Bad Neigborhoods In Chicago, IL (Oak Park, Chatham: real estate, apartment, lease)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by BRU67

You can't really draw west and south side generalizations. There are good and bad neighborhoods in both. The north side is more gentrified and there are fewer bad neighborhoods, but there are some. Defining "bad" as low income and high crime and "good" as stable and livable, I'd say (not all inclusive but just to illustrate):

South Side Bad

Englewood
Back of the Yards
Woodlawn

South Side Good

Beverly
Hyde Park
Chatham

West Side Bad

Austin
Garfield Park
Lawndale

West Side Good

Little Village
Pilsen
Archer Heights

If you're that concerned about it, might I suggest that you research the neighborhoods and look at the median income. If it's below $30k or so, it's probably a bad neighborhood -- or contains too many bad areas to make it worth moving there. The higher the median income, the better the area, obviously.

You also have to look at the demographic changes going on in the area. Some formerly solid communities (such as Marquette Park for example) are generally considered to be declining. Some formerly nasty areas (such as Bronzeville, the South Shore and Oakland for example) are considered to be on the rise.

I have to argue with Chatham and Little Village being "good." Chatham is all right, but I think it gets more credit than it deserves and there is a lot more serious crime there than I think most people realize. There were 9 murders in Chatham last year and there have already been a handful this year, including that poor woman who got shot just a couple days ago after apparently refusing to give up her car to a carjacker. I think people say Chatham is nice because 1) it physically looks nice -- people take care of their homes, mow and landscape their lawns, etc.; 2) a majority of its residents are middle-class, which unfortunately makes it kind of unique for an all-black neighborhood in the city; 3) it certainly is good compared to far more troubled black neighborhoods in the city.

Little Village, on the other hand, has no such redeeming qualities. It has serious gang and drug violence, and doesn't even have Chatham's middle-class aspirations and aesthetic charm.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Drover

I have to argue with Chatham and Little Village being "good." Chatham is all right, but I think it gets more credit than it deserves and there is a lot more serious crime there than I think most people realize. There were 9 murders in Chatham last year and there have already been a handful this year, including that poor woman who got shot just a couple days ago after apparently refusing to give up her car to a carjacker. I think people say Chatham is nice because 1) it physically looks nice -- people take care of their homes, mow and landscape their lawns, etc.; 2) a majority of its residents are middle-class, which unfortunately makes it kind of unique for an all-black neighborhood in the city; 3) it certainly is good compared to far more troubled black neighborhoods in the city.

Little Village, on the other hand, has no such redeeming qualities. It has serious gang and drug violence, and doesn't even have Chatham's middle-class aspirations and aesthetic charm.

I probably should have clarified that by "good" I basically meant you don't have to worry as much about getting a cap busted into your tail than you do in the ones I listed as "bad." I figured I'd get dinged on Little Village and you raise some good points but, hey, it's hard trying to find a good west side neighborhood, ok? And to the extent Pilsen may be improving in some areas, it's because yuppies are pushing out the former element.

As to Chatham, you're also right. But you have to say that insofar as south side African American neighborhoods go, it is good.

[Mschicago]

Let talk about high crime in rape!!!!!!!!!

[ddlove01]

My friend's 22 year old daughter wants to move to Chicago BY HERSELF!!
She gave me a list of possible apartments she was considering...Could someone let me know about these areas (good or bad) and please tell me if you would advise her to move to any of these areas.

--Dickens Courtyard Apartments - 60647, in Logan Square
--Franklin Blvd Partners - 60624, around the corner from Garfield Conservatory
--Sheridan Park Apts - 60649, close to the Red Line El in the Theatre Dist.
--301-7 North Central Park Apts, 60624 across from Garfield Conservatory
--West Irving - 60618, neighborhood Old Irving Park
--Touhy Glen - 60626, 1 block from Lakefront and the El train
--Farwell Arms - 60626
--Mahalia Place - 60653, Bronzeville
--1639 West Touhy Apts - 60626, Rogers Park
--Shorewind Apts - 60649, South Shore
--The Apts @ 1250 South Michigan - 60605
--Sheridan Lake Apts - 60660, Edgewater Glen
--Albany Park Place - 60625, Albany Park, Lincoln Square
--Glengarry East - 60613, Buena Park, Lake View

Which one of these would be the safest for a 22 year old girl???
Thanks in advance!!

Originally Posted by IllegalForeigner:)

Bad Neighborhoods In Chicago. I'm thinking of going to that city but I just want some advice where to be and where not to be
thx!

[mel2000]

Avoid the South Shore, Bronzeville, and Chatham areas altogether. The south loop isn't so bad but it's very desolate at night. Beverly and Hyde Park are OK but you have to commute through some extremely high crime neighborhoods to get in and out of them. That holds especially true for Beverly. I'd recommend them only for those who are city-savvy. Personally, I'd avoid any place south of Cermak Rd.

[eljaykay]

Hi -
The wisest move is to physically check it out - daytime AND night-time,
near the apts. being considered. I know that's not always possible if
you're coming from out-of-state, but it's a better way to get a clue of
what you're getting into!

Re: The Southside
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
What most people don't understand about the southside, is that there are many great pockets in addition to the many 'bad' ones. Tons of places with manicured homes and solid family/suburban-type residents but not too far from areas that have mainly rentals and unstable family groups/gangs. The main streets tend to be off-putting - you gotta go in a block or two to get a better feel for the neighborhood. [71st street being a prime example!]

Get tired of hearing things like this:
"2) a majority of its residents are middle-class, which unfortunately makes it kind of unique for an all-black neighborhood in the city;"
"Avoid the South Shore, Bronzeville, and Chatham areas altogether."

Since they're such 'blanket statements' made by people who I'd bet
have never spent any real time, there. I only say this bit because I'm a white lady, near 40, who's lived in 'the hood' for over 5 years now - from 71st place near Stony Isld. to down near Chicago State.

Without incident.

Sure, I could be lucky, but 9x/10, if a kid walked past me in a hoodie around 10pm the only thing said was, "Good evening, God Bless." You get a feel for who/what to avoid and yes, it's a very different 'vibe' from the n-side areas, but the picture painted is why this is one of the most heavily segregated cities in the states.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay Drover, you can jump down my throat now ;-)

LJK

[ParkerP]

Originally Posted by eljaykay

Hi -

Since they're such 'blanket statements' made by people who I'd bet
have never spent any real time, there. I only say this bit because I'm a white lady, near 40, who's lived in 'the hood' for over 5 years now - from 71st place near Stony Isld. to down near Chicago State.

Without incident.
Sure, I could be lucky, but 9x/10, if a kid walked past me in a hoodie around 10pm the only thing said was, "Good evening, God Bless." You get a feel for who/what to avoid and yes, it's a very different 'vibe' from the n-side areas, but the picture painted is why this is one of the most heavily segregated cities in the states.


LJK

[sarcasm]*GASP* You mean no one's ever tried to even mug you?! You actually come outside at night?! You don't cower in your home from all the gunshots 24/7?! [/sarcasm]

Ok let me stop, LOL. But Eljay, don't even bother trying. Once people have their minds made up, that's it.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Mschicago

Let talk about high crime in rape!!!!!!!!!

a) Did I miss something? Did someone claim that the North side is crime-free?
b) Is there something specifically about rape that you'd like to talk about, or was that just a bit of venting?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by BRU67

I probably should have clarified that by "good" I basically meant you don't have to worry as much about getting a cap busted into your tail than you do in the ones I listed as "bad." I figured I'd get dinged on Little Village and you raise some good points but, hey, it's hard trying to find a good west side neighborhood, ok? And to the extent Pilsen may be improving in some areas, it's because yuppies are pushing out the former element.

As to Chatham, you're also right. But you have to say that insofar as south side African American neighborhoods go, it is good.

Well, I'd rather struggle to find a decent West side neighborhood and come up empty (though there's always the northwest section of Austin) than try to claim Little Village is good.

Also, Pilsen has a lower violent crime rate despite the fact that most of it remains working-class (and I choose those words deliberately because these people actually do, like, work for a living) and about 80% Hispanic. IMO, in the case of Pilsen, gentrification does not have nearly as much to do with it as one might suspect.

[mel2000]

Originally Posted by eljaykay

Get tired of hearing things like this:
"Avoid the South Shore, Bronzeville, and Chatham areas altogether."

Since they're such 'blanket statements' made by people who I'd bet
have never spent any real time, there. I only say this bit because I'm a white lady, near 40, who's lived in 'the hood' for over 5 years now - from 71st place near Stony Isld. to down near Chicago State.

I hope your luck continues to hold out. As a black male living near 75th at South Shore Dr., I meant every word of it when I said those previously mentioned south side neighborhoods should be avoided. My experiences as a crime victim - as well as the overall crime statistics - speak for themselves. I can't wait until my lease is up in January so I can get the hell out of there. Anyone who recommends those neighborhoods to the uninitiated is putting them in harms way.