Shrine of St. Stanislaus

The five square mile area off of I-77 stretching from East 79th to Broadway has been home to Czech, Polish, and Slovak immigrants since the 1870’s. Annual festivals and a parade commemorate this legacy, and the area now known as Slavic Village continues to be an ethnic enclave with many third and fourth generation residents. It’s a neighborhood of neighborhoods and its most important assets are its residents. They form block clubs and book clubs, plan events and plant gardens together. They’re a tough, dedicated bunch, committed to their community and working hard to balance pride in the past with the needs of newcomers and a changing urban landscape.

Signs of the old days are everywhere: many districts and buildings are designated historic landmarks and are listed on the National Register. You can still buy pierogies, kielbasa, and sauerkraut made the Old World way on Fleet Avenue and go polka dancing at the Karlin Club. But leaders understand that to stay relevant and vibrant, the place must reinvent itself too. The Slavic Village Development Corporation has been spearheading these efforts for more than two decades. Though much remains to be done, the group has been remarkably successful. Stylish contemporary townhouses and artist’s lofts have been added to the housing mix and older homes are being renovated. There are new biking and hiking trails, a driving range and a golf course. Streetscape improvements are reviving once thriving commercial districts.