Chicagoist: George Streeter Could've Kicked Every One of our Asses

Goldblatts

Tue, 08 May 2007 22:36:02 -0600

The tiny stretch between Kinzie and Illinois on State is still a seedy part of River North. If that constitutes River North these days, and not south Lincoln Park.

Cletus Warhol

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:56:28 -0600

Actually, Potter and Berthe Palmer had already fled the southside Prairie Avenue District and built their enormous castle-like mansion (and were followed by other wealthy folks) just north of where Streeter "landed." So yes, the beginnings of what we know as the Gold Coast were already in place and the residents were Streeter's main nemesis during this period (particularly Potter Palmer, who despised Streeter). Of course the Michigan Avenue Bridge had yet to be built, what we know as the Mag Mile portion of North Michigan was still Pine Street, and it was nasty warehouses and docks by the river; but many of the mansions of the Gold Coast did exist further north.

joe

Tue, 08 May 2007 14:44:55 -0600

For the record back in the day you are talking about there was no Gold Coast as all the wealthy lived on the South Side and North of River was not nice at all. In fact what is River North today was pretty seedy in the 70's.