Please Help! I Need a Downtown Chicago Apt. ASAP!

[BrenBren82]

Hey!

I truly appreciate all the help in this crazy search of mine. As for what I meant when I said "downtown" I really have no idea?! In my meeting in which I found out I got the job but that one thing I had to do was live "downtown". I didn't know there was different definitions (I'm from a small town in PA). So I guess I just wanted to know of areas that are close to the middle of the city. If anyone else has any suggestions (agreeing or disgreeing with the experts above) I'd appreciate "seeing" your 2 cents!

[Magdeleine]

Originally Posted by BrenBren82

Hey!

I truly appreciate all the help in this crazy search of mine. As for what I meant when I said "downtown" I really have no idea?! In my meeting in which I found out I got the job but that one thing I had to do was live "downtown". I didn't know there was different definitions (I'm from a small town in PA). So I guess I just wanted to know of areas that are close to the middle of the city. If anyone else has any suggestions (agreeing or disgreeing with the experts above) I'd appreciate "seeing" your 2 cents!

Okay, here's the breakdown.

"Downtown", around here, means the Loop and the surrounding skyscraper zone. Do not live there if you need to have your car there. There's no reason to; for one thing, you can get to the Loop on the El very easily.

If you need to have a car, parking is going to be key, so... actually, heck, you have little time and are in need of clear advice, SO, just go here:

Apartments for Rent in Chicago - Wrigleyville/Lake View/Ravenswood/Lincoln Square/Irving Park/West Rogers Park/West Ridge

These guys are my landlords, and they are the absolute best. Excellent apartments, gorgeous, well-kept to an insane degree, well-managed, full-time janitors, friendly staff, I have zero complaints whatsoever. Rent's a bit on the high side, but given that you get what you pay for, it's a deal. They're great at touring you around; call the main office and let them know that you're from out of town and what you're after, and they'll take good care of you. I'd check out the Wolcott Arms South, Ainslie-At-The-Park, and The Tudors on Hermitage; all of these are relatively close to El stops, have excellent parking, and are in nice, quiet neighborhoods that will not scare the heck out of your small-town-PA self. And yes, they are all in the city proper (rule of thumb: if you're near an El station, you're either along an airport route or within the city proper), so your employer will be okay with it.

And relax. I'm from a small town in Kansas, so if I can get used to this town, so can you!

Good luck!

[untuchableface]

You don't need to live downtown. You will still be in the city limits if you don't live downtown. The only people that live downtown are people with money or people that live in a shoebox. You are able to pay $1100 for a studio + parking... why not get a fabulous 1-2 bedroom apartment with free parking somewhere else? Downtown is nice, but really, the neighborhoods outside of the skyscrapers have the most dimension and the most personality. Plus if you're just going to get a drink somewhere nearby, downtown you'd be spending a lot more than in a neighborhood outside of the loop.

Look into Wicker Park... it has close proximity to downtown and has free street parking, plus some garages. This is a safe neighborhood and you can get a lot more than a studio for your $.

If you come to Chicago and ask people where they live, I bet you that not one person will tell you they live in the loop, yet everyone works there. You just don't need to spend all of that extra money.

BTW, where are you from in PA? I grew up there.

[BrenBren82]

Found out I don't have to live exactly in the downtown area. Wicker Park/Bucktown is alright! What are any other neighborhoods in that area that are relatively safe or like those I listed above that I can keyword search on Craig's List?!

I have a new question. Which CTA lines are the "safer" ones?! I heard Orange is alright but what about the others? Any help would be great!

Untuchableface - I'm from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of PA.

Thanks again everyone! I REALLY appreciate your help!

Bren

[untuchableface]

Blue/Red/Brown are all fine. Green and Orange are fine but can be a little sketch at night... but I suppose they all can be if you're not aware of your surroundings. I haven't had a chance to test the Pink line just yet.

Check out Lincoln Park and Lakeview as well, although parking is not as easy.

Scranton, huh... I am from Montrose... Weird.

[GreenMachine]

If this company wants you now, they should be making arrangements for temporary housing for you. Did you sign a contract with them? Are they paying for moving expenses?

greenmachine

[BrenBren82]

They are putting me in temp. housing either part of thi week or next week and paying for my move but I have the hard part of finding a place I like to live. Everyone has been so helpful. If you or anyone else has any other pointers I'd love to hear from you!

[jessiegirl_98]

Here's the scoop:
use craiglist and try apartment finding services (there are a TON, chicago apartment finders, homestead group, apartment people, apartment guys). If you are really unfamiliar with the area, using one of these FREE services is your best bet. You can give them all of your criteria (parking, etc) and they will help you.
if you are from a small town, looking for a "white" neigborhood, you may want to stick to wicker park, gold coast, lakeview, roscoe village, lincoln park. In all of these, you can find places with parking, just make sure you ask. Parking downtown (gold coast) can be at least $250, lakeview/lincoln park $100-250 (a huge range, I know), some areas (like west lakeview) you can street park. I parked both in garages and on the streets for 5 years and never had a problem (I also worked in a bad neighborhood on the south side and had street parking with no problems).