Downtown Access? (Chicago: apartments, leases, high crime)

[SonnyBelt]

Hi All,
If one were to have to work downtown around the 10 block of LaSalle for a few months, what's best strategy for that?

Try to live downtown somewhere (if it's even possible), commute in from somewhere, something else?

Have to keep costs reasonable, and would like to avoid high crime areas.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by SonnyBelt

Hi All,
If one were to have to work downtown around the 10 block of LaSalle for a few months, what's best strategy for that?

Try to live downtown somewhere (if it's even possible), commute in from somewhere, something else?

Have to keep costs reasonable, and would like to avoid high crime areas.

You can live anywhere in the metropolitan area at that location. Depends on preferences and budget.

[SonnyBelt]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

You can live anywhere in the metropolitan area at that location. Depends on preferences and budget.

Just noticed the map says "South" LaSalle, don't know if that makes a difference.

Looks to me like it's right in the downtown? Traffic's not a problem?

Haven't been to Chicago since the early 90's, so I'm clueless.

[It'sAutomatic]

Rent an apartment. If you want to know where then you need to be more specific as to what you want. Of course there is traffic.

[chet everett]

While there are apartments that are walkable close, since this portion of Chicago is extremely well served by transit you could live anywhere in the region that has access to transit options.

Apartments with short term leases are probably most plentiful in the northside Chicago neighborhoods.

[shineinthewoodpile]

It all depends on how much money you can spend on an apartment.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by SonnyBelt

...
Haven't been to Chicago since the early 90's, so I'm clueless.

I don't think it's that you haven't lived here since the early 90s that's causing you to be clueless. You're not even including pertinent information in your question.

With only the (lack of) information you've provided, the answer is:

The best solution is to live in temporary, furnished, corporate housing within a 10-minute walk of your office, with at least a small grocer or well-stocked convenience store in or near the building. Of course that's fairly expensive, but it's certainly *possible*, as certainly many hundreds and possibly thousands of people do it in downtown Chicago. And, I would think, it would be the best from a corporate temp assignment standpoint. Of course there are many other options, depending on your exact circumstances.

1) You haven't been to "Chicago" since the early 1990s, but you don't say whether you live in the Chicago region (plenty of suburbanites could accurately say they haven't been to Chicago since the early 1990s, too).

2) What is your budget? This is really your single most important factor.

3) Will you need to drive to other locations in the region, or is the Lasalle office the only place you'll need to be for work?

4) Will it only be you, or will you have family with you (or a girlfriend, or even just a large dog)?

5) I assume you own a car wherever it is you currently are (Tokyo? London? Mexico City? Toronto? Memphis?) - do you want to bring the car with you? Is that even possible? Is it cost-effective?

6) What's the chance of your assignment being extended? Is this a cut-and-dried start and end date, or possibly more like a trial?

7) What is your budget?

8) Do you like walking?

9) What is your budget?

10) Are you scared of buses? And what is your budget?

11) What kind of living environment do you currently have? Do you wish to replicate that in Chicago? Do you want to try something new? What do you want to try to experience here? And what is your budget?