Rogers Park, Ashland and Jarvis (Sheridan, Greenview: apartment, renting, crime)

[Alex1986]

Hello all. I've been searching all the rogers park threads and can't seem to get a clear answer. I'm considering moving into a 2nd floor apartment in a gated building that is being renovated right now. Its located and Ashland and Jarvis. I went there last week and walked around, it didnt seem that bad, but this was during the day. I'm just wondering if anyone has lived around the area, its like a block from the Jarvis el stop. I'm going to be working downtown near the metra station. So I will probably be taking the el to work everyday. I'm a decent size guy, and I'm not really worried about myself, but my girlfriend is going to be living with me also. She'll be driving and won't need to take the el unless I'm with her. I just want to know what this area is like from some people who have lived in close proximity to where I would be living. The building I am going to be moving in is very nice, and I know for sure they wont be renting to any shady people. I've read the blogs about rogers park and they do seem to be very biased. I read them and it makes me feel like Rogers Park is a ghetto, but when I walked around last week it seemed pretty nice. I didnt notice any drug deals or anything to that nature. Just looking for some info. Thanks alot.

[brant_connell]

All of the neighborhood blogs should come with a warning -- "For Entertainment Purposes Only". They are all highly biased and sensationalistic. They're the local version of the British tabloid press.

I've lived on Jarvis Avenue for years and have never had a problem beyond overly noisy beach goers. The area of Jarvis Avenue around the el station used to be a little dicey -- drug dealers lurking on the corner of Jarvis and Greenview but they've been gone for a few years when some new businesses opened up on that corner. There are more new businesses being developed on the corner of Ashland and Jarvis so the area should continue to improve.

It's not totally crime free -- no part of chicago is -- but I wouldn't worry. And, enjoy the neighborhood blogs. Occassionally you'll get some good gossip but mostly its fun to watch people fight -- like an on-line version of the Jerry Springer show.

[trailerguy]

I used to live on Lunt near Greenview, next door to the Heartland. I loved the neighborhood and never had any problems. Some people posting on these boards seem to be very uncomfortable around black people and Mexicans and label any neighborhood less than 80% white a ghetto. They need to get over it. The worst I encountered were aggressive panhandlers. The police are everywhere and do a good job. The Metra has a stop in Rogers Park, at Greenleaf and Ravenswood; it will get you downtown quick and safe.

[PetulantSoup]

Dittoing what trailer said. I recently moved to Hyde Park from RP (I was on Sheridan & Estes) and am missing it terribly. Living across the street from the lake was awesome.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by brant_connell

All of the neighborhood blogs should come with a warning -- "For Entertainment Purposes Only". They are all highly biased and sensationalistic. They're the local version of the British tabloid press.

LOL Well said. The local message boards tend to bring out the terminally aggrieved and most negative members of the community in disproportionate numbers. Some boards are worse than others but all of them will have people with differing agendas (not always favorable to the community), and of course a large supply of those who, well, just like to b--- all day long. They can be useful to a point but that's about it. Disregard the overly optimistic and the overly negative and somewhere in the middle will be the truth.

I wouldn't be scared away from RP just because of some message boards. Go there yourself and form your own opinion.