Relocating from Columbus, OH to the Chicago Burbs (Naperville, Berwyn: apartment complex, for rent)

[ktimesk]

Hi all,
First of all thank you for the tons of useful information in these forums. I have been poring through the posts the last few days.

Here is my situation
I am relocating to Chicago from Columbus for work reasons.
My office is directly across the Union Station downtown.
For this reason I want to live near a station on the BNSF Metra RAIL line.
I know zilch about Chicago. Therefore I am looking to rent for 6-12 months
before I buy a home.
I am used to having a commute of less than 10 mins in Columbus and I
realize that this won't be possible in Chicago unless I shell out a bunch of
moola for living in the city. That is a different post in the Chicago forum
however

I have been looking at living in Naperville and at an apartment complex called Railway Plaza. Again, the reason is that I want to live as close as possible to a station on the BNSF line to minimize commute time.
I have been told that the commute time from Naperville to Union station is 45 mins which is unacceptable to me.
I don't want the commute to be more than 20 mins.

So, can you recommend a city closer to Union station on the BNSF line?
Also can you recommend a good apartment complex?
I am looking for a 2 bedrrom and a 1 or 2 bath apartment and not looking to pay more than $1300-$1400/month.

Thank You for your time.

[pvande55]

You seem determined to be on the BNSF line. There are a few other lines that go into Union Station. On the BNSF line, Brookfield or LaGrange might be within range. Since you are not used to rail transport you may find some differences. For one thing, many will put up with a longer trip if it is by rail and you can relax. Everyone seems to want to live in Naperville: singles for the nightlife, parents for the schools.

[TempesT68]

Naperville will be out of the question if you want a commute that short. You've got a good budget so i'd look in areas such as la grange, brookfield, possibly western springs if have to be on the BNSF line. Otherwise elmhurt, forest park and park ridge could also be options on different metra train lines.

[jamaicabound60565]

Originally Posted by ktimesk

Hi all,
First of all thank you for the tons of useful information in these forums. I have been poring through the posts the last few days.

Here is my situation
I am relocating to Chicago from Columbus for work reasons.
My office is directly across the Union Station downtown.
For this reason I want to live near a station on the BNSF Metra RAIL line.
I know zilch about Chicago. Therefore I am looking to rent for 6-12 months
before I buy a home.
I am used to having a commute of less than 10 mins in Columbus and I
realize that this won't be possible in Chicago unless I shell out a bunch of
moola for living in the city. That is a different post in the Chicago forum
however

I have been looking at living in Naperville and at an apartment complex called Railway Plaza. Again, the reason is that I want to live as close as possible to a station on the BNSF line to minimize commute time.
I have been told that the commute time from Naperville to Union station is 45 mins which is unacceptable to me.
I don't want the commute to be more than 20 mins.

So, can you recommend a city closer to Union station on the BNSF line?
Also can you recommend a good apartment complex?
I am looking for a 2 bedrrom and a 1 or 2 bath apartment and not looking to pay more than $1300-$1400/month.

Thank You for your time.

Not that its much closer but cool area would be the fifth avenue apts in Naperville at the downtown Naperville train station. There's soem retail stores, restaurants etc in the building. Kind of a cool loft feeling to the place also just a few blocks from the dt naperville bars.

Lisle also has some townhomes and apts right near their train station that are in your price range. Not much closer to the city though just one stop.

If you wantd to be closer to the city on that the same line bnsf northern the only decent burb I can think of would be brookfield aka hollywood. Not a whole lot of nightlife though. If your comming from columbus and enjoyed hving bars and restaurants naperville would most fit your bill if you reallyu want to live in the burbs instead of the city.

I think living hear, especially in the burbs you'll realize nothing is really close, youll drive to grocery shop, drive to go to the mall etc.

[Hatchetman]

There are other Metra lines that go to Union Station. Three more lines go to Ogilvie station which is only three blocks away. No reason you have to limit yourself to the BNSF tracks.

[supportyourschools]

You should be able to find a decent place in the city for 1300-1400 a month, or even less than that.

[ktimesk]

I would like to live in the city if I could. I have heard that parking is a major hassle.
I would like to live in a 2 bed/1bath with central heating and A/C, parking included, in apt washer and dryer or at least a washer and dryer hookup.

Everything else is optional.

[supportyourschools]

Parking depends on which neighborhood you're in. Some neighborhoods have better parking than others. I've heard that parking at the train station in Naperville is also bad.

You might want to consider a near west suburb like Oak Park, Berwyn, LaGrange...

[ktimesk]

I know I had it narrowed down to naperville if I lived in the city but that is a 1 hr commute to the Union station. I am looking to cut my commute in half.
Can anyone recommend apartments for rent in the following neighborhoods? Also some feedback regarding the neighborhoods would be greatly appreciated.
Lagrange
Hinsdale,
Brookfield,
Riverside

[BRU67]

Berwyn has several apartments along the BNSF line on Stanley Ave. and Windsor, and three Metra stops at Harlem, Oak Park and LaVergne. It's an 18 minute ride from the furthest one (Harlem) to Union Station.