What is going on in Uptown???? (Chicago, Berwyn: crime, storage, legal)

[brainiac138]

thanks for the comments guys. I am sorry to sound so naive, but I have family in Oak Park and I would only visit them about once a year so everything in Chicago proper I am not quite sure about. And, yes, I suppose I heard that Buena Park was the quiet and safe neighborhood, not Uptown as a whole, I guess I just figured that when I learned that Buena Park is officially part of Uptown. But, this is all coming from a guy who has lived in upstate indiana his whole life and finding an apartment in chicago has been a hassle and a half, mostly because of the price tags, I come from a city where 450 a month gets you a beautiful place to live with full amenities, so Buena Park was one of the only places that had apartments NEARLY what I was used to, but still close to double that price. Sorry, for the babble and thanks again.

[Can't Stand Suburbanites]

Uptown, like many other urban neighborhoods across the country is being gentrified. Newcomers, mainly well-off white people are buying the new converted condos throughout the neighborhood. Like many other neighborhoods in Chicago, areas can vary greatly from block to block since the gentrification trend has begun. The problem is, people get all their information from real estate agents and ads and don't know the first thing about the history or current environment where they're buying. Uptown was once the prime destination for mostly poor, white immigrants. Over the years it has gained a sizable AFrican american and Latino poplulation and is fairly diverse as far as urban neighborhoods in america goes. Uptown has more mental institutions, halfway houses, homeless, and some of the lowest income housing in the city. Uptown used to be a straight up low income ghetto. Now it's becoming, what do they say? an "up and coming" area with a few rough patches. Crime is way down compared to back in the day, but there are still murders, gang bangers, and robberies in uptown on a fairly regular basis. Maybe not as many murders but at least a few a year. There used to be 20+ every single year.

[Scribbler]

I NEVER had any illusions about Uptown being particularly safe, not when I lived adjacent to it a half dozen years ago, and would go in and out via the Lawrence El stop on work business, and not now. Slapping up condo conversions and Starbucks shops doesn't run the rampant social problems of a largely low-income area out wholesale. At least not at this stage.

[Chitown lover]

Man I rember at least 3 or 4 random shootings happening last year (2007) over by Lawrence and this is a big city crimes happen ever day in all neighborhoods even in Lincoln park so why you guys freakin out? ou could slip and fall in the shower tomorow or you could get shot in the head tonigt when you die you die

[Irishtom29]

We had a condo in a 12-flat on Sheridan north of Lawrence and we were broken into twice in one week, the second time my wife caught the guys trying to jimmy the back door.

I got very hostile and would sit on the front porch cleaning my Lee-Enfield rifle and glaring at Black people. When I walked down the street I shouldered people out of my way. That was no way to live, we sold the joint and left. This was two years ago.

[suzanne090]

Hey, is the sovereign apt blidg safe? i'mconsidering taking a job 5 blocks off the red line in lincoln park and thought the sovereign would be great b/c it's ONE block from the red el......i'm new to the midwest...

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by suzanne090

Hey, is the sovereign apt blidg safe? i'mconsidering taking a job 5 blocks off the red line in lincoln park and thought the sovereign would be great b/c it's ONE block from the red el......i'm new to the midwest...

That's totally off topic. Lincoln Park has nothing to do with Uptown. Chicago is probably too big to ask about specific apartment buildings since there are hundreds of thousands of them in the city... But most of Lincoln Park is quite safe. It's one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, but still attracts sporadic crime because of its popular dining and commercial options.

[soulful]

The Sovereign, on Granville, would be a great location as it is only one block from the Red Line. You've probably seen their website:Welcome to The Sovereign

It's a cool old building and you are correct that your commute to Lincoln Pk would be so easy. That part of Granville, near the Red Line, has been slow to gentrify. However, there is a new highrishish condo building going up at Broadway and Granville which will help matters. At night, it might feel a little scary to some folks on the street around the Red Line stop. Personally, I am ok with it. Lots of Loyola students live in that area and walk to campus.

You should really tour the building and see how you feel about it. And make sure to walk the street day and night before deciding as it depends on your individual level of comfort.

Isn't for everyone, but for many it works well.

[Lookout Kid]

Granville is not in Uptown. It's in Edgewater. Uptown ends at Foster.

Though curiously, the Edgewater Community Area was once part of the Uptown Community area. Edgewater seceeded from Uptown in the 1970's because of Uptown's seedy reputation. Edgewater is probably a LITTLE bit safer than Uptown now, but it still has its moments. And Uptown has a few areas that are just as safe as Lakeview. The Winthrop-Kenmore corridor in Edgewater used to be a very troubled area, but now only has a few sketchy buildings sprinkled througout Winthrop and Kenmore. Many of the four-plus-ones in Edgewater are low-income housing, but some of them have also been converted into condos recently. You probably have to check out your block and walk to the "El" during the day and at night to get a feel for the area's safety.

[Avengerfire]

The area is a bit better now, but you have to be on very high alert around there.