Edgewater Community

Natural beauty, a wide range of housing options, cultural diversity and some of Chicago’s most exciting views mark Edgewater, a patchwork of residential districts bounded by Foster, Devon, Ravenswood and the lake.

Edgewater began as a summer retreat for those of Chicago’s elite society in the 1890s.  Development grew and the affluence of the area was epitomized with the building of the famous pink Edgewater Beach Hotel in 1916.  It has a rich history of famous or infamous stars such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower and big bands such as Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey, just to name of few.  It prospered until the Lake Shore extension (in 1951-54) eventually cut the hotel off from the beach finally forcing it to close its pink doors in 1967.  All that’s left of this once grand hotel is the Edgewater Beach Co-op or Apartments found in the Bryn Mawr Historical District.  It also has bragging rights as the fifth highest concentration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples in the country.

As in any community, Edgewater had its ups and downs, but most recently the Chicago Public Art Group along with community residents has been in the process of re-beautifying their neighborhood.  Over two years in the making and with over four hundred designers, planners and workers helping, a mosaic mural depicting the history of Edgewater and the Bryn Mawr Historic District was completed.  Using such mediums as ceramic tile, clay relief, mirrors and painted panels, the 185 foot long piece was called “Living 2007”.  From kite flying to beach scenes, reminders of days long past, it even includes the pink Edgewater Beach Hotel.  It is located on the Bryn Mawr underpass along Lake Shore Drive.

Edgewater is just ten miles from the Loop.  Easy to get to with the network of bus stops throughout the neighborhood as well as the four Red Line CTA train stations along Broadway Avenue.  If you have a car, you can get to downtown via Lake Shore Drive or if biking is your mode of transportation, you can ride the 20-mile long Lakefront Bike Trail.

With access to shopping areas, a variety of restaurants and outdoor recreational activities, there is never a lack of things to do to keep one’s self busy.  From Foster Beach with its bike rentals, tennis and basketball courts, to some of the local eateries featuring South American, Japanese, Thai or even Ethiopian cuisine, to antique markets and used book shops to The Billy Goat Experimental Theatre Company, you can be engaged from morning to night!