University Village
Maxwell Street, Halsted, Blue Line
MEDIAN: $705,000
Get to know University Village
University Village is one of Chicago's newest close-in neighborhoods, built on the site of the legendary Maxwell Street Market just south of the University of Illinois Chicago. It sits on the Near West Side, roughly from Roosevelt Road south to the railroad tracks near 16th Street, between the Dan Ryan Expressway and Morgan Street, with Halsted Street as its main street.
People move here for newer homes and an easy commute. Brick condo buildings, townhomes and even single-family houses line tidy streets, the Blue Line and a Metra station are a short walk away, and the Loop is about two miles north.
For most of the 20th century, the blocks around Maxwell and Halsted held a sprawling open-air market known as the birthplace of Chicago blues and the Maxwell Street Polish. Beginning in 2001, UIC and private developers rebuilt the area as a mixed neighborhood of homes, shops and student housing, keeping some historic Halsted Street facades.
Why People Love University Village
Residents describe University Village as a newer, walkable neighborhood with deep Chicago roots.
The homes are newer. Much of the housing was built in the 2000s, so buyers find modern layouts, parking and outdoor space that are rare this close to downtown.
Halsted Street has the basics. The rebuilt stretch of Halsted south of Roosevelt holds restaurants, coffee shops, delis and everyday shops, with Taylor Street's Little Italy a short walk north.
Getting around is easy. The Blue Line stops at UIC-Halsted, the Halsted Metra station sits at the neighborhood's southern edge, buses run on Halsted and Roosevelt, and the Dan Ryan and Eisenhower expressways are minutes away.
The Maxwell Street Market is back home. The market returned to Maxwell Street in 2024 for the first time in 30 years and now runs on select Sundays from May through October.
It's walkable and dog friendly. In Trulia's local survey for the area, 93% of users say restaurants are within walking distance and 91% call it dog friendly.
Want to live in University Village?
John will match you with a Chicago agent who knows these blocks, at no cost to you.
What to do in University Village
In University Village, a good weekend starts at the Maxwell Street Market and ends with a short walk to dinner.
On market Sundays, browse handmade crafts, vintage housewares and clothing along Maxwell Street between Halsted and Union, with live blues on stage. Join a free Maxwell Street Foundation walking tour to see the historic sites and the preserved storefronts along Halsted.
During the week, grab breakfast at Hashbrowns or a burger at Express Grill, then pick up a banh mi at Louis Banh Mi or kebabs at Cairo Kebab. Lalo's on Maxwell Street is a longtime neighborhood favorite for Mexican food.
Walk north to Little Italy for Italian dinners and lemonade, or catch a UIC Flames game at Credit Union 1 Arena. Pilsen's murals, galleries and taquerias are just across the tracks to the south.
History lovers can also visit the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and the National Public Housing Museum, both within a few blocks.
Housing Types & Architecture
University Village is a neighborhood of newer brick condos and townhomes, plus a rare supply of newer single-family homes this close to the Loop.
The heart of the neighborhood is the UIC South Campus development, built in phases starting in 2001. It added roughly 900 homes, mostly three-story walk-up condo buildings and townhomes with attached garages, plus a final phase that included about three dozen single-family houses.
Along 14th Place, 15th Street and Blue Island Avenue, older industrial buildings have been converted into loft condos with high ceilings and big windows.
Most buildings are brick with traditional Chicago styling, designed to blend with the neighborhood's historic facades, and many homes look out on small parks and courtyards.
The quick read: a strong fit if you want a newer condo or townhome with parking, quick access to the Loop and a short walk to UIC or the medical district. A harder search if you want vintage character, a quiet block away from campus life, or a large selection of single-family homes.
Get Personalized Guidance
LetsMovetoChicago.com founder John knows how to find the right real estate agent because he has been one since 2015. When it’s time to start your home search, John can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you’re focused on, at no cost to you!
View from Morgan Street, University Village, Near West Side, Chicago, IL
Former Chicago Fire Department Station 18 (Firehouse Art Studio), Roosevelt Road and May Street, University Village, Near West Side, Chicago, IL
Halsted Street and Maxwell Street, University Village, Near West Side, Chicago, IL
Get the University Village Neighborhood Report
Current selling trends, median income, recent sale prices, commute times, and walkability.
What People Are Saying
Here's how people who live in University Village describe it, summarized from public resident reviews:
⬇
Ready to see more of the Near West Side?
