Why Isn't Chicago’s Lakefront Owned By Billionaires?

Chicago's lakefront runs almost 30 miles, yet you'll find almost no private beaches along it, and it comes down to five words written in 1836. This video traces the full history of Chicago's lakefront, from the 1892 Supreme Court case against the Illinois Central Railroad, to Montgomery Ward's four lawsuits protecting Grant Park, to the Lakefront Protection Ordinance that still governs the shoreline. You'll also see rare exceptions like the Coastland co-op and Lake Point Tower. If you've searched why doesn't Chicago have private beaches, this is the legal fight behind it. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:45 The 1836 Law 2:30 The Illinois Central Case 6:00 Montgomery Ward vs. Chicago 11:30 Chicago's Rare Exceptions Subscribe to Chitown Untold for more buried city history, and tell us which Chicago mystery to cover next. SOURCES 1. Illinois Central Railroad Co. v. Illinois - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinoi... 2. Last Four Miles - Friends of the Parks https://www.fotp.org/last-four-miles 3. These Super Rare Chicago Properties Are Underwater - DNAinfo https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170... 4. Windsor Beach Apartments - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor... 5. Lake Point Tower - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Po... 6. Chicago's Lakefront Park System Comes Up Short at Both Ends - WTTW https://news.wttw.com/2022/06/20/chic... #Chicago #ChicagoHistory #HiddenChicagoland #ChicagoLakefront #IllinoisHistory #ChicagoBeaches