$286,222Average Value$174Average Price per Sq Ft46Homes For Sale
Changes in the Soul City Corridor
Austin, a community in West Side Chicago, has a history that can be seen in vintage buildings, many over 100 years old. The Lake Street train line extension in the 1890s led to Austin growing and flourishing for over 50 years. Today, Austin retains some grand historical architecture, but newer construction has been added over the decades. Vanessa Stokes, a resident for over a decade and president of the Austin Town Hall Park Advisory Council, says, "There are a lot of changes happening, including infrastructure improvements, especially around the major corridors." One of these, the Soul City Corridor, runs along Chicago Avenue from Cicero to Austin avenues. "Because of negative media about West Side, folks don't see the benefits here," Stokes says. "But that's what we're working on. Austin is awesome."
Kera's Hair Biz offers locals the option for great haircuts in Austin.
Locals like to shop for groceries at Avenue Foods in Austin.
Urban Essentials Coffee Cafe has great coffee in Austin.
The Soul City Corridor has many businesses and places for community engagement in Austin.
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ASPIRE Initiative, INVEST South/West
Austin is one of Chicago's INVEST South/West's priority communities for commercial corridor improvement. The Austin Neighborhood Roundtable, formed in 2020, is a testament to the engagement of residents in collaboration with the city. Austin United Alliance is a $37.5-million mixed-use development planned for the site of the Laramie Bank building. Plans call for a blues museum, business incubator and mixed-income apartments.The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is also in the works as part of the ASPIRE Initiative, led by non-profits the Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together. ASPIRE is planning a wellness campus and multitiered income-level housing. “As a lifelong Austin resident, one thing I love about this community is the commitment and passion that members and residents have,” says Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together. “There are hundreds of organizations, institutions and leaders that passionately serve Austin’s children and families and are deeply committed to the progress and interconnectedness of this community.” Another health authority endeavor is 100 Men 100 Homes, which provides house renovations while teaching job skills.
The Art Deco Laramie State Bank is in the National Register of Historic Places in Austin.
Aspire Center will help locals gain skills for entering the workforce in Austin.
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From Queen Annes to rehab properties
"Austin has one of the best housing stocks in the city," Stokes says. "We have multiple types of housing: your typical single-family home, but also Chicago bungalows, two-flats and Victorians." Early examples include Queen Anne, shingle-style and Prairie-influenced architecture. Some of these were built by Frederick Schock, the original architect of Austin, and are now designated as historic landmarks. Single-family homes make up approximately 20% of the neighborhood's residences, while apartments comprise 25%. Newer builds include condominiums and multiunit buildings. Though older homes in need of rehab or compact condo units can sell for under $75,000, most properties are about $200,000 to $360,000. At the high end, a two-unit luxury duplex built in 2023 was listed at close to $650,000.
Austin brownstones are a very common and reliable form of housing in the area.
Austin is becoming a hotspot for renovation of historical homes.
Austin features a few very large Queen Anne style homes.
Austin homes are very unique and were mostly built in the 20th century.
Austin gardeners are becoming very popular in the area.
Austin features many bungalows two story brownstones.
Austin features many historical architectural styles.
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Town Hall and Columbus Park
The Austin Town Hall building, used as a park field house and a community space, has a fitness center and kitchens and hosts arts programming. It's also the home of the Austin Town Hall City Market and a venue for festivals and events put on by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.The Austin Town Hall Park Advisory Council, which Stokes presides over, focuses on creating opportunities for the community, with a push to increase cultural programs and spaces for youth. Stewardship and maintenance of the park are another goal. "It's an asset to Austin. The front-facing park is one of the emblems of the community." She says the park's prominent location makes it stand out; those arriving in Austin can see it from the L. To the south, Columbus Park spans over 140 acres and is one of the few parks in the country that's a National Historic Landmark. Columbus features a fitness center, a swimming pool, a senior center and paths for cycling and jogging.
Columbus Park is a gem of Austin.
A community space, the Austin Town Hall building features a copper bell tower.
Residents like to exercise at Columbus Park with a friendly game of pickup football in Austin.
Youth basketball league takes place at the field house in Columbus Park in Austin.
Families take advantage of the many biking trails in Austin.
There are many beautiful fields fit for baseball practice in Austin.
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Central and Laramie L stations
The Chicago Transit Authority's L provides easy transport throughout Chicago. Stations close to home include Austin, Central and Laramie. Those driving can take State route 64 east or west and State route 50 north or south. Interstate 290 runs south of Columbus Park. For air travel, Austin's in an optimal spot: "It's convenient, in between the airports," Stokes says. "You can get to Midway or O'Hare in 20 to 30 minutes.
The Laramie Green Line stop is conveniently right in Austin.
Austin is located right on the CTA Green Line.
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Austin's soul food and other eats
Homestyle Southern cooking is found at MacArthur's Restaurant, where the menu includes fried chicken, baked catfish and beef short ribs. Coleman's 2 Ribs & Tips serves the requisite barbecued meats plus seafood and burgers. There's also The Licking, a soul food restaurant chain owned by DJ Khaled. Other eateries range from fast food to the Vegan World Cafe and Chyros Famous Halal Food.Washington Square Mall has a Food4Less and assorted stores. Other options include Mario's Butcher Shop, Walmart and Aldi. For fresh produce, locals stop by the Austin Town Hall City Market, held every Thursday in June through early November.
Austin features some well known barbecue spots like Rib Palace.
Locals love the barbecue options at Coleman's 2 Ribs And Tips in Austin.
MacArthur's Restaurant is a favorite for soul food for locals in Austin.
Barney's Pizzeria offers pizza by the slice in Austin.
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Howe, then high school academies
Public schools include the Howe School of Excellence, graded C-minus by Niche and serving kindergarten through eighth grade. Highlights include a school garden that opened in 2023 and family events like the Sunny Funny Fair and Howe-lloween.Students can go on to attend high schools like Douglass Academy, graded C, and Austin College and Career Academy, graded C-minus. One stated goal of the ASPIRE Initiative is to elevate ACCA's academic status.
Douglass Academy High School is the home of the Tigers.
Howe School of Excellence is the home of the Jets and serves over 400 students in Austin.
Overview of the Austin College & Career Academy High School campus.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Family community. Everyone watched out for each other. I used to love to see the children outside playing. Now it's plagued with violence. Community keep up their property. Buses are easy to get to.
3.0Niche User
4/6/2016Niche Review
There is lots of violence and gang activity, but it's home. i'd rather not be there if i could help it
3.0Niche User
5/28/2015Niche Review
Its a quiet and somewhat safe area.
3.0Niche User
3/13/2015Niche Review
Sometimes the buses and trains are overcrowded and move slow.
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Austin Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Austin, Chicago sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Austin, Chicago over the last 12 months is $270,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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