Tag Archive
The New 53rd Street
In May 2008, when the University of Chicago completed the $6.5 million purchase of Harper Court, President Robert Zimmer heralded the moment as an opportunity. “Ideally,” he said in a public statement on the purchase, “this project will be reflective of the distinctive nature of Hyde Park and represent the best of Chicago’s mid-South... »
The More Things Change…For better or worse, Harper Court redevelopment hearkens back to urban renewal-era Hyde Park
Seven months after the University of Chicago purchased Harper Court, the fates of several tenants at the 52nd and Harper complex remain undecided. When the University purchased the property last May for $6.5 million to redevelop it as a higher density mixed-use space, tenants were notified that they would have until the end of... »
High-End Dining in Hyde Park
Jerry Kleiner’s new restaurant Park 52 opened in Harper Court just over a week ago, and it is poised to establish itself as Hyde Park’s one fashionable destination restaurant. The restaurant is arguably the most expensive in the neighborhood, with the bulk of its entrees over $20, comparable only with La Petite Folie. Its... »
The Magic Man: Restaurateur Jerry Kleiner arrives in Hyde Park
“What do you want with your vodka?” asked Jerry Kleiner, as I sat down with him and his kids at his South Loop restaurant Room 21. Tempted to ask for vodka with my vodka, I asked for an iced tea instead. Better to stay sober when interviewing the mogul of such heavy-hitting eateries like... »
Best of the South Side: Hyde Park
To speak of Hyde Park is to inevitably talk about the University of Chicago. As the University’s home for the last 115 years, Hyde Park bears all the influence of having a major intellectual and cultural institution in its midst, and that influence from this brainy school is very particular: There are more bookstores... »
