Irving Park or Rogers Park (Chicago, Addison: how much, to buy, magnet school)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What am I trying to do? I simply do not believe what you are saying and I have given my reasons why. There is not some secret conspiracy of former and present Rogers Park residents trying to smear you. Do you see the black helicopters?
Lol, you have contributed absolutely ZERO content relating to the OP topic, and the ONLY reason you are on here is to question my previous residency (oh, I mean state your "opinion") in RP. It's obvious that you are trying to find some way to discredit my previous post based on the proof you're fishing for, because you're unhappy with the way I'm talking about the place you live. Now it's just funny watching you back peddle, saying it's just your "opinion", or I'm seeing "helicopters"...
Lol, you have contributed absolutely ZERO content relating to the OP topic, and the ONLY reason you are on here is to question my previous residency (oh, I mean state your "opinion") in RP. It's obvious that you are trying to find some way to discredit my previous post because on the proof you're fishing for. Now it's just funny watching you back peddle, saying it's just your opinion, or I'm seeing helicopters...
In the end both are great neighborhoods and it depends on the person what is most important to them. To me being by the Lake and having the EL right nearby are very important and I like being by Loyola but not too close to Loyola. Yes Rogers Park does have crime and shootings. Its at a level that is acceptable to me and I am convinced that by the data and by personal experience and by following RP news that it is improving. And looking at Census data gentrification is occuring.
Irving Park has an EL stop but its in the middle of 90/94. Something that I dont like, but for some people not a dealbreaker, but it is for me. I could live there and be happy, but I wouldnt naturally seek it out. It is improving and gentrying as well. It is as far west as Albany Park, just south of it.
Personally I would rather live in Albany Park especially the subsection known as Ravenswood Manor. Its nice that the EL is on the ground there, the brown line. How the El station is reached is important to me. I really dont like accessing it via walking over a highway and then waiting in the middle of the highway.
Looks like the OP didn't expand too, too much on why he was looking at those 2 neighborhoods, but I would agree with what others have said, it's hard to compare these 2 particular areas. I'm sure since this thread was started in June that the decision has already been made, but I think a lot would depend on a person's list of priorities.
My husband & I have been looking to buy in Chicago for a LONG time now & have finally settled on a condo in Rogers Park right next to the beach. Sure, some parts of Rogers aren't ideal, but we made sure to familiarize ourselves with the area & picked out a location that made us feel safe enough.
The part of Irving Park, near Honor Park, is very gentrified with quite a few new eateries, bar and grills, and an art gallery that popped up, coffee shops, a couple of delis... It's very close to Ravenswood Manor. That is where a lot of condo development has taken place over the past decade. The main perks of the area near Honor Park are that there is development happening, it's near a short drive or 20 minute walk to Lincoln Square, it's a short drive to Rosco Village, it has easy access to public transportation (Bus and El), and easy access to 90/94. One does not have to live by the highway, and can easily not be affected by it if one chooses to.
A few more perks: it's one of the safer areas in the city, has quiet family friendly areas (especially near Horner Park, with all it's activities for kids), and it's a lot more affordable compared to near by Ravenswood Manor, Lincoln Square and Rosco Village...
Ravenswood Manor is very nice, and very desirable to many, there's no denying that... I personally don't consider Albany Park desirable at all, and feel safer in Irving Park in comparison and find theres generally more activities closer, but that's just my personal taste. If I was going to live anywhere else close to Irving Park, It would be Lincoln Square, but that generally comes with a heavier price tag, and much lease house for the money... plus Irving Park is close enough to enjoy the perks.
I've known a lot of people that chose to purchase in Irving Park, as oppose to near by areas either because of safety reasons, or affordability, while still being close enough to areas with a lot of activity. Considering the economy, I'm not going to say that Irving Park, or any other area in the city, is going to completely gentrify in the near future, but seeing as the areas right next door have completely gentrified, it's not a big stretch of the imagination to think that Irving Park could become as vibrant and desirable as near by communities, in my opinion. Some already consider it very desirable, and a great deal.
At the end of the day, Rogers Park and Irving Park are very different areas, and people will chose to live where they are more comfortable, where they can afford, and the place that suits their lifestyle the best.
The part of Irving Park, near Honor Park, is very gentrified with quite a few new eateries, bar and grills, and an art gallery that popped up, coffee shops, a couple of delis... It's very close to Ravenswood Manor. That is where a lot of condo development has taken place over the past decade. The main perks of the area near Honor Park are that there is development happening, it's near a short drive or 20 minute walk to Lincoln Square, it's a short drive to Rosco Village, it has easy access to public transportation (Bus and El), and easy access to 90/94. One does not have to live by the highway, and can easily not be affected by it if one chooses to.
A few more perks: it's one of the safer areas in the city, has quiet family friendly areas (especially near Horner Park, with all it's activities for kids), and it's a lot more affordable compared to near by Ravenswood Manor, Lincoln Square and Rosco Village...
Ravenswood Manor is very nice, and very desirable to many, there's no denying that... I personally don't consider Albany Park desirable at all, and feel safer in Irving Park in comparison and find theres generally more activities closer, but that's just my personal taste. If I was going to live anywhere else close to Irving Park, It would be Lincoln Square, but that generally comes with a heavier price tag, and much lease house for the money... plus Irving Park is close enough to enjoy the perks.
I've known a lot of people that chose to purchase in Irving Park, as oppose to near by areas either because of safety reasons, or affordability, while still being close enough to areas with a lot of activity. Considering the economy, I'm not going to say that Irving Park, or any other area in the city, is going to completely gentrify in the near future, but seeing as the areas right next door have completely gentrified, it's not a big stretch of the imagination to think that Irving Park could become as vibrant and desirable as near by communities, in my opinion. Some already consider it very desirable, and a great deal.
At the end of the day, Rogers Park and Irving Park are very different areas, and people will chose to live where they are more comfortable, where they can afford, and the place that suits their lifestyle the best.
Irving Park.... Whats the main intersection of the neighborhood?
I feel that the nabes by the lake are more easily defined by boundaries and have always known these neigbhorhoods better, whereas the areas west have always been more mysterious and less well defined by certain boundaries. You mean Honor Park or Horner Park?
The part of Albany Park that I find most interesting and the best area to buy into right now would be around the kedzie el stop on the brown line.
Looks like the OP didn't expand too, too much on why he was looking at those 2 neighborhoods, but I would agree with what others have said, it's hard to compare these 2 particular areas. I'm sure since this thread was started in June that the decision has already been made, but I think a lot would depend on a person's list of priorities.
My husband & I have been looking to buy in Chicago for a LONG time now & have finally settled on a condo in Rogers Park right next to the beach. Sure, some parts of Rogers aren't ideal, but we made sure to familiarize ourselves with the area & picked out a location that made us feel safe enough.
East of Sheridan is ofcourse the nicest part of Rogers Park, there are still some strange people that hang out on the beach, I have walked there in the morning and seen people at 10 or 11 am just lounging around that are still drunk from last night, but I know that the neighbors there have been very good at doing late night walks with their dogs policing the area in a very safe/judicious manner. I definitely think that where you bought your condo is one of the best areas (if not the best) in Chicago to buy a condo, where else are you by the EL and a short walk to the beach without having to cross a major road?
The area around Morse has really turned around since our family bought a place in the area in 2005. The streetscape and new actone cafe/mayne stage and two new condo buildings and the reside on Morse redeux of a four plus one all happened in quick successive order. Also the new murals around Rogers Park have really been a nice addition. The only MAJOR area that still is rough is ofcourse NOH, North of Howard, but it has been yarnbombed, is slated for a new streetscape, does have a nice new EL station and new Apt building on the Evanston side, a new pawnshop, a nice antique store and a nice Dominicks. And the Triangle Park did get some new exercise/workout stations.
Btw you were considering South Shore right? I think you made the right call. South Shore is cool but very rough and it will take alot longer to improve and Rogers Park is really changing right now.
Last edited by xavier xerxes; 11-28-2011 at 08:35 AM..
"It is bounded by the Chicago River on the east, the Milwaukee Road railroad tracks on the west, Addison Street on the south and Montrose Avenue on the north, west of Pulaski Road stretching to encompass the region between Belmont Avenue on the south and, roughly, Leland Avenue on the north."
Okay this is what I found on wikipedia.
Its looks like the main intersection would be Elston and Irving Park.
You must Mean Horner Park. And it is a nice area around there.
The main park would be Independence Park though right? Since its
in the middle of the neighborhood. But Horner park is much bigger.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
