Safe place to live for an easy commute to Mt Sinai (California Ave.) (Chicago: rental, house)

[kishkash186]

I know there has been countless threads on here about people moving to the city trying to find safe places to live but none of them really answer my question.

Am about to start a rotation at Mt. Sinai (California Ave.) and have been looking for decent neighbourhoods to find a flatshare.

I've been reading on here that Wicker Park is nice and the obvious places such as Lincoln Park and the Loop but I'm having trouble understanding how difficult the commute and transport situation will be like for getting to Mt. Sinai.

I'm from London so am happy to be walking about and using the bus/train but my understanding is that no one walks about around that area and I don't want to get any trouble walking about like some wierd limey!

So basically if anyone can point me to places to check out with nice transport links to the hospital i'd be eternally greatful.

I'd rather be in a nice place which is a slightly harder commute so I have at least enjoy the weekends in Chicago than be really really close to the hospital and in a not so safe place and be house bound.

I'd also be leaving the hospital around 6'ish every day.

Thanks

[666northstate]

I wouldn't take public transit to and from the hospital if I could avoid it.

I don't know if driving is an option for you though.

[Mr Downtown]

Bus 157 and bus 18 provide direct service to the hospital, and don't pass through bad neighborhoods on the way. So the 157 gives you a one-seat ride from Streeterville or the West Loop, while the 18 gives you a one-seat ride from the South Loop or Pilsen or an easy transfer from the Red/Orange/Green lines at Roosevelt.

If you prefer to take the L most of the way, the Pink Line California station is only four blocks south. It's not a bad neighborhood, but you may not be comfortable walking after dark. With BusTracker on your mobile, you can time your departure to stand in the hospital lobby or in the stationhouse until a minute before the 94 bus arrives.

[RingWalk]

I don't think that block specifically is all that bad and the areas directly east and south of the hospital will generally be fine but you'll want to avoid public transit coming in from or taking you through the areas west. Garfield Park and Lawndale are pretty rough. Figure out where you want to live and then stay on public transit that runs eastern-ish of Western as a rule of thumb. You should be able to find a bus that runs down Damen or Western.

If there's a bus that comes down Ogden to the hospital that would probably be ok too. The pink line is probably fine as well though I can't say I've ever been on it.

Probably lots of people commuting to and from the hospital, which will help.

It's very much block-to-block in terms of what I would consider "safe" over in that neck of the woods.

[kishkash186]

Thanks a lot for all your help. I have no car and i'd rather not be hanging around the hospital looking like some lost douche. But that one seat bus sounds pretty much ideal.

Like I said I'd much rather sacrifice some sleep and have some crappy commutes and sleep in a nice part of town so I can at leat enjoy it on the weekends.

[chirack]

The loop would be a fast commute...but lincoln park isn't that far away either

[kishkash186]

As opposed to starting a new thread. Could any one recommend me the best place to find a short term rental or flatshare?? Have been on craigslist the past month.

[Mr Downtown]

I saw a Sinai Medical Courtesy Shuttle downtown tonight. Are you sure the hospital doesn't have an employee shuttle to downtown train stations?

[kishkash186]

I think there is one that goes to Union Station.

I have been in touch a place on N Fairfield avenue and W Iowa Street.

It's West of Ukranian village and far enough from Humbolt as to not make me **** my pants everytime I leave the house.

But the buses are the 52 round the corner then change for the 18 and jump off for a nice walk through Douglas Park to the hospital

or.... walk a little bit a couple of blocks to catch the 94 all the way to the front entrance.

Are these buses nice to travel in? They seem to travel a little too West of what most people on here recommend.

[RingWalk]

I'm not sure about that one. It's definitely right on the border of some pretty crappy neighborhoods. You never know in this city though. I'm not that familiar with California Avenue running that far south but maybe someone else is. It's really block to block over there. You can be somewhere fine, like around Taylor Street, and all of a sudden be in a pretty damn awful block.

But then sometimes there are a lot of commuters on public transit through crappy neighborhoods so even if the neighborhood sucks the bus or whatever will be more or less OK.

Hopefully someone chimes in who is familiar with those bus routes.

If you were just commuting in the day I'd guess you'd be OK. I would guess in any event the bus ride would not be what you would describe as 'nice' down that route, you are probably just looking at 'acceptable' at best.