I need some advice on rogers park, please! (Chicago, Glenwood: apartment, neighborhood)

[knitgirl]

This is Chicago, not 7 hours south. My sister lives in RP with her gf by the lake, used to live further west.

[MannheimMadman]

For real. 7 hours south is doofus Kentucky territory. Chicago is worlds away from that type of living (in most neighborhoods.)

[themag62]

Originally Posted by ccainxo

I drove around the area but i'm not familiar with any part of it because i'm from seven hours south, so the only other time I have been to chicago was with family. The apartment complex we looked at is On W jarvis avenue, and the realtor said the train station was a block away, so that being said i'm in the nice part?

I'm just paranoid, I've delt with harrassment with people where i'm from so i've always been kind of sketchy about areas i'm not familar with.

I can't think of a single neighborhood in Chicago where I would say "Oh definitely don't go there, gays are bashed there". You're going to like it here.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by ccainxo

I'm moving to Chicago in a couple of weeks, and just recently I looked at an apartment in Rogers Park. It was close to Jarvis Avenue, and I personally thought the street looked nice, but I'm just wondering about the area and if it is safe, and so on.

Yes, I am a gay male and it would be me and my partner living there, but my concern is that would we get harassed all the time walking down the street, bullied, or even beaten up?

I just want to know that we are in a safe area and can feel comfortable walking down the streets.

Any information would help, thanks!

Many gay men and lesbians live in that area. For many years there was a gay bar on Jarvis near the El station (block east). Though I live further west in RP I wouldn't hesitate to consider that section of RP (the one you're asking about) if I was relocating and there was something I liked there (an apartment/condo/house).

[soulful]

Originally Posted by ccainxo

I drove around the area but i'm not familiar with any part of it because i'm from seven hours south, so the only other time I have been to chicago was with family. The apartment complex we looked at is On W jarvis avenue, and the realtor said the train station was a block away, so that being said i'm in the nice part?

I'm just paranoid, I've delt with harrassment with people where i'm from so i've always been kind of sketchy about areas i'm not familar with.

I think it would help to separate out the issues. You have mentioned your concern about "harrassment" due to sexuality. I don't think that is any more likely in Rogers Park than anywhere else in the city. So don't worry too much about it in terms of that neighborhood.

However, Rogers Park is not the safest neighborhood on the northside. If you experience any crime (which isn't likely based on the odds) it will most likely be a mugging. I always say that people who are super skiddish (sp.) should avoid living in Rogers Park because they sometimes get scared at night walking from the lakefront over to the El station (and there are sometimes unsavory folks hanging around the train station at night). And it can be a rather isolated walk even if only a block.

Personally, I am fine with Rogers Park. But I do feel safer near the Morse and Loyola train stops (which are further south from where you are looking).
I feel less safe around Jarvis and Howard at night. However, I've never had a problem.

Since you are just moving here from 7 hours away you need to decide if you feel comfortable in this section of Rogers Park vs other neighborhoods. I am sure you will feel safe in the daytime.

If I may ask, from where are you moving?

good luck with your move

[ccainxo]

Rogers park is just more around our price range right now, I have a friend that lives in Chicago, but not Rogers Park. His opinion was that it was a decent area, he never had any issues (he's gay as well) but he said it just varies block to block. I was just recently up there over the weekend, and looked around the area, but that was in daylight. We're about seven minutes from Loyola.

I'm moving from Harrisburg, IL. Really really small town, not much opportunity nor diversity down here. I'm a hairdresser and study fashion design, which requires that I have a sense of style. People down here stare and will mumble things under their breath but never try to put me in any real danger. Majority of the time I just walk on by and ignore them though.

[soulful]

Originally Posted by ccainxo

Rogers park is just more around our price range right now, I have a friend that lives in Chicago, but not Rogers Park. His opinion was that it was a decent area, he never had any issues (he's gay as well) but he said it just varies block to block. I was just recently up there over the weekend, and looked around the area, but that was in daylight. We're about seven minutes from Loyola.

I'm moving from Harrisburg, IL. Really really small town, not much opportunity nor diversity down here. I'm a hairdresser and study fashion design, which requires that I have a sense of style. People down here stare and will mumble things under their breath but never try to put me in any real danger. Majority of the time I just walk on by and ignore them though.

Your friend is correct. Rogers Park does vary block by block. And like I said earlier, the only thing I don't like is some gangbanger types that sometimes are hanging around the entrance to the el/train stations that you may be using at night. They don't usually bug anybody but can look a little menacing.

This will be a major change from Harrisburg. You must be very excited.

[mjtinmemphis]

Chicago is pretty cosmopolitan. Ive never had any issues with being gay in Chicago. The worse thing Ive seen was funny looks where given to a gay couple on the brown line showing public display of affection. People basically dont care anymore.

[Bird4Prez]

Rogers Park is fine.......if you are not going to be around Howard and you don't generally walk around by yourself late at night. There are shootings and other violence, but they are largely the results of the gang lifestyle (like other posters have written). As for being gay, anywhere on the Northside would be largely tolerant. You will ocassionally hear about some hatecrime stuff, but it is rare and usually late at night. Just be smart and you will likely avoid any criminal issues. Rogers Park has some bad areas, but it is nothing like Englewood or Lawndale, or other areas of the city.

[P Daley]

You won't be bothered for being gay there. It is a very liberal neighborhood for the most part but there are areas of it that are seedy and crime prone. I would avoid places more than a block west of Sheridan Rd until you cross Clark St on the west. Especially places like Lunt and Morse Ave. Some people say the area is getting better and admittedly I have not lived there for a long time but when I did live there it was really downhill after the Jewel closed on Morse Ave. The whole area was gang infested and burglaries, robberies and car break ins were a nightly thing. And there was a killing on Glenwood too. I would advise you to check closely or consider Edgewater/Loyola instead.