West Lawn: Chicago's Quiet Corner of Culture and Community

Tucked into the southwest side of Chicago, West Lawn — Community Area 65 is often overlooked, but it’s a neighborhood brimming with rich history, cultural pride, and evolving identity. Bordered roughly by 63rd Street to the north, Central Park Avenue to the east, 69th Street to the south, and Cicero Avenue to the west, West Lawn is a tight-knit, multicultural community known for its picturesque bungalows, strong immigrant roots, and resilient spirit.

Trivia Question:
What shopping center in West Lawn was originally the site of a World War II Ford aircraft engine factory before reopening as a mall in 1965?

(Answer at the end of this post.)

Origins and Early History

In the late 19th century, while neighboring Chicago Lawn began development, West Lawn remained largely marshy and unsettled. Sporadic attempts at development like a brickyard and artesian well northwest of 67th & Central Park were abandoned, leaving behind a watery pond that doubled as a community ice-skating rink and swimming spot until it was filled in the early 20th century.

By the 1920s, development took hold. The expansion of a horse-drawn streetcar along 63rd Street encouraged settlement. By 1930, the neighborhood had transitioned to tree-lined streets filled with single-family homes inhabited by German, Irish, Czech, Polish, Italian, and Lithuanian immigrant families.

West Lawn by the Numbers

Transformation and Evolution

The neighborhood saw its first institutional anchor with the founding of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in 1909. Between 1923 and 1931, four Protestant churches also emerged, reflecting growing infrastructural and cultural roots.

The Great Depression stunted growth, but World War II revived expansion. The proximity to Midway Airport, industrial development in Clearing, and new housing for veterans fueled population growth from 14,460 in 1950 to 27,644 by 1970. Major postwar developments included the Ford City Shopping Center (est. 1965), and new institutions like Richard J. Daley College, regional archives, and Tootsie Roll factories emerged nearby.

Historical Landmarks and Structures

• Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture (Pulaski Road)
  Housed in the former Von Solbrig Hospital since 1986, this is the only U.S. museum dedicated to Lithuanian language, culture, and history.
• Capitol Cigar Store Totem
  A quirky neighborhood landmark a tall Native American statue featured in Wayne’s World—stands proudly at 63rd & Pulaski.
• St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church
  Built from its roots as a 1909 mission into a cornerstone of the neighborhood’s Catholic life.

Historical Figures from West Lawn

• Stanley Balzekas Jr.
  The founder of the Balzekas Museum, he preserved Lithuanian heritage in West Lawn and helped shape its cultural identity.
• Richard J. Daley College Naming Legacy
  While not a native, Daley’s namesake college serves as a reminder of how civic investment shaped West Lawn’s educational landscape.

Historical Events

• Airport Homes Race Riots (1946)
  A pivotal moment, as returning veterans’ housing developments near West Lawn sparked integration resistance, leading to notably tense race riots in the area.
• Ford City Emerges (1965)
  Manufacturers such as Tootsie Roll and Sweetheart Cup built near Ford City to take advantage of rail access. Richard J. Daley College, a regional Federal Records Center, and an army reserve base also located west of Pulaski and south of 72nd.

Current Trends and Redevelopment

• Iron-Strong Community Pride
  West Lawn remains a family-first neighborhood well-maintained bungalows, multi-generational households, and a “small-town feel,” as residents often say 
• Cultural Shift & Diversity
  A vibrant shift from Eastern European roots to a majority Hispanic/Latino identity (now over 70% Hispanic, 11–12% White) has enriched local commerce, cuisines, and community life..
• Economic Anchors in Education & Manufacturing
  Institutions like Daley College, the archival center, and legacy retailers provide stability in a changing neighborhood.

Conclusion

West Lawn may not headline city tours, but it stands as a quiet testament to Chicago’s enduring immigrant spirit, architectural charm, and layered culture from Lithuanian roots to Latino vibrance. Its parks, museums, and institutions tell stories of reinvention and resilience. Explore its shelters, streets, and storefronts, and you’ll find a neighborhood proud of its past and ready for its future.

Trivia Answer:
Ford City Mall - Construction started in 1942 to build a defense plant. Approximately 17,000 workers were employed. This caused the southwest side of the city to become more populated as more people were moving there for work.By December 1945, the plant was left vacant due to the end of World War II.  In 1961, the government sold it to Harry F Chaddick, who along with other investors planned to develop a shopping center. Some buildings were torn down to make room for parking lots. The buildings that remained were remodeled to attract retail tenants.  Developers divided the building into a separate portion for the mall. The mall opened in 1965 as Ford City.