Where in Chicago is Margate Park?

Conveniently located on the shores of Lake Michigan, comfortably within one day's carriage ride from the movie studios located in the South Loop you'll find this tranquil paradise far removed from the hectic city. 

That's how this popular destination was billed to the movie stars and studio moguls of Chicago during the early 1900's.

Today this popular neighborhood lies along the lakefront and Marine Drive stretching from Lawrence to Foster Avenues.  Out of character for traditional Chicago neighborhoods, some streets such as West Castlewood Terrace feature oversized lots with luxurious mansions built during the heyday of Chicago's Silent Film era.

Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and other early film stars are rumored to have owned homes or visited the gracious mansions in the neighborhood and relaxed along the dunes in what is now a part of Lincoln Park.

Not every street in Margate Park is as luxurious as this, but even the more traditional streets such as Ainslie and Margate Terrace are tranquil oasis' in an otherwise bustling neighborhood.  Most streets don't go all the way from Marine to Sheridan or Broadway, rather dead end.  The apartment buildings lining these streets featured units with gracious flowing floor plans of exceptional size. 

 

Still a hidden gem in Chicago, selecting a condo in Margate Park can be quite  a treasure.  Still priced affordably, it's possible to locate  a sprawling 1,700 square foot two or three bedroom condo priced in the low $300,000 range featuring vintage details such as exposed woodwork, exposed wood trim, wood floors and lots of charming rooms.