Overrated and Underrated (Chicago, Addison, Lincoln: apartments, for rent, neighborhoods)

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

You know what neighborhood is pretty great? Edison Park. It's way out there and may as well be a suburb, but I've spent some time there recently and it is a really cool place. Good bars. Good restaurants. More laid-back suburban feel while still having some of the cool city-ness that I like. Neat place.

...

Sounds like a mirror image of Mt. Greenwood on the far southwest side, though I think Mt. Greenwood identifies even less with the city. Homes are cheaper down here too.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Sounds like a mirror image of Mt. Greenwood on the far southwest side, though I think Mt. Greenwood identifies even less with the city. Homes are cheaper down here too.

I dated a girl who was doing Grad work at St. Xavier. Nice area. Beverly's nice, too.

[binarybelle]

So, I've been riding my bike quite frequently through the North Center neighborhood, and I thought I'd throw it up there as one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city. Why aren't more people recommending it as a 25-35 friendly neighborhood? There seems to be a sizable amount of cool and hip restaurants in the area, and shopping as well.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by binarybelle

So, I've been riding my bike quite frequently through the North Center neighborhood, and I thought I'd throw it up there as one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city. Why aren't more people recommending it as a 25-35 friendly neighborhood? There seems to be a sizable amount of cool and hip restaurants in the area, and shopping as well.

I don't know about others but to me North Center (or is it Northcenter now?) is a creation more so than it is a community area. It is comprised by other areas that are their own entities to a great degree.

Roscoe Village is often recommended on this board though now it rivals Lakeview in price and cache so it isn't exactly a reasonably priced diamond in the rough. St Bens has a different feel than Roscoe Village and seems to flow more with Old Irving. I believe parts of what many people consider Ravenswood also blends into North Center so in general it is simpler to recommend each neighborhood as it applies to posters needs then it is to recommend a hodgepodge community area.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by binarybelle

So, I've been riding my bike quite frequently through the North Center neighborhood, and I thought I'd throw it up there as one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city. Why aren't more people recommending it as a 25-35 friendly neighborhood? There seems to be a sizable amount of cool and hip restaurants in the area, and shopping as well.

I bring it up quite often. In fact I bring it up too much. It would be a shame if rent and home prices got as out of control as Lincoln Square,Andersonville or Lake View.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by surlycue

I don't know about others but to me North Center (or is it Northcenter now?) is a creation more so than it is a community area. It is comprised by other areas that are their own entities to a great degree...

North Center is a neighborhood. It is also the name of a "community area" that encompasses Roscoe Village, parts of Lake View,etc...

[Drover]

Originally Posted by binarybelle

So, I've been riding my bike quite frequently through the North Center neighborhood, and I thought I'd throw it up there as one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city. Why aren't more people recommending it as a 25-35 friendly neighborhood? There seems to be a sizable amount of cool and hip restaurants in the area, and shopping as well.

I think North Center gets subsumed into the Ravenswood, Lincoln Square and Roscoe Village recommendations.

[synapse]

Overrated: Old Town. It has one shopping street, Wells, and that street isn't really all that terrific - some halfway decent restaurants, a couple of old bars, a Starbucks and an Einstein Bagels. Yet it's crazy expensive. I'd also give a vote to Lakeview - yes, it's a nice neighborhood, but it's not as nice as Lincoln Park, and it's overrun wtih fraternity guys around Wrigley Field.

Underrated: South Loop - close to the lake, easy access to the L and bus system, close to the museums, great view of the skyline, and yet far less costly than the Gold Coast. Roscoe Village, a great little enclave that feels like a small town in the heart of the city, is also underrated, IMHO.

[lincolnparker]

I agree with you on Lincoln Park. People often associate it with Lakeview, but it is nicer than Lakeview. There are kids here because of Depaul, and more importantly because of the quality of life.

More mature residents can be found along the park where a two bedroom condo costs 750k at LP 2520, and SFHs can go upwards 6-7 million dollars. And Willow, Orchard, Armitage, North areas have the most expensive homes in all of Chicago. I am also quite mesmerized by some of the modern homes on Webster and Wrightwood.

I cant imagine living in any other neighborhoods after living here.

Originally Posted by synapse

Overrated: Old Town. It has one shopping street, Wells, and that street isn't really all that terrific - some halfway decent restaurants, a couple of old bars, a Starbucks and an Einstein Bagels. Yet it's crazy expensive. I'd also give a vote to Lakeview - yes, it's a nice neighborhood, but it's not as nice as Lincoln Park, and it's overrun wtih fraternity guys around Wrigley Field.

Underrated: South Loop - close to the lake, easy access to the L and bus system, close to the museums, great view of the skyline, and yet far less costly than the Gold Coast. Roscoe Village, a great little enclave that feels like a small town in the heart of the city, is also underrated, IMHO.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by synapse

...I'd also give a vote to Lakeview - yes, it's a nice neighborhood, but it's not as nice as Lincoln Park, and it's overrun wtih fraternity guys around Wrigley Field...

The DePaul area is overrun with frat boy types as well.