North Berwyn (Cicero, Oak Park, Lombard: apartments, rentals, condos)

[alan greenspan]

I was wondering what the current consensus is with north berwyn ? I ask because I saw some beautiful looking two-flats and three-flats in the area. The buildings are well maintained and in my opinion much better looking than others I have seen in Lakeview or even Lincoln Park. I did walk around the neighborhood this weekend, and it seemed very quiet and well maintained. However, I did notice some 'riff raff' coming and going into some buildings, but overall it seemed very safe.


I guess my questions are : 1) was my weekend reconnaissance a fair description of north berwyn, 2) is this area safer or equal to places like Lake View or Lincoln Park, 3) what is the trend for this section of Berwyn considering it has alot of multi-unit buildings.


Thanks again !

[chitown85]

It's not as safe as Lakeview or Lincoln Park, but Berwyn as a suburb is much safer than the majority of city neighborhoods and plenty of the suburbs. Berwyn has pretty good infrastructure as does most of Cook County, which is in sharp contrast to other areas of the country where you can easily tell which areas are not good (i.e. the south).

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by alan greenspan

I was wondering what the current consensus is with north berwyn ? I ask because I saw some beautiful looking two-flats and three-flats in the area. The buildings are well maintained and in my opinion much better looking than others I have seen in Lakeview or even Lincoln Park. I did walk around the neighborhood this weekend, and it seemed very quiet and well maintained. However, I did notice some 'riff raff' coming and going into some buildings, but overall it seemed very safe.


I guess my questions are : 1) was my weekend reconnaissance a fair description of north berwyn, 2) is this area safer or equal to places like Lake View or Lincoln Park, 3) what is the trend for this section of Berwyn considering it has alot of multi-unit buildings.


Thanks again !

North Berwyn is actually used by residents to refer to the entire portion of Berwyn north of Cermak Rd. (22nd St). A lot of north Berwyn is single family homes, particularly as you head west and north towards Oak Park. The majority of Berwyn's rentals are concentrated between 16th St. and Cermak Rd. (north and south) and Lombard and Kenilworth (east and west). I'll assume this is the area you're talking about.

I'd say your description is fair. As to safety, I know several people who live in or near this area and they've had no major problems. The key is to use common sense and treat it like any other urban area (which is really what it is). If you're used to the City, this area should be just fine.

As to future trends, it should be good. Roosevelt Road is really taking off in terms of economic development and while you don't have the Metra like you do in south Berwyn, the nice thing about north Berwyn is that you can walk to the Blue Line in Oak Park, or take a short bus ride to the Pink Line on Cermak Rd.

[Hatchetman]

The area has a lot of positives. Hell, I was cruising through Cicero the other day and thought, "these are some damn nice houses."

[Vespatian]

Originally Posted by chitown85

It's not as safe as Lakeview or Lincoln Park, but Berwyn as a suburb is much safer than the majority of city neighborhoods and plenty of the suburbs. Berwyn has pretty good infrastructure as does most of Cook County, which is in sharp contrast to other areas of the country where you can easily tell which areas are not good (i.e. the south).

Berwyn is "not as safe" - I guess those reported serial muggings of young adults last summer in LP and LV don't count. Everyone likes to place those two areas on a pedastal because those areas are now predominantly yuppie. You'd be suprised to know of all the car break-in's and petty theft that occur there that aren't reported.

As for north Berwyn, it's a solid area with easy access to 290, Blue line and downtown Oak Park. There's a gentrification plan for Roosevelt rd, too. I'd buy there before the prices become like Forest Park and Oak Park's.

[Humboldt1]

Before prices become like Oak Park and Forest Park. Oak Park is expensive, not Forest Park, except those idiots who bought condos along Madison at the height of the bubble.

Forest Park is where the yuppies from River Forest and Oak Park go to drink as our options are limited in Oak Park/River Forest. Many, many Irish pubs, very similar to a college town atmosphere, all drinking, little dancing. Nice restaurants as well.

Not a place to live due to crappy schools and very basic housing but a great place to drink and eat.

North Berwyn is low-end working class. I go to the Bally's there sometimes depending upon where I am working, not a fancy crowd, similar to what you will find in Melrose Park.

I would not live there or buy there as I see the area with little upside, just older, run-down suburb.

Bru,

Walk to blue line would be like a mile as North Berwyn extends north to Roosevelt. The blue line is at least 1/2 mile north of most northern parts of North Berwyn. From 16th street where there are many apartments (across the street from Ballys, Aldis, SportMart), it would be a little more than a mile.

[BRU67]

Blue Line is 4 blocks north of Roosevelt and Oak Park. It gets closer to 3 blocks from Roosevelt and Ridgeland. From the apartments you speak of, you could jump on the Pace bus and be at the Blue Line in 5 minutes or so or walk, but it's longer. Still, I once lived 10 blocks from the L in Lakeview and walked that.

North Berwyn has some really nice bungalow blocks, particularly in the square bordered by Cermak and 16th and Harlem and Clinton.

Are the schools great? Not particularly but let's not totally overly exaggerate how bad the area is here. I think the Roosevelt Road streetscape improvements will help the northern part of Berwyn (and south Oak Park). There's already some nice businesses there already like Bohdi Thai, Wishbone, and FitzGerald's.