Is Pilsen a good neighborhood for a single professional starting out? (Chicago: low income, rent)

[EastBoundandDownChick]

I was curious as to what others thought. My plan it to relocate to Chicago upon finishing my studies (in about 18 months). I am researching and trying to get a feel for all of the different neighborhoods. I don't want to pay too much in rent but would like to be in a safe and decent neighborhood, like most people. I would also need to be close to transit lines as I will not be bringing a car (I would prefer to sell it and bank the money). Is Pilsen a good choice for a young professional like me, just starting out and new to the city? I lived in Harlem in NYC but still get a little scared when my cousin tells me he was beat up nearby during a gang initiation, especially being a petite single female. Is it really okay and maybe I'm just being silly?

[Savoir Faire]

Originally Posted by thelizardking

I personally don't think Pilsen is gentrified enough to make you happy.

The OP lived in Harlem. I'm confident she can handle Pilsen, especially the eastern edge. I know you think that Lakeview and Lincoln Park are the only decent neighborhoods in the city, but the OP made it clear that she doesn't want to spend a lot of cash.

The safest part of Pilsen is the eastern edge, which is not very close the the Pilsen train stop, west of Ashland. That might be problem for the OP.

[nowincal11]

Pilsen is not a good neighborhood for a single young professional. It is largely middle class, which is good, but it contains a dozen gangs vying for the turf. It is an odd dynamic because it is middle class, but with such a heavy gang presence. It is by no means the most dangerous neighborhood in the city either, but if you look at crime stats, way more unsafe than Harlem in NYC.

What is your budget? I would pick somewhere else if you can. Pilsen has a tiny arts district, but it isn't really a young professional haven.

[andrew61]

If you do move to Pilsen, I'd stay as far east as possible. Around 18th and Halsted, for example, is a thriving artists' community, but the neighborhood does get rougher as you venture further west. I've never encountered any problems walking around the area during the day, however, although your mileage may vary.

[Savoir Faire]

Originally Posted by andrew61

If you do move to Pilsen, I'd stay as far east as possible. Around 18th and Halsted, for example, is a thriving artists' community, but the neighborhood does get rougher as you venture further west. I've never encountered any problems walking around the area during the day, however, although your mileage may vary.

90% of Pilsen is west of Halsted.

[Irishtom29]

I'm not so sure a person who calls themself a "young professional" rather than a "young person" is going to be very keen on a gritty (I mean really gritty, as in inhabited by people who come home from work gritty) working class neighborhood.

On the other hand it is close to downtown and has good bus and El service. I could get by there but I'm an gritty old guy myself. But I suppose a yuppie who's a regular guy rather than stuck up could get along, make friends and all that. Afterall, there are Mexican office workers and businessmen living there.

[long101]

We cant really make much of a suggestion without knowing your budget. Me personally am White, still in my 20s, and have lived and would again live in Pilsen. I actually just moved and was looking into Pilsen but couldnt find anything to my liking. Like everyone said, the further North and East the better. I personally wouldnt live further West then Ashland and further south then 20th ish. Not saying that it is a war zone after those areas, just my preference. It has been an up and coming area for sometime and I think it will slowly continue

[aragx6]

I honestly think your biggest issue eith Pilsen will be meeting people. Your work friends will invite you out, but they'll all be up on the north side.

Lots of people love Pilsen, but as a young professional, I'd tell you to stay away less because of the crime and more because of the general scene.

[Hubbard Spaulding]

Originally Posted by nowincal11

Pilsen is not a good neighborhood for a single young professional. It is largely middle class, which is good, but it contains a dozen gangs vying for the turf. It is an odd dynamic because it is middle class, but with such a heavy gang presence. It is by no means the most dangerous neighborhood in the city either, but if you look at crime stats, way more unsafe than Harlem in NYC.

What? How on earth is Pilsen middle class? It is a textbook low income/working class, point-of-entry immigrant neighborhood. The only thing middle class about it is the art students who live near Halsted.

Do you mean "family-oriented"? Because sure, there are lots of families there. It isn't even remotely middle class, though.

Also re: Harlem comparison, Harlem is huge, really more like 6 neighborhoods, ranging from nice to flat-out terrible. It depends where the OP lived, but I'd guess in the more decent SW part near Morningside Park and not say, 138th/Lenox.

[EastBoundandDownChick]

Thanks for all the advice you guys. To answer the question, I lived in West Harlem slightly north of Columbia U. It was sort of a weird midpoint where things went from an academic community, completely gentrified, to gritty and rough. I was literally like right on that borderline, but saved a good amount in rent by doing so. The area was safe during the day but a little sketchy at night. I would take a cab from the train station to my front door at the later hours most of the time and am no stranger to gangs, drug activity, and inner city violence by any means. My neighborhood was actually one of the better ones in Harlem. The areas that had the most serious crime problems were east of me (and they still were actually fairly safe). But there were still many social issues that plagued where I lived despite it being in the process of gentrification. A big part of that problem was it was near a point-of-entry sanctuary neighborhood for Dominicans. Many of the youth would become lured into a life of crime and fast money. They were good kids but just tended to fall prey to the influences around them unfortunately. The result of that was occasionally hearing gunfire at late hours and seeing things like assaults over deals gone bad. But I wasn't out at those hours so it didn't bother me much, quite frankly.

I don't need ritzy or flashy when I first move to Chicago after living there. But I certainly don't want to have a bad experience either, of course. I'd just like to save as much as possible until I am better established. I will in no way do so by jeopardizing my safety. I like the idea of living in an artistic community as I pursue artistic endeavors in my spare time. So that seems cool. But perhaps not if it's too far from transit lines. There has to be some middle ground in between Lincoln Park and the war zones lol. I'm not asking for much, just a decent place to crash. Someplace with a solid working and middle class would probably fit the bill.

I spent some time looking at interactive maps of the different neighborhoods. I am fourth generation Polish and noticed the Polish Village. Would this be a good fit? Also, what about Uptown/Edgewater? Those neighborhoods seem to be middle class but not rich.