River West is a north western neighborhood in Chicago. It’s bordered by N Western, W Hubbard, W Chicago, and N Division. The neighborhood is quite large, and some portions of it are often listed as parts of other neighborhoods in West Town (Like Ukrainian Village, Noble Square, etc,).

The architecture in River West varies greatly, as the neighborhood spans across such a great area. The buildings often match closely with the closest neighborhood. For example, west of Ashland feels a lot like Ukrainian Village, while parts east of Ashland feel more like Noble Square. In short, you’ll find everything from loft conversions to stunning Victorian architecture in River West.

The rental space in River West jumps around a lot, due to the large span of the neighborhood. Some areas are close to the train, and some have been remodeled to fit modern living styles. These and other factors will dictate the price. One bedroom apartments usually run between $700 - $900. Two bedrooms are $800 - $1,600. Three bedrooms are $950 - $2,400.

As with rental properties, the for-sale price in River West is dictated by proximity to the train and modern living convenience. Very few condos can be found for less than $250,000. The majority of them sell for $250,000 - $400,000.

 

Single family homes in River West start around $450,000 if they’ve been remodeled in the past 15 years. New luxury homes are close to the $1,000,000 mark.

 

The condo market has raised the prices of multi-unit housing stock in River West. Small, 2-flat units usually start around $300,000. Larger 3-flats start as low as $600,000 but can go much higher for some of the stunning Victorian architecture.

River West, covering such a large area offers a good choice of schools. On the western side lies Talcott Elementary School‎ for grades 1 – 8. On the eastern side (just outside the borders of River West) is Frances Xavier Ward School. And between all that, residents can find Feltre School on W Erie and British School of Chicago‎ on Eastman St. In addition to these, residents have access to schools from some of the surrounding neighborhoods.

The dining in River West is a great experience for anyone. The sheer diversity in cuisines and atmospheres ensures the residents and visitors alike that there’s something for everyone. At Joe Marchetti's, the Italian palette gets a full flavor of everything from steak to pasta. For Greek food, go to Downtown Gyros, where they keep the doors open 24 hours from Thursday through Saturday. And groups can enjoy a variety of different ethnic foods at Bialy Café on Chicago Ave.

River West has a little of everything, pushing each direction of taste to the extremes. For a nice and quiet atmosphere, hip wine tasters visit Juicy Wine Company on Milwaukee Avenue…but get there early because the place fills up fast. For the slightly more jazzy type, the Peek-a-Boo Bar and Grille on Aberdeen Street is perfect. And the Darkroom on Chicago Avenue is a great place to dance to hot beats from techno DJs. Of course, theatre lovers are always welcome at The Building Stage on Carpenter Street where the parking is free.

River West is in a traditional territory battle with surrounding neighborhoods. Ukrainian Village, East Village, and Noble Square all claim parts of River West as their own. Depending on which maps you look at, sometimes River West fails to make an appearance.