Yesterday we walked on Division from Levitt to a bit past Damen. Noticed that the sidewalks were about 3 times the width I remember. Anyone here know why?
In the late 1870s there were plans to make Division Street between Milwaukee Avenue and Humboldt Park a boulevard, which would connect the park to the central city in a manner similar to the South Parkway boulevard. The right of way was widened to 100 feet, rather than the customary 66 feet, but the boulevard improvements were never completed.
I think this very subject is likely to be covered in next week's Straight Dope Chicago.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2009 11:57PM by Mr Downtown.
Straight Dope Chicago is a local version of the nationally syndicated column, which appears in the [I]Chicago Reader. [/I] They've established an online forum by the same name: