The Near West Side is Community Area #28, sitting 2 miles west of the Loop. The Community is home to a number of prominent Chicago neighborhoods including Greektown, the Fulton River District, University Village, Little Italy, Maxwell Street, Tri-Taylor, Illinois Medical Center, the West Loop, West Loop gate and United Center Park, all within less than 6 square miles. Much of this area was once part of the Hull House Neighborhood, named of course for America's first Settlement House. When Jane Adams arrived, much of the area surrounding Hull House were slums, but fifty years prior, wealthy inhabitants of the Union Park neighborhood sought to create one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods in Chicago.

Route|Starting Spot|Photo Album|Ross Felten 2011 Tour Poster