Austin - Chicago, IL Area Guide

Though a small settlement existed in Austin as early as the 1830s, the neighborhood truly took off after 1865, when local businessman Henry Austin purchased 470 acres of the swampy marshland near the Chicago Union Railroad's station at Lake Street. The suburban enclave flourished when a new commuter railroad connected "Austinville" to downtown Chicago.

Mansions sprouted up near Race Avenue, and these historic homes still stand today in the area known to locals as Austin Village, where proud homeowners show off their restored Victorians, Prairie Schools, and Italianates during Chicago's annual house walk. The township was annexed to Chicago in 1899, and Austin continued to grow. In 1929, the city commissioned the creation of Columbus Park, a naturalistic landscape with waterfalls and native plants that delighted residents.

The lure of the suburbs was too much for residents during the late 1950s and 1960s, especially when Chicago's train system was extended outward, making commuting from the less-populated suburbs easier. As residents left the neighborhood, Austin began to suffer. Its gorgeous historic homes -- many built by famed architects Frederick Schock and Frank Lloyd Wright -- stood abandoned for decades. These homes are now being rediscovered and restored as new residents move to the area. Austin's inspiring architecture includes the cupola-topped town hall modeled after Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, located in nearby Oak Park, now operates as a museum.

During the summer, the Taste of Austin gives locals a chance to catch up in Columbus Park at a classic summer block party while sampling from the neighborhood's best restaurants and listening to beats from Chicago DJs and musicians.

The streets of Austin hold a number of local gems for adventurous foodies, including some of the city's best jerk chicken, barbecue, and Southern-style cooking on Madison Street. Mexican restaurants and pizzerias abound along Chicago Avenue, where patrons expect big flavor at low prices.

At the ever-popular MacArthur's Restaurant, lines snake out the door for the huge portions of soul food, particularly the creamy, baked macaroni and cheese and the light-crusted fried chicken that brought the Chicago Reader out for a taste-test. Locals know to order the peach cobbler, a cup of juicy, soft peaches and cake-like cobbler dusted with cinnamon. A self-serve buffet invites customers to sit and eat, but most regulars line up for take-out. Be sure to check out the photo-lined walls as you wait, where the establishment shows off its collection of the many famous Chicagoans who have dined here.

Hungry locals arrive day and night to visit the Jerk Taco Man, where you get huge portions of famous jerk chicken and steak piled into waiting tortillas, as well as burritos and sandwiches. The tacos get a sprinkle of fresh onion and cilantro, along with gooey cheese and a fiery jerk sauce. Recommended by the Chicago Reader, the carry-out storefront stays open into the wee hours on weekend nights. No one seems to mind the lack of ambiance, since the enormous tacos are among Austin's best and cheapest eats.

Austin residents take advantage of excellent public transit options. Along Lake Street, L riders can take the green line from the Austin, Central, Laramie, or Cicero stations, while residents in south Austin can take the blue line from the Austin or Cicero L stations. Numerous bus routes service the area, including the numbers 91, 85, 57, and 54, which run north-south, and the numbers 7, 126, 20, 66, 70, and 72, which run east-west. Metra riders can catch a commuter train at the stations of Mont Clare, Mars, Galewood, Hanson Park, and Grand/Cicero and ride the Milwaukee District/West Line to Union Station.

Drivers have a fast route out of the city with I-290 to the south and Route 50 to the east, while the major thoroughfares of Lake Street and Grand Avenue offer easy access the rest of Chicago. During the day, the busier streets provide metered parking for a reasonable $2 per hour, and many of the big box stores provide well-lit, free parking.

Some parts of Austin allow for easier walking than others. In the more suburban Galewood section, residents enjoy strolling along safe streets, yet the quiet area has little in the way of street life. Meanwhile, pedestrians can run errands along busy the Madison and Chicago avenues. Cabs don't pass by frequently, so plan to call ahead if you need car service. Though Uber services the area, residents say it can be difficult to lure drivers this far west.

Cyclists take advantage of several bike-friendly routes, including Laramie Avenue and most of Bloomingdale Avenue, though the neighborhood provides only one dedicated bike line along part of Washington Boulevard. For cyclists who don't mind piecing together a route, the flat streets allow for easy pedaling, and Columbus Park boasts plentiful bike paths for long, peaceful rides.

Austin's historic parks give residents a chance to relax and unwind. A number of small public parks dot the neighborhood, including Amundsen, Lafollette, Austin Town Hall and Levin Park. The neighborhood's crowning jewel, however, is the 135-acre Columbus Park, designed by Prairie-style architect Jens Jenson. Jenson imagined the grounds as an ancient beach and created a naturalistic landscape with hilly, dune-like ridges surrounding the park's flat interior, along with waterfalls and a large lagoon. Today, the Parks department stocks the lagoon with fish for fishermen to angle without leaving the city. Golfers play the lushly-wooded nine-hole course, children climb in the large playground area, and leashed dogs explore the pathways. Jogging paths offer a free workout, along with baseball diamonds, athletics fields, an outdoor pool, and an indoor gymnasium where teens are invited to play basketball for free every Friday and Saturday night. In the summer, families sit with picnics on the grassy lawn to watch free film screenings.

Young families are drawn to Austin's affordable housing. Rents are also cheap, with the average one-bedroom apartment in Austin renting for $800 a month, less than the city average. The cost of living in Austin falls just under the city's average, with affordable options for restaurants and groceries making Austin even easier on the wallet.

Austin provides a variety of shops, especially along Cicero and North avenues.

Forman Mills stocks a huge variety of discounted designer clothing for men, women, and kids along with a houseware department. Pick past the irregular items to find brands such as Kenneth Cole, Guess, and Calvin Klein.

Stop by African Art & Objects, where you can browse from imported Ghanese soaps, Kente cloth bucket hats, African jewelry, and authentic carved masks. The store also carries a nice selection of drums and traditional African percussion instruments.

During the warm months, residents gather every Thursday at Austin Town Hall Farmers Market to find the best fruits and vegetables from local farmers, along with baked goods and fresh flowers.