First stop in Chicago? The Obama house. With the arrival of Barack Obama to the White House, Chicago has gained more international projection. It never stopped being one of the most important cities in the world but now it has more prestige because one of its neighbors is the President of the United States. The capital of Illinois is today the destination of many tourists who have the Obamas’ residential address marked on their map as their first stopping point.
The Obama family home is on the corner of Hyde Park Avenue, between Greenwood and University streets, in a middle-class area. The house is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, very close to the prestigious University of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
It doesn’t matter that you are the number 1 fan of President Obama, if you want to get close to the Obama house, be careful with the security of the Secret Service. The rules are very strict and the police do not have much patience with tourists and onlookers. There’s tremendous security around the residence on Hyde Park Boulevard.
The house is surrounded by mansions and a few meters from the oldest synagogue in Chicago. Some sections of the street were closed and checkpoints, barriers against suicide attacks and surveillance cameras were installed.
The Secret Service and the police have put in place a filter, designed to minimize the traffic in front of the house and check the background of the inhabitants of the area and visitors.
Revaluation of Obama’s neighboring houses
The real estate crisis in the US market does not reach Barack Obama’s neighborhood in Chicago. A house next to that of the president of the United States was sold in April 2010 for 1.4 million dollars. Of course, the owners have taken six months to sell it according to the real estate agency that closed the sale. Other Obama neighbors in Chicago have also done good business. 10 nearby houses that were renovated have already sold for more than a million dollars in the last year.
And who wouldn’t like to have a former president as a neighbor? Barack and Michelle Obama have already confirmed their intention to keep their home and return to their family residence when the presidential term ends and they leave the White House.
So that you know the city of Obama well, we have prepared a visual guide with the best images of Chicago.