The Gold Coast neighborhood is arguably the premier area to
reside in within the Chicago land area. Established in the 1800's, it first
began at North Avenue and went south along Astor Street to Division Street and
was known as "The Astor Street District". Since it has advanced south
to Oak Street and Lake Michigan and West to Clark Street. Astor Street is named
after the New York City resident John Jacob Astor, founder of the American Fur
Company, whom incidentally never resided in the city of Chicago.
Amongst the many significant names in Chicago history and
business, Potter Palmer was one of the strategic players in the establishment
and growth of the neighborhood. After the Great Chicago Fire, when most were
building upon Prairie Avenue, Palmer had the innovation to invest in the
swamp-like land further north. In 1875 Lake Shore Drive was opened from North
Avenue to Oak Street, which increased interest in the neighborhood. Quite quickly,
Sunday drives upon LSD became a favored past time.
This highly regarded neighborhood consists mostly of
high-rise apartment buildings along Lake Shore Drive, facing Lake Michigan, and
low-rise residential blocks, inland. The Gold Coast Neighborhood is comprised
of the east side of Clark Street from Division Street to North Avenue, the
south side of North Avenue from Clark Street to North Lake Shore Drive, North
Lake Shore Drive from North Avenue to Oak Street, East Lake Shore Drive, East
Bellevue to the east side of State Street, the east side of State Street to the
north side of Division Street, and the north side of Division Street to the
east side of Clark Street, and all cross streets within this area.
The neighborhood is an amazing shopping and dining district
with boutiques ranging from upscale designer to moderate ready to wear as well
as large department stores including, but not limited to: Kate Spade, Paul
Stuart, Independence, Jack Spade, Diesel, Madewell, Scoop NYC, InterMix,
Barney's, and Bloomingdales. Additionally, many of Chicago's best known
restaurants are located in the Gold Coast such as: Gibson's, Spiaggia, the Pump
Room, Nico Osteria, Carmine's, Table Fifty-Two, the original Morton's, Del
Frisco's, Tavern On Rush, Le Colonial, Lou Malnati's, Lux Bar, Jellyfish, and
more.
Latin School of Chicago is located in the neighborhood and is one of the
oldest independent schools in the city of Chicago. Latin is committed to
creating an educational environment in which the pursuit of academic excellence
and intellectual growth is complemented by a concern for the moral, physical,
psychological, and aesthetic development of each student.