Where do tree hugging, vegetarian liberals belong in north Chicago? (Evanston: preschool, living in)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

She says there is a LOT of section 8 in the area and the schools are a mix of those who are very wealthy and those living in extreme poverty. She say you always have to watch yourself when you are out and about. She also said that Lakeview was fabulous. She did offer to refer me to an agent in her company who specializes in that area.

There is hardly any Section 8 in Lincoln Park at all! Lincoln Park is the perhaps the most completely gentrified neighborhood I have ever seen--even compared to San Francisco and New York, which are more committed to affordable housing. Your realtor's info is definitely dated in a big way. The schools are mixed in CPS, but only because of busing from poorer neighborhoods. Lakeview and Lincoln Park are pretty much interchangeable in terms of safety, but I'd actually give Lincoln Park the edge there... Lakeview is a little bit cheaper, and there are a few problem spots in Northern Lakeview near my place (i.e. the infamous Hotel Chateau and the Gill Park Cooperative). But both neighborhoods are very safe for city neighborhoods.

[Calidreemer]

Except for the pregnant and parenting teen group home on Dickens.....

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Calidreemer

Except for the pregnant and parenting teen group home on Dickens.....

Hah! Funny you should mention that. It moved about four years ago because they wanted to be in a location closer to their clientelle.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Anthera

I wouldn't say Jay's realtor is an idiot, she's just got a suburban mindset. My mother still thinks the area around DePaul is scary, because it was many years ago. Twenty years ago the area west of Halstead was scary, not its not.

It is never wise to use a realtor who is out of their area. Now before another poster puts up links to her city realtors, I would suggest that you ask your current realtor to recommend someone downtown who she works with who can show you around. That way if you buy downtown, the suburban realtor, who you like, will still get a fractional commission.

Jay's agent is just WRONG, maybe uninformed/outdated wrong, or scared/sowing doubt wrong, but wrong nonetheless... Without getting into the specifics of how it is to live in a place that is condo/townhouse or even typical LP single family home, or even dealing with the potential SKY HIGH cost of finding a place that is family friendly in LP itself Jay's agent is exhibiting some really unflattering behavior.

I would be the first one to say that Jay has some pretty specific requests, but , at least on the posts here, she has been honest/direct with them. I suppose the agent might see odds of pay check getting dimmer, but that is no reason to say things that are just untrue. LP is expensive. It is not however dangerous or even risky. There are just about no places that are not as developed / gentrified as can be. Maybe even too much so, which is why there are the hipsters looking for the gritter experience in Wicker Park, Logan Sq, Humbolt Park, Bucktown, et cetera...

When I tell people that already have school age kids to avoid LP (and frankly most of Chicago) it is because I know how much of a hassle it is to try come from far away and take advantage of the stuff in place to try and make it possible to live in the City. For someone in Jay's situation this is very different. She is set with a rental. She is stay at home mom. She will already be out seeking like minded folks in the 'essential oils' aisle at Whole Foods. If some one like her is just cut out to figure who take advantage of the "green Chicago" efforts than no one is...

[EventHorizon]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

It's not "green" to live in suburban sprawl.

It's fun to look at the stars at night; pretty hard to do in Chicago where the sky is orange.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by EventHorizon

It's fun to look at the stars at night; pretty hard to do in Chicago where the sky is orange.

I have to agree with you there, I miss seeing the stars shine brightly. We get too much reflected Chicago light around here.


Lucky you.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There is hardly any Section 8 in Lincoln Park at all!

This is what I figured. The private school requirement is an issue for us though. I definitely want my kids to go to public schools. I'd read the thread about raising kids in the city. We'll continue to check out all of the different areas while we live in the month to month place in Evanston.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by EventHorizon

It's fun to look at the stars at night; pretty hard to do in Chicago where the sky is orange.

Orange? Why would it be orange?

I love looking at the stars as well, but there are always camping trips. Most kids LOVE camping. I camped all of the time as a kid. I think it is one of the reasons I feel so connected to nature and the caring for our planet and it's inhabitants.

[jaynetarzana]

I started calling preschools after getting recommendations from SloopyJ (thank you!!!) and the Childcare Network of Evanston (thanks Calidreemer!). Sounds like the good ones do already have LONG waiting lists. The YMCA program sounds great to me with their very open door parent policy, but waiting their list is quite long with a non-refundable $100 registration fee. I don't mind paying the fee since it goes to the Y and I love the Y (in fact, my husband did a HUGE volunteer project for them in San Diego where he got his company to donate an entire computer lab and he donated his time to set it up), but the chances of getting my daughter in there don't sound too great. I left messages for Cherry and School for Little Children. Chandler Newberger doesn't start registration until mid-Aug so I am going to tour that facility this week along with the others I mentioned. Am I missing any other good ones?

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by chet everett

For someone in Jay's situation this is very different. She is set with a rental. She is stay at home mom. She will already be out seeking like minded folks in the 'essential oils' aisle at Whole Foods. If some one like her is just cut out to figure who take advantage of the "green Chicago" efforts than no one is...

Thank you...I think that was a compliment??? LOL!