What’s known as “Little Puerto Rico” in Chicago is also called Humboldt Park and probably one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city. The home of Bullhead Cantina, Bang Bang Pies and CC Ferns sometimes isn’t recognized as the best community, but over the last couple years has made a turn for the better. A few modern homes, top-rated restaurants and a beautiful, neighborhood park has made it intriguing for the younger generation to skip out on hot spots such as Lincoln and Wicker Park to get a bigger bang for their buck.
Erica Serrano, owner of The Boathouse Café located in the park, opened up this past spring and has attracted people from all over the place to come enjoy a bistro-style sandwich and a craft beer overlooking the lake. When it decided to open, it was a way to celebrate the life of Alexander von Humboldt, who was a Prussian geographer, naturalist, explorer and proponent of romantic philosophy. According to an article on DNA Info, it has been a major success these past few months and definitely will be sticking around.
As developers get in there and create more modern, family homes with open floor plans and high ceilings, the prices can only go up. According to Ian Spula of the Chicago Magazine for real estate, “One of the first blocks to take off during the Bloomingdale Trail-spurred real estate bonanza is the 1600-block of North Richmond Street in Humboldt Park.”
Yes, it might not be the safest to walk around by yourself at night, but what community in Chicago or any big city is? Yes, it has some way to go, but as the market continues to move more west in Chicago it can only get more popular. Some insiders believe that if it continues to grow at the rate it does, it’ll become the next West Loop or Logan Square. If you were to look at what Wicker Park was like ten years ago, you wouldn’t have considered living there, but the growth of its cute boutiques, bumpin’ bars and tasteful restaurants have made it one of the most desirable and expensive places to live. If you take a drive through Humboldt Park, you’ll notice that some of the most beautiful homes are only about a mile north from Logan Square and west from Bucktown making it a cheap Uber ride or fast transportation to some of your favorite places.
Some may ask why it’s known for being “Little Puerto Rico.” Well, if you drive around you’ll notice that the population is very high within that community. The inhabitants have brought their culture to that area, making it rich in traditions and known for some of the best Puerto Rican food in the city. Between food trucks and little family owned restaurants, they make it well-known that they’re proud of their heritage and that Humboldt Park is home.
If you’ve heard mixed things, test out the waters and go during the day for a few hours to see what I’m talking about. Get a few candles at Humboldt House, and stop to get gelato at Spinning Soda.
