By Delfin Paris


Quiz: How many streets should it take to be able to hold two of the most well known buildings in The States, the 2nd largest concentration of galleries in the nation, a blooming fashion community, a significant metropolitan newspaper, more concept restaurants than a plethora of sightseers could ever possibly dream to fill and intensely desirable real-estate, as well?

If your not surprised that all of this and thousands more great amenities are all comfortably situated within a neat-and-tidy 13 blocks by 9, then you're undoubtedly familiar with Chicago's own River North neighborhood! Bordered by Michigan Avenue to the East, Chicago Avenue to the North, and the Chicago River making de facto Southern and Western boundaries, River North is a small but shining jewel of Chicago's Near North Side.

It was not always that way, however. In spite of the heritage and financial significance of Merchandise Mart, the neighborhood which would develop into River North had been deemed to be one of the "seedier" districts of the city before to the 1970's.

It's real estate developer Alan Friedman that the community has to thank for it's modern revitalization. In '74, Friedman and a slue of photographers, ad agencies, boutiques and galleries swooped into one of the most unjustly underdeveloped neighborhoods in Chicago, gave it an artistic and architectural make-over of massive proportions, and christened it with the punchy nickname "River North."

Since then, River North has increased tremendously in social relevance and housing worth. Home to the city's "Gallery District," a child of Friedman's first art house installation, River North today offers the highest amount of fine art galleries in the usa outside of Ny. It is likewise referred to as the "Cathedral District" regarding the beautiful juxtaposition of the Holy Name Cathedral and St. James Cathedral fighting against a skyline of glass and steel. Bring in the Rock 'n Roll McDonald's, the first Pizzeria Uno, the offices of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, a tremendous amount of deluxe apartment buildings as well as the second tallest construct in America, The Trump Hotel and Tower Chicago, and you don't merely hold the makings of a premier tourism attraction -- you've got a critical life line of a leading metropolis.




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