Now & Then, Uptown Square
Friday, January 16, 2009 | |
Check out how the view has changed at Lawrence and Broadway from the early 90's (above) to today. We sure don't miss that blue siding covering the now beautifully restored Riviera Building.
(bottom photo: Strannik45 Flickr)
Note that the rooftop gables are now missing from the facade of the Uptown Theater. Im guessing they were removed to prevent them from crumbling and falling piecemeal on pedestrians below.
This is also the first time I've seen the term "Uptown Square" used to refer to this section of Broadway. Sounds rather high-falutin' . . . almost like it was dreamed up by the same real estate agent who coined the term "North Coast" for the lakefront area of Rogers Park.
Agreed BJ, pretty soon we'll be able to call WY "food stamp square," "crack town" or if any of you are familiar with The Wire, "Hamsterdam."
"Uptown Square" sounds "high falutin'" to you? Dude, you're reaching here. The use of the term "square" (as in "public square") is about as populist as you can get.
Being a contrarian for contrarian's sake is also about as lame as you can get.
The work was done in 2005 as part of a continuing effort to stabilize the exterior of the theatre. Many of the bricks and pieces of ornamental terra-cotta were removed, numbered, and stored for safekeeping. Where parts of the building’s facade were, the area was strapped and bagged to hold it in place and covered to weatherproof it.
The work was done by an engineering firm and a masonry contractor, under the direction of a circuit court judge and the court-appointed receiver at the time.
Uptown Square Historic District is the official name of the area, listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
I do find it amusing the new "neighborhoods" that pop up.
I refuse to call it Edgewater Beach, SoPo, SoNo or God forbid - SoFo (like Andersonville hasn't gotten high falutin' enough!)
Well, if it gets stuff selling, there's gotta be some good in it.
Doesn't the very name "Uptown" come from the original designation of Uptown Square for this location?
I am totally telling people that I live in Uptown Square now.... that is hliarious. BJ and IHM you made me laugh! I'll tell some of my friends, well, you live in Uptown, by I live in Uptown Sqaure....
We're thinking of changing our name to the "East Andersonville Crime Blotter." What do you guys think?
d, "Edgewater Beach" is OK IMO. That is a historic name for the area in and around where the Edgewater Beach Hotel once stood.
BTW, Target is not opening in a store Uptown. It's opening one in "North Lakeview" at the corner of Montrose and Broadway.
"Uptown Square" is not a new term - its been around since the 30's, although the name never really caught on in the general public.
http://chicago.urban-history.org/dist/uptown/uptown2.shtml
I don't think the term "Uptown Square" is trying to rename the neighborhood, its a term to designate this unique intersection.
I remember the days when real estate folk (and rental property owners placing ads in the Chicago Reader) referred to sections of Uptown as "East Ravenswood."
I guess the switch to "Uptown Square" represents progress.
Don't forget "Buena Park." You know, the southern part of Uptown.
Actually, Buena Park predates the rest of Uptown. It was developed in the 1880s when a Robert Waller subdivided his land. The poet Eugene Field, best known as the author of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, wrote a poem about Buena Park.
Green Fairy,
You are so wicked cool, that was awesome!
Yes, thanks! I thought it was another invented term for an area.
I want to get into real estate, just so I can coin the name "NoMo" for North of Montrose.
Is the top photo really from the 1990s? I moved here in 2000 and I swear some of the letters of Uptown were still on hanging from the Uptown theater.
I like DAMN-Dreaded Area Montrose North.