Humboldt Park

Humboldt Park is a low- to middle-income, mixed African-American and Hispanic neighborhood that has begun to show significant signs of gentrification on its eastern end, east of Humboldt Park itself -- although that slowed in the past few years as the housing market has cooled.

One of the “crown jewels” of the city’s park system, Humboldt Park provides a central meeting point for the neighborhood and a wealth of open space in a part of the city that otherwise has relatively little.

The area boasts a Puerto Rican-themed commercial strip called “Paseo Boricua” along Division Street and more shops along North Avenue, with industrial areas on its southern and western fringes. Most housing stock dates back 80 to 120 years, although newer developments have begun to spring up particularly to the east, leading to fears of increased displacement.

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, the lead agency in the neighborhood, has played a key role in keeping the Humboldt Park affordable for long-time residents. See the 2005 Quality-of-Life Plan. And learn more about the neighborhood on the Humboldt Park portal.

Humboldt Park Community Area

Population

Population (2010)	63,416	down 5% from 2000
Racial/ethnic makeup (2010)	45% African American, 47% Latino, 5% white

Housing

Total occupied units (2010)	17,065	down 6% from 2000
Owned housing units (2010)	7,206	up 5% from 2000

Income

Median household income (2010)	$34,315	up 18% from 2000
Percentage above $50,000	32%	15% above $75,000

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Micro Market Recovery Program Revitalizes Blocks Across Chicago: Justin Breen, Nov 27, 2017; Through the Micro Market Recovery Program, the City of Chicago, LISC and neighborhood organizations are making communities better and stronger.
Hit the Trail? Neighbors Aim to Stay Near 'The 606': John McCarron, Oct 22, 2015; Everybody loves The 606. But conversion of the old rail track into a popular walking/cycling path is having unintended consequences for some long-time residents.
Ribbon Cutting for ‘Little Heaven’ on Armitage: John McCarron, May 2, 2014; Community leaders and public officials celebrated the official opening of Zapata Apartments on April 24.
Planned and Delivered: Long March to Zapata Apts.: John McCarron, Apr 17, 2014; After seven years and many challenges, partners Bickerdike and Logan Square Neighborhood Assn. celebrate 61 new apartments along Armitage Avenue.
Portals Project: Add More Community Voices: Carl Vogel, Apr 10, 2014; A new curriculum is helping residents in several neighborhoods learn the ropes of writing, editing and posting stories on web portals that were designed through LISC Chicago's Smart Communities…
Youth Build Paths Away from Violence: Kimberly Harris, Nov 22, 2013; Reducing the violence that cuts across so many Chicago neighborhoods will require multiple strategies, but at least one element was strengthened this year in Auburn Gresham and other neighborhoods…
Bickerdike, Police Win National Safety Award: Nov 8, 2013; MetLife Foundation honors alliance to reduce crime and revitalize Humboldt Park.
Humboldt Park Youth Find Voice, Leadership Roles: Carl Vogel, Oct 24, 2013; Humboldt Park’s Summer Arts and Leadership program changed the youth who participated. Now they’re aiming to change their community.
Bikes Deliver as Vehicle for Community Development: John McCarron, Jul 30, 2013; Away from the lakefront, bikes are vehicles for skills-building and self confidence. Transportation, too.
Knight Foundation Funds 'Bilingual Bridges' for Open Gov: Patrick Barry, Jun 24, 2013; The Knight Foundation awarded a grant to LISC Chicago to support resident engagement in Pilsen and Englewood that will better connect neighborhoods to Chicago's open gov and civic hacking communities.
Volunteers Dig In on NeighborWorks Day: John McCarron, Jun 18, 2013; A little rain didn’t stop about 500 volunteers from painting, planting and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners pitched in at the annual NeighborWorks…
The Medium is the Message: Puppets Show Kids How To Eat Healthy: Gordon Walek, Jun 11, 2013; Humboldt Park kids get the skinny of good eatin' from La Casa Norte's puppet team.
LISC Partners Ready for NeighborWorks Day: John McCarron, May 29, 2013; There’ll be lots of painting, raking and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners turn out for the annual NeighborWorks Day.
Worth the Wait: Hispanic Housing’s North & Talman: John McCarron, May 9, 2013; Affordable apartments in some converted buildings on West North Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood were a long time coming, and for good reason. See what took so long.
A Micro-Market Miracle on Central Park?: John McCarron, Mar 13, 2013; Finding and financing “good buyers” is key to saving thousands of abandoned houses in the wake of the foreclosure fiasco
NCP Groups Gain Voice in School Closings: Elizabeth Duffrin, Jan 18, 2013; Spurred in part by the threat of school closings, groups in neighborhoods served by LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program are organizing like never before to influence district decision-making.
Treasury Official: Chicago “At Forefront” of Development Efforts: John McCarron, Jun 26, 2012; Senior federal appointee says LISC-supported projects like Rosa Parks Apartments, Green Exchange showcase what's gained by maintaining federal funding for community development.
Residents, Businesses Get Scoop on Community Web Portals: Grady Chambers, Jun 7, 2012; Through its Smart Communities Program, LISC Chicago has helped to establish five neighborhood portal websites, which enable neighborhood businesses, organizations and residents to start spreadin' the…
The Bloomingdale Trail: It Takes a Village to Make a Park: Gordon Walek, Apr 25, 2012; The Bloomingdale Trail, an abandoned 2.7-mile railroad embankment that runs through four neighborhoods – Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Wicker Park and Bucktown – is being converted into a…
Neighborhood Leaders Hone Communications, Business Skills: Grady Chambers, Apr 2, 2012; Running a small business is tough enough when economic times are good. When they’re bad, as in recent years, they’re exponentially harder. But help’s on the way. Earlier this…
Mayor Hails First Fruit of Foreclosure Fight: John McCarron, Feb 23, 2012; Rahm Emanuel tours West Humboldt rehab and explains the city’s Micro-Market approach
Smart Communities Teams Host D.C. Delegation: Patrick Barry, Mar 14, 2011; Two crowded rooms and plenty of stories provided a vivid picture of Chicago’s Smart Communities Program for a Washington, D.C., delegation checking up on the federally funded effort.
Celebrating the Murals of Humboldt Park: Carl Vogel, Nov 11, 2010; The Humboldt Park Mural Arts Project promotes murals as local destinations and uses them as a tool to revitalize the health, well being and vitality of Humboldt Park.
Programs Bring Harvest of Locally Grown Food: Ed Finkel, Nov 10, 2010; During the second five years of its New Communities Program and through other programs like Elev8, LISC/Chicago has redoubled its commitment to efforts that bring healthier, more diverse…
Digital Summer Program Graduates First Class: Carl Vogel, Oct 6, 2010; DYSJ provided an opportunity for youth in the five Chicago Smart Communities to obtain work experience through internship opportunities at businesses, governmental agencies and not-for-profit…