Beautiful ol row homes a hidden gem or ? (Chicago: how much, houses)

[sunshinesmilee]

So I am checking out a beautiful ol row home around 3500 S. King Drive....
Never lived in chicago, but visited and walked the lake parks.. I know this is south but, would this be safe ...since it seems close to water and downtown? How is row house living? seems cool... with great access to downtown.. Thanks.. Just so much to choose from, but...looking for deal to boot.

[Irishtom29]

Not the worst but not exactly safe either. A fella I know bought a place around there a few years ago and now rues the decision. He thought the area was "coming up".

[emathias]

Have you lived in other large cities?

It's not exactly a gang battlefield, but it's not exactly the best part of the city, either. Notice if you go to the blocks east or west of MLK, there are a lot of vacant lots.

Generally speaking, in Chicago parts of the city with a lot of empty lots around are going to be more sketchy than areas that are mostly built up.

The area does have some positives going for it in the long term, but I think it would be best for someone who is familiar with the area, or at least with Chicago, to make the sort of investment you're considering there.

[ajolotl]

My take: it's a pretty rapidly improving area but one that is still edgy. It was horrible ten years ago. Will probably be a good bit better in ten more years, though you never know. I'd probably live there, barely, if I found a good deal on a good place. From people I know the situation varies a lot block to block.

[AmosBanks]

That part of the city (S of McCormick Place to 51st and I-94 to Cottage) has been "coming back" for MANY years. It is still kinda sketchy. That being said, I live on 54th & Drexel and I would buy one of those huge row houses on MLK in a heartbeat if I could swing the upkeep. I know how much it costs to heat my house. I shudder at the thought of heating a mansion and a coach house.

If you're close to 35th and MLK you can take the 3 or 4 bus and/or the Red and Green line to get into town. Pretty good for CTA options.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

My take: it's a pretty rapidly improving area but one that is still edgy. It was horrible ten years ago. Will probably be a good bit better in ten more years, though you never know. I'd probably live there, barely, if I found a good deal on a good place. From people I know the situation varies a lot block to block.

It's not going to be any better in 10 years. It's going to take that long before developers even resume gentrifying neighborhoods by putting up new buildings and rehabbing old ones. You have other neighborhoods in the city like Uptown that have been gentrifying for 20 years and still haven't quite arrived, and there was a lot more to work with then there is in Bronzeville. If you're going to invest in Bronzeville, you should make sure you feel comfortable retiring there.

[sirrob]

Not toooo bad of an area. As long as you're exactly on the main drag (King Dr.), you shouldn't have too many problems. Transit service is great, and the proximity of the area to Downtown, hospitals, Navy Pier, the beach, etc. EXCELLENT! Also, those homes over there are BEAUTIFUL and GRAND!

[Irishtom29]

Face it; the neighborhood is a slum. Perhaps at the upper end of slumishness though. Assaults on the streets, heroin arrests and such seem common.

http://chicago.everyblock.com/street...9e/?only=crime