South Evanston -- area around Brummel Park (Lincoln, Lincolnwood: apartment, crime)

[dent_arthur_dent]

In general people seem to recommend the areas of Evanston that are further north & closer to the lake, but does anyone have any first-hand experience of living in the area near Brummel Park (just south of St Francis Hospital, down near Howard)?

If so, how would you describe the area? Would you recommend living there (esp for families with kids)?

[Lookout Kid]

Not first hand experience... But I have heard mixed reactions from friends and acquantences. One family I know lived just north of Howard on Dobson with three kids, and they hated it. They moved away with the idea that "Evanston is no place to raise a family". At the time I thought they were hysterical (and of course, this is an over generalization since Evanston is quite a bit more than this small area). But now that I have my own kids I can understand how they didn't like some of the influences on their kids.

But I know others who think it's great. It really depends on your tolerance for crime and schools that have problems similar to what you would find in the city.

[Omoikane]

It isn't the most desirable area, but my impression is that the area is okay. I have friends who live on Mulford south of St. Francis Hospital. No one has had anything negative to say. In general the most family oriented parts of Evanston are the more desirable (and costly) parts of the city. Southeast, Northeast, Northwest, and the portions that hug Ridge Avenue toward the center of town. Those areas also have fewer apartment buildings. Kids in those areas tend to walk to elementary schools (Lincoln, Dewey, Lincolnwood, Orrington, Chiaravalle, Roycemore, etc.) Also, "further north" is one of the more erroneous commentaries regarding Evanston. Southeast Evanston (Evanston's Lake Shore Historic District) is the most expensive part of the city.