Condos for Sale in Lakeview – Overview
Under condos for sale in Lakeview, you’ll find anything, from studio units to 4+ bedroom condos, from townhouses, to lofts, to stupendous penthouses, from small condo buildings (2-unit, 2-storey buildings converted since 2000) mid or high-rises built, for the most part, in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Lakeview is the area between Irving Park Road (north), Diversey Parkway (south), Ravenswood Avenue (west), Lake Michigan (east). It is diverse and subdivided into sub-neighborhoods. So ‘Condos for sale in Lakeview’ means condos for sale in Wrigleyville, Lakeview East, North Halsted (Northhalsted, aka Boystown), Belmont Harbor, Southport Corridor, Lakeview Central and Belmont Harbor.
This is the only time when you look at condos for sale in Chicago when you see this many sub-neighborhoods.
Condos for Sale in Lakeview – Sub-Neighborhoods
Lakeview East comprises the area between Halsted Street (west), Sheridan Road (east), Belmont Avenue (north) and Diversey Parkway (south).
Lakeview East has got upscale condos and apartments, especially the area between east of Broadway. Close to the Lake, there are mostly low, mid- and high-rise buildings and 2-4 unit buildings, some converted into condominiums. Away from the Lake, there are mainly low-rise and converted 3-4 unit buildings.
It’s got plenty of small businesses, restaurants, boutiques (mainly along Broadway and Halsted, and Diversey), beaches and great views of Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago.
Belmont Harbor is the area between Roscoe Street (north), Wellington Avenue (south), Broadway Street (west), Lake Michigan (east). There are fewer high-rise buildings (most condo and apartment buildings are in 2-4 storey buildings). And there are more single family houses. It is still a dense area but a lot quieter.
Lakeview Central is bounded by Addison Street (north), Wellington Avenue (south), Southport Avenue (west), and Halsted Street (east). No high rise buildings here. Most buildings are 2 and 3-storey tall and a good part are 2-unit buildings. Lots of small stores (mostly on Southport and Halsted). More than the other parts of Lakeview (with the exception of the Southport corridor, it’s seen conversions of 2-4 unit apartment buildings into condo buildings and the construction of new 3 or 4-unit condo buildings (with the 1st unit being a duplex – basement and 1st floor).
Wrigleyville’s got low-rise condo and apartment buildings and single family houses and lots of sports bars (Sluggers, The Cubby Bear, etc.), most along Clark Street. If the Chicago Cubs’ called your neighborhood home, you’d do to. 
Wrigleyville is bordered by Irving Park Road (north) Addison Street (south), Racine Avenue (west), Halsted Street (east).
The Southport Corridor is bounded by Racine Avenue (east), Ashland Avenue (west), Irving Park Road (north) Belmont Avenue (south). Like Lakeview Central and Wrigleyville, it’s got no high-rise buildings.
The Southport Corridor is bounded by Racine Avenue (east), Ashland Avenue (west), Irving Park Road (north) Belmont Avenue (south). It’s got no high-rise buildings but it has the Music Box (movie theater built in 1929, and quite an array of shops).
Lakeview Amenities
So, should you even bother to look at condos for sale in Lakeview?
That depends on what, besides type of buildings, you want around you. All the condos for sale in Lakeview have advantages but suffer some lacks.
Public transportation is available throughout Lakeview. If you’re close to the L-train stops or the Lake, transportation to downtown Chicago or neighborhoods to the north is especially easy… unless you want to travel during rush hour. Highway 90 is the closest highway and it’s about 1 mile away from Lakeview’s southwest corner. So, at least when people go to work or come from work, not convenient.
Between the Lake and the neighborhood, there’s Lake Shore drive and a huge park. Other parts of Lakeview have parks that are small and far in-between.
Street parking is allowed (on some streets by special permit) but not sufficient. Not at all. Garages are private.
The population tends to be college-educated, professionals, young (20-40’s). And the neighborhood is perfect for young professionals. Though Lakeview is the gay, lesbian and transgender Mecca, and it hosts the Gay Parade, the gay, lesbian, and transgender population is a minority.
It’s not great for raising children. There are schools, but the rest of the neighborhood isn’t geared towards children.
So, condos for sale in Lakeview come with a lot, besides what the building they’re located in offers. And because of that, condos for sale in Lakeview command a higher price than most condos for sale in Chicago’s other neighborhoods.