help finding safe old area to rent along I 88 (Chicago: established neighborhood, living in)

[Artisan721]

I will be temporarily relocating to Chicago from California to help a dear friend. I have a large dog and some birds and I am looking for an older neighborhood where it is safe to go out walking with my dog who will go nuts without reg. exercise. While I am there, I will be traveling back and forth from western Aurora to East of Avondale close to 94. I want to rent something for $1200 or less with 2 bedrooms. I don't really care about night life or entertainment and with what I have to do I will be doing a lot of driving unfortunately. I am looking for neighborhoods that might work. I love the idea of the idea of living in beautiful old buildings maybe half way between the two locations. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have never even seen Chicago.

[chet everett]

Avondale the street (which an interrupted diagonal along the Kennedy Expressway 90/94) or Avondale the neighborhood (near the intersection of Belmont and Milwauke)???

Either way that is about 40 looong miles from Aurora. Half way between means 20 long miles from either... Towns like Lombard, Villa Park, Westchester , Downers Grove and close to the mid point, depending on your preferred route. Most of those are pretty safe family oriented places where dog walking is not a problem, though you might be pretty lonely. Maybe live close to the friend??

[tbachicago]

You might want to look in Lombard or Glen Ellyn, Lisle or Downer Grove. All have "old" established neighborhoods with plenty of sidewalks and parks.