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Four Plus One
Cheaply constructed, architecturally unloved five-story apartment houses in which the first floor is a combination lobby/parking lot. Proliferated in Lake View and Lincoln Park in the 1960s, taking advantage of a zoning loophole that allowed a parking lot to be categorized as a basement. Technically, that made the buildings four-stories high, allowing developers to save money by building with masonry exteriors and wood-frame interiors.
From https://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/august-2018/24-phrases-youll-only-hear-in-chicago/
Gym shoes
Sneakers or athletic shoes. “What kind of gym shoes did your maa buy you this year?” “P.F. Flyers!”
From https://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/august-2018/24-phrases-youll-only-hear-in-chicago/
Two Flat
"Few things invoke Chicago like a row of two-flats, multi-unit brick apartment buildings originally designed to be stacked, with one tenant on the first floor, another on the second, and a common entrance in the vestibule. Although similar housing structures exist elsewhere, the term isn’t used—and certainly not Googled, according to search data—outside of Illinois. This is certainly thanks to its unique origins: Most were built between 1900 and 1920, and according to WBEZ, their development can be directly linked to the growth of Chicago’s middle class.
The benefits of two flats were two-fold: By building up, it was possible to fit more people in a space, and give owners the opportunity to gain wealth by renting out the spare unit. As Matt Cole of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago told WBEZ, “the two-flat and three-flat are the workhorse building of this period of Chicago.” Despite their unique historical significance, two-flats are quickly waning in popularity as many throughout the city are being converted into single-family homes."
From https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/chicago-slang-terms
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