Some homes sit below street level in Chicago because nearby roads were actually raised in the late 1850s, according to Kathleen Carpenter of the Chicago Architecture Center. In the early days after its founding, much of Chicago was basically at the same level as Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Why do houses in Chicago have basements?
Cold weather above ground translates to freezing soil below the surface and the colder the air, the deeper the frozen ground. The freeze thaw cycle that take pace in that frost region can crack a concrete building foundation so its important to dig the foundation for any building down below the typical frost line.
Why does Chicago have upper and lower streets?
The raising of Chicago streets out of the mud began in 1858 when streets and buildings were raised between four and seven feet above their former elevation, just a few feet above the constantly muddy lake level. The higher elevation allowed for sewers and proper drainage.
Why are there 2 levels to Chicago?
Underground Streets
But even locals often do not know exactly why this part of underground Chicago exists. Our multi-layered city has lower levels of streets in some parts of the Loop and River North because it allows easy access for freight transport and trash disposal.
When did Chicago raise the street level?
1855
By a series of city ordinances, beginning in 1855, the grade level of streets was raised, about 10 feet along the river, and by varying heights in outlying districts.
Why are Chicago houses brick?
In Chicago, however, brick homes are also constructed because of fire and density codes. “In 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire struck, Chicago was a stick town,” said Charles Ostrander, executive director of the Illinois Masonry Institute in Park Ridge. “The city fathers then pushed for non-combustible materials.
What are Chicago style houses called?
The two-flat has been called the workhorse of Chicago housing. Typically built from 1900 to 1920, these homes were a bridge for the working class between apartment life and the single family bungalows that were to follow. Commonly, the first floor housed the owner, while the second floor was a rental unit.
Is there an underground city in Chicago?
Chicago’s downtown pedestrian way system, the Pedway, lies in the heart of the city. This system of underground tunnels and overhead bridges links more than 40 blocks in the Central Business District, covering roughly five miles.
Why does Lower Wacker exist?
Lower Wacker Drive was built in 1975 to provide parking space for garbage trucks and storage for heaps of unneeded trash cans and city property.
Is Chicago sinking?
The city of Chicago is sinking, geologically speaking. Tony Briscoe at The Chicago Tribune reports that the Windy City and all of the towering structures built on its iconic skyline are at least four inches lower than they were a century ago. In the next 100 years, the city will continue sinking at the same rate.
Is Chicago built on top of a city?
Walking down the magnificent streets of downtown Chicago, towering skyscrapers on all sides of you, you probably couldn’t guess the incredible scheme the city carried out in the area some 160 years before. They lifted the whole city up in the air. Between four and fourteen feet.
Are there catacombs under Chicago?
Forty-feet below the streets of downtown Chicago exist tunnels that once carried freight on a narrow two foot electric railroad. The tunnels were constructed in 1900, and service began in 1906.
Does Chicago have an Undertown?
The Chicago Pedway is a network of tunnels, ground-level concourses and bridges connecting skyscrapers, retail stores, hotels, and train stations throughout the central business district of Chicago, Illinois.
Why is Chicago so flat?
“Illinois owes its flat land to glaciation,” said Richard Berg, interim director of the Illinois State Geological Survey. “That’s why we have some of the best farmland in the world – It’s flat.”
Why are Chicago streets so wide?
These roads were to be wide enough for vehicles to pass each other, but they would never need to be repaved. The reason these streets are diagonal is because it makes it easier to navigate when you’re not sure which direction the center of town is.
Is Chicago built on a swamp?
The story of Chicago begins in the 17th century at a place called the Chicago Portage. Located about ten miles west of Lake Michigan, this swampy area provided a crucial link in a transcontinental system of travel.
What are row houses in Chicago called?
Most commonly built between 1910 and 1940, the Chicago Bungalow is commonly a one-and-a-half-story brick house with a full basement. It has a low-pitched roof with an overhang, a rectangular shape and generous windows, according to the association.
Why is there so much yellow brick in Chicago?
Chicago Commons are the rougher and dirtier bricks on the sides and back of many of Chicago’s buildings. They’re made from the clay from the Chicago River and when fired they can turn a range of colors, like buff yellow, salmon pink, or deep red.
How long do brick house last?
100 years
Brick Buildings Built to Last
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (IACHI), brick buildings are built to last 100 years or more. Of course, that only happens with proper maintenance and normal wear and tear.
What is a 2 flat in Chicago?
What exactly is a Two Flat? A. According to the Chicago Architecture Center, a Two Flat is ‘… two stories—with an apartment unit on each floor—usually with bay windows greeting the street through of a facade of brick or greystone. Most were built between 1900 and 1920.
What is a 3 flat in Chicago?
So what is a three-flat and why are they so popular? The two-flat and three-flat buildings are apartments on a more intimate scale: they feature two or three apartments, generally one per floor. They are inextricably linked to Chicago’s immigrant population in the early 20th century.