austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Chicago

Practically every Chicagoan will tell you that their city has the greatest architecture in the world. So why is Chicago so obsessed with its architecture?

“The history of Chicago and its people is written in its architecture,” said Sun-Times architecture critic Lee Bey 

. Here are a few notable terms to help you appreciate Chicago’s buildings and impress everyone you know ahead of this week's 

According to Bey, a Chicago bungalow is kind of a “different animal” from the tropical style where it gets its name. These homes are typically 1.5 stories high, made of brick, relatively narrow, and fireproof.

Head for the “Bungalow Belt” from the far Northwest to the Southwest and Southeast sides.

“You can start a fist fight in a bar” over the differences in these building types, Bey told us. So to keep you safe out there, here’s the breakdown: A skyscraper can be a high-rise, but not all high-rises are skyscrapers. If he had to put his boxing gloves on, Bey said a building over 14 stories is a skyscraper.

Many of the condos and apartments along the lakefront are considered high-rises and are typically shorter than the skyscrapers downtown.

This architectural style originating in France and influenced by Egyptian architecture is characterized by stylish and streamlined geometric shapes. It became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s.

Which Chicago buildings are in this style?

 Check out the Carbide and Carbon Building, the Chicago Board of Trade, Merchandise Mart, and Lee’s favorite, the Chicago Vocational High School.

📣 From greystones to modernism, dive deeper into Chicago architecture on the City Cast Chicago podcast.

🎧 Impress your out-of-town visitors

Practically every Chicagoan will tell you that their city has the greatest architecture in the world. We've got a guide to notable architectural styles and terms to help you sound like an expert.

Your Guide to Chicago Architecture

Everything to know about Chicago neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Chicago Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

The Evanston City Council will meet Monday to vote on the Ryan Field renovation after delaying the decision last week. Here’s what to know ahead of the vote — and why it’s been so controversial.

The university unveiled the $800 million renovation plans last fall to replace the current field with a reduced-capacity stadium that could host concerts and other non-football events.

Some Evanstonians questioned NU’s lack of transparency and whether the tax-exempt university would fairly contribute to the community. That’s in addition to worries over how 

rowdy fans and concertgoers could impact noise levels, parking, and traffic,

The Evanston City Council voted 6–2 to table the vote to have more time to look over the university’s new community benefits agreement proposal, 

, Evanston Roundtable reported. (Its initial offer was $100 million over 10 years.) 

The Evanston City Council is expected to vote on three items Monday:

An agreement between the city and university about operational requirements, public benefits to Evanston, and more

 was officially made Northwestern’s football coach in the wake of the 

The project has faced backlash from residents since it was announced in September.

Why Ryan Field is Dividing Evanston Residents

Why Ryan Field is Dividing Evanstonians

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

How do you define neighborhood borders? That’s what the University of Chicago is asking residents in a new study, which is why we’re talking about all things Chicago neighborhoods today.

Community Areas vs. Neighborhoods vs. Wards

Chicago is often called a city of neighborhoods, but the city officially recognizes community areas.

are distinct boundaries with roughly the same population: 35,000, 

Emily Talen, the study's lead researcher on the study, told Block Club

 are squishier, smaller, and more likely to change.

are voting districts for 50 City Council seats that can change after a census (and political gerrymandering).

You can live in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood and the West Town community area

, we told City Cast CEO David Plotz. And that means you could live in the 1st, 26th, or 36th Wards.

How Did Chicago Get its 77 Community Areas?

The University of Chicago split the city into community areas to track statistics like crime and income in the 1920s.

There have only been two tweaks to boundaries in the last century: 

when O’Hare was added and when Edgewater split from Uptown

Why Ask Chicagoans to Define Neighborhoods?

Community areas don’t always represent Chicagoans’ relationship to their pocket of the city: Prominent neighborhoods like Bronzeville, Pilsen, and Chinatown are not considered community areas.

Agencies collect statistical data — such as demographics — for community areas that can be harder to find at the neighborhood level. Official designation could also give neighborhood groups more power and agency.

Researchers want to get a better sense of how Chicagoans feel connected to their neighborhoods. And those results could be the basis for figuring out how to create stronger communities.

participants are invited to draw neighborhood map boundaries

How do you define neighborhood borders? That’s what the University of Chicago is asking residents in a new study, which is why we’re talking about all things Chicago neighborhoods.

city planning

Your Guide to Chicago Architecture

Why Ryan Field is Dividing Evanstonians

How Do You Define Chicago Neighborhoods?

Latest articles

Your Guide to Chicago Architecture

Why Ryan Field is Dividing Evanstonians

How Do You Define Chicago Neighborhoods?