avenue to the east, Belmont Avenue to the south and Harlem Avenue to the west.                                         

Schorsch Village began in 1851, when representatives of Cook County, looking for grounds to build a poor farm, purchased 160 acres of prairie just outside of Chicago. In addition to the poor farm, which supported elderly and disabled residents from neighboring areas, the county built an insane asylum on the same property. Unfortunately, the sight of the hospital kept potential settlers at bay for some time.

It wasn’t until 1916 that the Schorsch brothers bought a portion of land near the poor farm and asylum (in the Dunning community area) and severed associations with both. Before long, a housing surge took the area and by the end of WWI Schorsch Village was abustle with immigrants from Sweden, Germany, Poland and Italy.

Transportation was also key in the success of Schorsch Village. Though the neighborhood is close to being suburbia, its proximity to the Kennedy Expressway and accessibility to several bus lines make commuting easy. In addition to the freeway, busses No. 152 and 77 go all the way to Lake Michigan, while busses No. 90 and 91 travel north and south from the northern suburbs all the way to South Chicago. 

Housing in Schorsch Village is quite diverse, ranging from affordable, single-room condos, to four and six-bedroom estates exceeding $1.25 million. Pleasant aspects of the neighborhood’s residential streets are the many well-tended gardens and wrought iron gates, both of which complement the area’s Art Deco-inspired apartment buildings. Most single-bedroom condo units start in the mid-$100,000s with three-bedroom townhomes reaching the upper $500,000s. On average, a four-bedroom detached home will begin around $500,000 and climb from there.

After spending an afternoon roaming Shabbona Park – complete with basketball courts, baseball fields and gym facilities – there are several delightful stops to make for lunch and dinner. If, like many Chicagoans, you’re craving Italian, visit the much-loved Ambrogio Restaurant. Or, if you adore the Polish cuisine prized in neighborhoods throughout the city, check out Ferajna or the Pol-Mart Deli. When you’ve had your fill of food, consider stopping at the M&I Lounge or BG’s Lounge for a friendly drink.

Then, there’s shopping. Reflecting a population that’s largely of European descent, dom ITP European Housewares is among the neighborhood’s most popular retail outlets. For special occasions requiring formal wear or dance gear, shop owners have you covered at Eva's Bridals and Fashions, After Hours Formal Wear and Square Dance Attire.

Finally, families with primary school-aged children can select from St. Priscilla School or Sisters of Saint Francis Alvernia High, both of which are in the neighborhood. Several other primary schools, high schools and specialty schools are within a mile of the immediate area.