University Village / Little Italy
University Village Real Estate
Situated on the Near West side of the Downtown Loop, University Village, also known as Little Italy, boasts a wide variety of residential offerings. Its proximity to the ever expanding UIC campus and incorporation of Chicago’s historic Little Italy has resulted in a unique kind of real estate diversity on streets like Taylor, West Lexington and South Emerald. From new construction lofts, low-rise condominiums and the neighborhood’s classic row homes to vintage greystone two-flats and vintage single-family townhouses, University Village really does have something for every Windy City home shopper.
University Village Neighborhood Information
For obvious reasons, though it encompasses the older Little Italy, this area was dubbed "University Village" because it was adjacent to the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. Bounded by Ashland Avenue, the Eisenhower Expressway and Roosevelt Road, the neighborhood as it exists today is a colorful union of what were once two separate near southwest side communities. The architecture is classical and eye-catching, and the area is dotted with Catholic Churches, lush, green parks. Residents are able to frequent a multitude of book and comic shops, consignment stores, and trendy boutiques. Given its history, University Village also boasts a variety of dining options. Sprawling out from busy Taylor Street dinners have easy access to options ranging from The Rosebud, Three Aces and Tuscany Taylor to Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, Lito's Empanadas and all the gems of neighboring Greek Town.
University Village Accessibility
Like a lot of Central Chicago, University Village is a great commuter neighborhood, it’s only few minutes from the Kennedy expressway, there are a number of CTA bus routes that bisect it, the Downtown Loop is within walking distance in the summertime and the UIC-Halsted stop of the Blue Line L Train is conveniently located. Nearby Union and Ogilvie Stations even service Chicago’s Southern, Western, and Northern suburbs via Metra Train and several nearby states via Amtrak.