Hermosa Neighborhood

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The Hermosa Chicago community is named after the Spanish word Beautiful because it is an urban and fun neighborhood with lots of natural beauty. Part of the city of Chicago’s diverse neighborhood structure, Hermosa includes access to Chicago Transit Bus Routes and trains as well as the Metra Trains.

Hermosa Chicago homes attract people to the area and are similar to other areas of Chicago with city bungalows and three flat brick buildings. The predominantly Mexican-American community include plenty of condos and apartments in the area that are both affordable and make beautiful homes.

Other great attractions in the area include local dining and Hermosa restaurants that offer a variety and diversity in cuisines and food. The local nightlife and Hermosa Bars provide plenty of places for locals to get out on the weekends and grab a drink, listen to live music, sing karaoke, or grab a bite to eat.

Hermosa Chicago Schools include plenty of public and private elementary and middle schools that are nurturing and fun for students of all ages. Local colleges and city universities are easily accessible through Chicago Public Transportation and provide education for all budgets and interests.

Local entertainment includes movie theaters and the local Portage Theater which is a historical landmark in the north side of Chicago. Lastly, Hermosa Parks add natural beauty and outdoor athletic fields and community playgrounds for the children to play and the adults to walk or jog.

Location

Hermosa is a Chicago neighborhood in Cook County and approximately six miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. Hermosa is located west of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90).

Some of the local city neighborhoods nearby include Kelvyn Park, Austin, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Avondale, Irving Park, Portage Park, and Belmont Cragin.

Information

Population (2000)
Total 26,908

White 11.5%
Black 2.41%
Hispanic 83.9%
Asian 1.19%
Other 1.04%

Source Wikipedia

History

Scottish immigrants settled the area that would be known as Hermosa in the 1880’s but called it Kelvyn Grove followed by many Scandinavian and German farmers. In 1882, the Dreyer Company established a factory bringing many jobs to area. Other companies began operating facilities and factories in the area such as Expanded Metal Company, Eclipse Furnace Company, and many other warehouses.

With all the jobs being created in the area, real estate developers began construction housing and named the subdivision Garfield and fashioned them after cottages. Chicago annexed the area in 1889 and although the origin is not known, gave it the name Hermosa. In 1907, the addition of streetcar lines made the area more popular.

The area’s growth was affected by the Great Depression of the 1930’s. In 1942, many of homes being developed were city bungalows and two-flats that were well known and used in the Chicago area. The 1980’s saw a shift in diversity in the area as it became more predominantly occupied by Hispanic families of Puerto Rican and Mexican ethnicity's.

In 1982, the United Neighbors in Action group was formed to help maintain and redevelop the areas and combat gang activities. Another group dedicated to stopping gang violence was the Kelvyn-Ken-Wel Community Organization.

The Hermosa community includes residents dedicated to giving back to the community and keep their neighborhood safe. The area is predominantly Hispanic and today include many authentic Mexican food restaurants, and the word “Hermosa” is Spanish for “Beautiful”.

Real Estate

Hermosa Chicago Homes include many city bungalow and two-flat style single family residences that include front porches, hardwood floors, bay windows, finished basements, and a lot of newly renovated homes.

Hermosa Chicago Condos are perfect homes for smaller families or college students looking for a great home in a quiet neighborhood of Chicago. Condos are featured in many three flat brick buildings and include updated kitchen appliances, beautiful furnished bathrooms, sun decks, and private parking for a low monthly fee.

Another great option for living in the area includes Hermosa Chicago Apartments. Apartments offer great and comfortable homes with a laundry room, hardwood floors, bicycle storage, and tons more amenities.

Transportation

Hermosa Chicago Parking is easy and convenient with lots of street parking available. See City of Chicago Parking Information for more info about parking rules and regulations in the city of Chicago.

Some Chicago neighborhoods require residential permits in order to designate street parking for residents in popular neighborhood. While most of Hermosa does not require these permits, check Residential Permit Parking Information to verify.

Hermosa is a great city neighborhood for residents who do not have access to a car. The Hermosa Chicago Walk Score of 72% and Very Walkable which means many stores and shops are within walking distance of residential areas and homes.

The Milwaukee District North Line Metra Trains provide daily commuter trains right through the Hermosa area as far North as Fox Lake an to Downtown Chicago Union Station. The local Healy Metra Station gives Hermosa residents access to the Metra Trains but does not provide a lot of parking to train commuters.

CTA Blue Line Trains are located just east of the Hermosa area, and residents can gain access to the city trains through bus routes. The CTA Blue Line Logan Square Train Station is located in next door Logan Square and can be easily transferred from CTA Bus Routes.

CTA Bus Route 53 - Pulaski provides bus routes along Pulaski north and south and directly through the Hermosa community and connects to most of the CTA Train Lines. Route 53 also gives access to farther south neighborhoods like Forest Park, Garfield Park, and many other neighborhoods.

CTA Bus Route 73 - Armitage and CTA Bus Route 74 - Fullerton provide east and west bus stops through the area to Logan Square, CTA Red Line Trains, CTA Brown Line Trains, and DePaul University.

Other local routes include the CTA Bus Route 76 - Diversey and CTA Bus Route 77 - Belmont. Both provide service east and west in the area. Some important stops include Brickyard Shopping Center, Kelvyn Park High School, CTA Trains, and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Schools

Hermosa Chicago Schools offer plenty of local public schools and magnet schools dedicated to quality education for children in the area. Noble Street Charter - Pritzker College Prep is a college prep magnet school that has a high graduation rate and many students go on to university study. Northeastern Illinois University is located very close to the Hermosa area and offers public tuition costs and great degree programs.

Area Colleges / Universities
Wilbur Wright College 4300 N. Narragansett, Chicago, IL 60634 (773) 777-7900.
Northwestern Business College 4811 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 (773) 725-2731.
North Park University 3225 W Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 (773) 244-5500.
Northeastern Illinois University 5500 N Saint Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 (773) 583-4050.

Hermosa Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public School District 125 South Clark Street # 14, Chicago, IL 60603 (773) 553-1000.
Kelvyn Park High School (9-12) 4343 W Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639 (773) 534-4200.
William P Nixon Elementary School (PK-6) 2121 N Keeler Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639 (773) 534-4375.
Noble Street Charter - Pritzker College Prep (9-12) 4131 W Cortland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639 (773) 394-2848.
John Barry Elementary School (PK-6) 2828 N Kilbourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641 (773) 534-3455.

Hermosa Chicago Private Schools
St. Patrick High School (9-12) 5900 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634 (773) 282-8844.
Notre Dame High School for Girls‎ (9-12) 3000 North Mango Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634 (773) 622-9494.
Josephinum Academy‎ (9-12) 1501 North Oakley Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 276-1261.
St. Hyacinth Basilica School‎ (PK-8) 3640 West Wolfram Street, Chicago, IL 60618 (773) 342-7550.

Nightlife

Hermosa Chicago Nightlife includes plenty of city bars but with a casual atmosphere and friendly locals. The nightlife in the area is very casual and laid back taverns and pubs without crowded dance clubs or expensive drinks.

Little Rascals Bar and Grill (4356 W Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641 773-545-1416) is a great local Hermosa bar that includes great prices and delicious grill foods that they’ll cook for you even at midnight. Little Rascals features karaoke every Friday and friendly and fast customer services and waitresses to bring you drinks.

A great local bar for older crowds is the Astoria Lounge (3208 N Kostner Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641 773-725-2277). The Astoria Lounge accepts all major credit cards and includes Latin Music on Friday nights and is perfect for birthday celebrations or group outings.

Entertainment

Hermosa Chicago Shopping includes many small retail shops as well as shopping plazas in surrounding areas. Six Corners Shopping District is a favorite shopping center among Hermosa residents and is located three miles from the Hermosa community. Six Corners is an outdoor shopping district with loads of fun stores including Rasenick Mens Wear, Polonia Book Store, Paradise Flowers & Gifts, Marshall’s, Sears, Hats Plus, and Famous Footwear.

Portage Theater is a great theater that offers a lot of live performances and classic film screenings located about three miles north of Hermosa. Silent Film Society of Chicago and the Chicago Horror Society sponsor many film screenings at the Portage Theater including classic films and new release independent films.

Another local movie theater includes the AMC Showplace at Galewood Crossings and include Digital 3D and digital projection movies of all the newly released Hollywood films. The concession stand includes many treats like buttery popcorn, soda fountain, candy, nachos, and tons of other foods and beverages.

Restaurants

Hermosa Chicago Restaurants include some of the best and most authentic Mexican-American cuisine in the Chicago area. Other restaurants include Chicago style pizza, American sandwich shops and diners, and tons more varieties. Many of the establishments are sit down casual restaurants and some other take-out or delivery services to the local residents.

Cozy Corner Restaurant (4356 W Diversey Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639 773-777-3500) is a great family diner for breakfast and lunch in the area that has some of the best and fresh meals. Cozy Corner is a popular place and can get a little crowded on the weekends. Their menu includes everything from pancakes, lunchtime sandwiches, Mexican omelets, home-cooked biscuits and gravy, burgers, wraps, and melts.

For authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, the Ponce Restaurant (4312 W Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639 773-486-3148) serves up delicious food and includes a small dine-in area but most customers take their food to go. Everything on the menu is from an authentic recipe and is cooked fresh to order. Many people come here for their first time trying Puerto Rican Cuisine.

Dino and Nick’s Pizza (2035 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60639 773-278-6606) isn’t your typical Chicago pizza place, and they have everything from appetizers, sandwiches, thin crust pizza, garlic bread, and the local favorite Pan Pizza. Lunch specials are available during the da, and delivery is always fast and convenient.

Festivals/Parks

Local Chicago Festivals include many celebrations of diversity and arts in the urban city. Both the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and the Chicago Pitckfork Music Festival are featured on the North side of Chicago and provide great fun and entertainment. The Children’s Film Festival includes the Facets Kids Film Camp perfect for students interested in film-making.

The Chicago Park District is responsible for dozens of neighborhood parks like Hermosa Park, Kelvyn Park, Ken-Well Park, and many more. Athletic fields, walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, aquatic centers, tennis courts, and many other features are included in Hermosa Chicago Parks

We specialize in these Chicago neighborhoods;

Belmont cragin area, Jefferson Park, Hermosa Area, Albany Park, Austin Area, Humbolt Park, Logan Square, Rogers Park, Irving Park, among others.

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