Chicago Living (Lincoln, Roscoe: apartment, rental, crime)

[raginfella]

I am taking a job in Chicago in the south loop area. I will be moving from NJ and have never been to chicago. I know a few people that live there but each have given me different places to live. Since I have no idea on where to live I am asking for any advice you might be able to give. I am 32 and single so i am looking for an area with a lot of decent bars and restaurants. Close to parks etc. i really want to enjoy the city life but not spend a fortune on rent. I am not planning on bringing my car so I am looking for a place where I have access to public transportation. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[jwaiter]

Ukrainian Village would be perfect for you!

[Chris_H_2]

Ukrainian Village, while nice, would probably add about 15 minutes to the commute each way; the OP would have to take a bus to the blue line. Some other suggestions would be Wicker Park, Bucktown, Roscoe Village, or if he prefers to be closer to downtown, River North.

[emathias]

Budget? We have no idea what you consider to be a "fortune."

[raginfella]

Somewhere in the 1200 to 1300 dollar range. I have heard good things about the River North. What about lincoln park or lake view. Thanks

[rparz]

Your solid recommendations will basically put you anywhere within walking distance of a blue line or redline stop.
Cross reference that with the amenities your're looking for in an apartment and how much you're looking to spend.

The other things you're looking for will work themselves out.


Call an apartment hunter agent, and tell them walking distance to the el, and close to the loop as possible. Then you decide what you like.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by raginfella

Somewhere in the 1200 to 1300 dollar range. I have heard good things about the River North. What about lincoln park or lake view. Thanks

It all depends on what you like. Near North side including Streeterville, River North, Gold Coast, and I guess Old Town all have a number of places to drink and eat in them. I would say you could probably throw Streeterville out of the mix due to budget (you don't want to be there anyway, it's not as happening). River North you MIGHT be able to find something. I pay just over $1300/month in the Gold Coast for a 1 bedroom with a great view which includes everything but electric. I'm right near a number of bus stops, the Red Line, etc. Have grocery stores near me too and Whole Foods down the street. Gold Coast is just north of River North. Old Town is W and NW of Gold Coast (Old Town is where Second City is. If you don't know what that is, look it up).

Lincoln Park and Lakeview are both OK, although it's big time recent grad to older Big 10 crowd (i.e. Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, etc graduates). Lakeview is a little older than "just graduated" in parts, but you have other parts that are just like Lincoln Park.., but I like it more than some areas of Lincoln Park. It's where Wrigley Field is, which is where all that type of crowd goes to party for the most part (Wrigleyville).

Other good areas are Lincoln Square, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, South Loop (although your budget might be a concern for that), Andersonville, Chinatown (kind of), Hyde Park (but public transit to downtown sucks from there and there's not a lot of bars), etc. Pilsen is another decent neighborhood but more rough around the edges than most of the other areas mentioned above. Lot of artists live there too.


So my questions are this:

1) What's a close intersection to where yo'ull be working?
2) How long of a commute do you want, maximum each way?

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by rparz

Your solid recommendations will basically put you anywhere within walking distance of a blue line or redline stop.
Cross reference that with the amenities your're looking for in an apartment and how much you're looking to spend.

The other things you're looking for will work themselves out.


Call an apartment hunter agent, and tell them walking distance to the el, and close to the loop as possible. Then you decide what you like.

You can copy and paste this response to most of the 'moving to chicago' threads.

[Larry Siegel]

Welcome to the Chicago forum and thank you for being reasonable about rental costs. $1200-$1300 will get you a decent place in all of the neighborhoods mentioned above except the best parts of Lincoln Park. A lot of people come here and expect city-data'ers to find them a nice place for $600 or $700. There aren't any.

Glad you got out of NJ.

[Davis Street]

South Loop is no good, IMO; move to the North Side.

The only good thing about South Loop is that it's cheap. That's because the buildings are all half-empty, crime is high, amenities are low, and the schools stink.

Chicago is dirt-cheap compared to North or Central Jersey, so at least you have that advantage.