Once a major artery North Ogden Avenue’s story is one of grand ambitions and unforeseen decline. Imagine a time before expressways when this avenue was a vital link connecting Chicago’s west side to its suburbs. Named for William B Ogden Chicago’s first mayor North Ogden Avenue began as the Southwestern Plank Road in 1848. It was a ten-mile stretch ending in Riverside Illinois.
For decades extending North Ogden Avenue was a topic of debate. Plans were floated as early as 1880. The Chicago Plan of 1909 finally gave the project momentum. Approved in 1919 the extension sliced through the city reaching its final terminus at Armitage and Clark streets. This ambitious project cost around $5 million. An additional $8 million was spent on a viaduct over Goose Island a notoriously underdeveloped and foul-smelling area. The extension was intended to stimulate industrial development on Goose Island which it did to a degree.
But the extension of North Ogden Avenue wasn’t without its problems. The new route cut through the city grid creating oddly shaped plots. The Matchbox Bar a tiny sliver of a building at Chicago and Ogden perfectly illustrates this unfortunate consequence of poor planning. This lack of foresight hampered retail development along the avenue. While auto-related businesses thrived other types of commercial development were scarce. A supermarket for example never materialized.
The story of North Ogden Avenue takes a surprising turn in the 1960s. As part of Lincoln Park’s urban renewal efforts the avenue was closed north of North Avenue. This decision was controversial. The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce opposed the closure. They argued that North Ogden Avenue was a vital transportation route and the removal would harm businesses. However arguments about the street’s underutilization and its negative impact on the aesthetic of the neighborhood prevailed. The closure and removal of the viaduct were completed by 1993.
Today only a remnant of North Ogden Avenue remains. Its story serves as a cautionary tale. It shows how grand plans can falter due to poor execution. It highlights how urban development decisions can have unintended consequences impacting not only the physical landscape but also the social and economic fabric of a community. North Ogden Avenue’s legacy reminds us of the importance of thoughtful planning and the long-lasting effects of seemingly small decisions. It reminds us that even the grandest avenues can fall silent.