1 (1). In 2008, Bright Endeavors, a candle making company moved into a factory space on the 4200 N. block of ravenswood. It is a nonprofit business that gives unemployed young women job skills in this specific field of work. Bright Endeavors represents the ravenswood corridor as a whole with its manufacturing aspects, art studio, social service agency and by it being an independent small business.
2 (1). Joe Hayes has owned property in the ravenswood corridor for a long time. He prefers it to the loop because you can park for free, are accessible to many different modes of pubic transportation, and has more flexible leases. Not to mention that the price per sq. foot is (on average) half that of those in the loop!
3(1). All the businesses in the ravenswood corridor may revolve around the same center idea- small and independent- but they are far from similar! The Night Ministry on the 4700 N. block of ravenswood is a center for at risk and homeless youth moved to the ravenswood corridor from the lakeview area in 2000. Tina Erikson, president, finds the area to be a more positive and open space and finds that many neighboring businesses are willing to support projects of the Night Ministry.
4 (1). Lillstreet Art Studio moved its business to the corner of Montrose and Ravenswood in 2003. They moved into a building that is renovated but used to be an old gear factory. Lillstreet is an organization that hosts artists and residents and holds daily/weekly art classes.
5(1). Business owners and Alderman Gene Schulter agree that the absence of much residential area benefits the businesses in the ravenswood corridor and helps them thrive. The plan for the future is to keep implementing technology and science based forward businesses to the area.
6 (2). The Ravenswood corridor is beginning to be reshaped into a more creative based job spectrum. Most of the original buildings were built between 1900-1920 which were manufacturing plants and factories. Some of the things that were produced were: brasseiries, pressed tin ceilings, ammunition for WW2, the Saturday Evening Post, and Playboy magazine.
7 (3). In addition to creative businesses moving in, many technology based businesses are beginning to occupy the ravenswood corridor. The kind of businesses that find the ravenswood corridor as a settlement include those who need a lot of open room an loft space. Many buildings used to be ware houses so they can comfortably house indoor sports arenas.
8 (3). When factories moved overseas, these buildings were not renovated into small office spaces to suit small businesses. They still take on the characteristics of old factories, ware houses, and loading docks. The businesses that moved in take full advantage of this kind of space by using it to utilize their unique needs.
9 (3). The ravenswood corridor is a desirable place for businesses to start their own businesses because the space is considerably cheaper than leasing/renting space downtown. Annually, a building would cost approximately $16 per sq. ft. to rent in the ravenswood corridor, comparatively to $20 per sq. ft. downtown. Once companies have built up enough revenue and have a heavy enough clientele base, they are more than able to move to an office downtown.
10 (4). In the late 1800's, many metal working companies settled alongside the rail line on Chicago's north-east side. This rail line was primarily used for transportation of these metal goods in and out of the city. Today all that is turned upside down! The rail line that runs along ravenswood corridor is mostly used by commuters and instead of metal manufacturing companies, residing there is hundreds of small businesses whose work is definitely not industrial at all.
11 (4). The value of the houses surrounding the ravenswood corridor and in northcenter has shot up. It used to only be a manufacturing district and was occasionally used for commercial purposes. In contrast, nowadays, some of the lavish and beautiful homes here are worth $1.5 million plus.
12 (5). Lillstreet Art Studio, who opened business on the corner of montrose and ravenswood in 2003, is located within a 40,000 sq. ft. building that used to be a gear factory. They are helping gentrify the area by replacing the industrious vibe with art.
13 (5). Stuart Grannen, the owner of architectural artifacts, has been in business in the same old warehouse on ravenswood for 24 years. He feels so comfortable in the area now that he doesn't even feel the need to lock the doors to his sports cars. He claims that his was one of the first small businesses to move in next to the massive factories and has noticed that each year the ravenswood corridor just gets better and better.
14 (5). Liz Finan, co-owner of O'Shaughnessy's Pub (corner of Lealand & Ravenswood) has also notices a drastic change in the area since they opened up in 2008. She says that she used to be afraid that her car was going to be broken into and the corridor was more abandoned and dirty. Now she feels no discomfort at all. The neighborhood has been cleaned up and she has noticed more people residing and commuting (both on foot and in vehicle).
15 (6). Ravenswood ave. marks northcenter's eastern border. At the beginning, Germans and Swedes populated and worked in the area. Later, Kashubes, Poles, Italians, Hungarians, Slovaks, Serbs, and Croatians moved in. They were all working class migrants. As the L railroad expanded further north into ravenswood, more and more people began settling in north center.
16 (6). Between 1940 and 1990, the population of North Center declined from 48,759 to 33,010. This shift in population was mainly because a lot of whites moved to the suburbs. On the other hand, most of the Hispanics, Koreans, and Filipinos moved into North Center to replace them and earned moderate incomes in the area. During the 1990's, residents feared that they would be displaced because of the gentrification going on in Lakeview and Lincoln Park and that they people would spill over into Northcenter.
17 (7). The expansion of the electric public transportation line, the "L", made it possible for people to live in the ravenswood area and also work in the ravenswood area, not just having to rely on going down town to find business. This also triggered expansion for large manufacturers and factory companies to open up warehouses and loading docks in the ravenswood corridor.
18 (9). The expansion of the ravenswood (brownline) line on the CTA was a major development. Ridership exploded and so did the population in the surrounding areas (circa august 1949). Since the gentrification in northcenter, the number of riders on the brownline increased by 24% between 1997 and 2000. Presently, the brownline's ridership has passed the 13 million/yard mark and continues to rise annually.
19 (10). Ravenswood is on its way to being a booming and trendy neighborhood. As more and more small trendy businesses pop up, more young trendy people will come to the neighborhood to make a living.
20 (11). Architectural Artifacts, located at 4325 N. Ravenswood used to be home to a manufacturer of needles for several decades. The building dates back to circa 1900. Had the motto: "Chicago: the City that Works".
21 (12). Beyond design, located on Ravenswood, used to be a warehouse. Now it is transformed into a design studio with a beautiful zen-like courtyard. It uses some of the warehouse's original structures such as: vaulted bow-tress natural cedar wood open ceilings and a wide open space.
22 (13). O'Shaughnessy's Pub, on the corner of Wilson and ravenswood was originally the Pickard building built by Pickard China. In the 1890's this house was used by artists who hand painted imported white china. They were English and various other European ethnicities.
23 (13). After Pickard China, the building was a bank, and more recently it was Zephyr Ice Cream Shop. The ravenswood is all new and improved in the past decade. It has "given birth".
24 (14). Skol is a metal manufacturing company located at 4444 N. Ravenswood. They are a reputable company that has been in business for many decades. Surprisingly enough, they did not go through the same transition as most other buildings in the corridor. They remained an industrial company as the rest of the area gentrified.
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(15). The Jane Addams Resource Corporation, located at 4432 N. Ravenswood, did a huge part in the assisting of expansion of businesses in the corridor. The goal of the Jane Addams Resource Corp. is to help create and find jobs for out of work people, whether they are skilled or unskilled. They have started many commercial businesses in the area which contributes to the gentrification of the neighborhood.
26 (15). The JARC owns four separate properties. Residing in them are 28+ small to medium sized businesses. These businesses have given employment oppurtunities to 250+ workers. Currently the JARC has over $4 million invested in and around the ravenswood corridor neighborhood
27 (16). The building at 3256 N. Ravenswood currently houses office space and lofts. However it used to be home to Bowman Dairy Company, and was used as a milk bottling plant.
28 (16). Bowman Dairy Co. was founded in 1874 in St. Louis by the Bowman brothers. They decided to expand so they moved to Chicago to start up business.
29 (16). In the 1920’s and 1930’s business was booming for them and they had many plants open (including the one in the ravenswood corridor). By doing this, they had employed more than 3,000 Chicagoans. Dean Foods Co. bought their business in 1966.
30 (17). Lillstreet Art Center, located at the intersection of Montrose and ravenswood (4401 N. Ravenswood) used to be an old gear factory before the community art center moved in, in 2008. Nowadays, lillstreet is home to a creative community of artists that provide many amazing art opportunities to the community of ravenswood.
31 (17). There are 19 classrooms in which more than 200 classes are taught. These classes range from ceramics to digital arts and photography.
32 (18). A company called my dream bag boutique is located on ravenswood ave. The building it is located in used to be an old factory. This is a primary example of how the businesses along the ravenswood corridor have changed from industrious to retail outlets that are meant to cater to a wealthier population. This also signifies the gentrification of the northcenter neighborhood changing from working class to upper middle class.
33 (19). In 1926, Domestic Linen Supply and Laundry Company was founded in Detroit. Originally in a renovated horse stable, the focus of the business was shifted to renting uniforms instead.
34 (19). Domestic Uniform Rental decided to expand across the country and settled in one location, which just happened to be within the ravenswood corridor. This was because the corridor had a good reputation for access to ports. What is unique about this business is that it never transitioned into a creative retail outlet. The building remained- and still is- the domestic uniform rental company.
35 (20). Urban Pooch, located at 4501 N. Ravenswood, is a “canine life center”, where your dog can go get groomed, play, sleep, and even get MASSAGES! Urban Pooch gives a clear example of a business that caters to the extremely wealthy members of a community, which further signifies a change in the people who populated the ravenswood corridor and northcenter areas.
36 (21). On May 18th, 1907 the Ravenswood El service (browline) was put in service. It spanned over 9 miles throughout the city and only took one year to build.
37 (21). In April of 1989, more cars and longer hours were tacked onto the brownline’s schedule. This in turn caused the line’s ridership to increase majorly.
38 (21). During the 1920’s ridership on the el was booming. During WW2 there was a slight decline in ridership because citizens decided that it would be overall cheaper to buy a car than to pay for the train every day. In recent years, ridership has shot back up to a high due to expensive parking fees downtown.
39 (21). Many historians value and treasure the ravenswood el because they feel that if represents so much history and by riding it you can see so much history and experience all the changes and gentrifications that neighborhoods have gone through.
40 (21). The brownline has gone through many changes over the years. For example it used to not be electric, not run on Sundays, and had a whopping 19 more stops!
