Is Uptown too sketchy for a newcomer? (Sheridan, Ashland: apartments, houses)

[Jandur]

One of my female friends from MI moved there when she first moved back. She was fine but she wasn't exactly comfortable. She moved to old town after 6 months or so. Another newcomer friend of mine lives up there now. But he's from Ghana. So..yeah.

[Chicago60614]

Been in Uptown for 3 years, and been very involved in what's going on there. As everyone said, it TOTALLY depends on where you are.

Generally avoid from Lawrence to Montrose, and from Clarendon to Beacon. Even in that area it's hit or miss. Wilson between Sheridan and Broadway is "ground zero" for the most part.

The thing in Uptown is that a lot of weird crap goes on, but there are two distinct sides to the area. Crazies and gangbangers, and then young professionals/everyone else. The two groups basically live in the same area, but are invisible to one another for the most part when interacting in public.

The crazies and gangbangers go after each other, and everyone else just exists around it.

[MannheimMadman]

Thread Clif Notes: If you're going to live in the Uptown community area, live in Margate Park, Sheridan Park, or Buena Park.

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

Thread Clif Notes: If you're going to live in the Uptown community area, live in Margate Park, Sheridan Park, or Buena Park.

Or whatever they're calling the areas just south of Foster these days.

[s0nginmyheart]

When I moved from L.A., I lived in Uptown for about a year and a half. The building I lived in on Marine Drive was fine, the neighbors were mostly fine. I did see broken windshields from time to time, and have heard of nearby muggings (via Uptown Update), but have never experienced any trouble personally. Most of the [gang] trouble is typically concentrated on Sheridan & Lawrence/Wilson and on the other side of the el on Magnolia/Malden I want to say.

But if there's anything I've learned from living in Chicago, is that you can live ANYWHERE IN THE CITY on a really nice/safe street, but two streets down is trouble. Doesn't matter what neighborhood.

Uptown example:
Castlewood Terrace = million dollar homes.
Lawrence Ave = Two blocks south, sketchy.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

But if there's anything I've learned from living in Chicago, is that you can live ANYWHERE IN THE CITY on a really nice/safe street, but two streets down is trouble. Doesn't matter what neighborhood.

This is complete BS.

[s0nginmyheart]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

This is complete BS.

Okay, maybe not TWO blocks down. But no ONE neighborhood is ever completely safe. Crime happens everywhere and anywhere.

[Runuova]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

When I moved from L.A., I lived in Uptown for about a year and a half. The building I lived in on Marine Drive was fine, the neighbors were mostly fine. I did see broken windshields from time to time, and have heard of nearby muggings (via Uptown Update), but have never experienced any trouble personally. Most of the [gang] trouble is typically concentrated on Sheridan & Lawrence/Wilson and on the other side of the el on Magnolia/Malden I want to say.

But if there's anything I've learned from living in Chicago, is that you can live ANYWHERE IN THE CITY on a really nice/safe street, but two streets down is trouble. Doesn't matter what neighborhood.

Uptown example:
Castlewood Terrace = million dollar homes.
Lawrence Ave = Two blocks south, sketchy.

Even in the worst areas, it's all about finding pockets of stability. I can attest to this theory.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

Okay, maybe not TWO blocks down. But no ONE neighborhood is ever completely safe. Crime happens everywhere and anywhere.

Which then applies to any city.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

Crime happens everywhere and anywhere.

And in some places FAR more frequently than others.

With Uptown it isn't so much that it's as violent and dangerous as neighborhoods like Austin and Englewood but that it has a constant buzz of low level crime and seediness. And a great deal of litter including the human sort.