CHICAGO — Romeo Talento believes every street in Chicago has a story.
For the last five-plus years, he's embarked on a project photographing every lane, avenue, drive, boulevard and other roadway in the city.
Talento and his husband, Dan Albertson, began "The Chicago Streets Project" in January 2012 — taking a photo of at least one street sign for every single one of Chicago's 1,145 streets. They are about 75 percent finished, with street names beginning with W, X, Y and Z still to go, as well as all numbered streets.
"Each neighborhood and street have their own uniqueness," said Talento, who grew up in Rogers Park, lives in Uptown and works for the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. "During this project, I've been able to learn the personality of the neighborhood itself."
Talento first pondered the project in 2010 when looking at a map of the city and noticing a small street Downtown called MacChesney Court. Two years later, he and Albertson found it under Wacker Drive, took a picture of the street sign and thought, "Why not visit every single Chicago street?"
Using "Streetwise Chicago," the book by Chicago journalists Don Hayner and Tom McNamee that gives the history of every Chicago street name, Talento and Albertson began their journey — visiting about four streets a week on average. They only take public transportation or walk to each street, Talento said.
Talento said he has two favorite streets in Chicago: Memory Lane, a small half-block stretch near O'Hare, and Academy Place in the West Loop, the city's narrowest street at just 10 feet wide.
When the duo is finally done, Talento said he'll create a website showing all the photos and pitch the project to be showcased at Chicago History Museum or other city public spots. He also wants to reach out to Hayner and McNamee in hopes of creating a second edition of "Streetwise."
Asked what he's learned over the last five years of urban exploration, Talento said simply: "The city is very diverse. And there are lots of surprises around every corner."
