Neighborhood Advice - On Blue Line - Early 30s, Single Male (Chicago: 2013, apartments)

[mjefferson1980]

I posted a question on here looking for neighborhood advice about six months ago. Then my longtime girlfriend and I, who can both live anywhere for work, were trying to decide between Austin, Chicago, and Nashville. Our challenge with Chicago was finding a house with a fenced yard for the dog that still provided a city experience. Update: We broke up, she moved to Austin with the dog, and I am moving to Chicago in early 2013 without needing to worry about a yard.

Facts:
1. Don't want to have a car. Fly 70-80 times/yr, so would love to be within 1/4 mile of Blue Line station for O'Hare access.
2. Need 1/1 with area for legitimate (non-corner of bedroom or living room) office or 2/1. Budget around $2000/month. Wouldn't mind going lower to save money for down payment for buying within a couple years. No high rises (15+ stories). If possible, I'd also like to avoid the little brownstones that are split up into condos. Ideal: 5-12 story loft building
3. I already know a handful of people in Chicago but need to meet more. Activities I've done in the past couple years: Boxing, photography class, conversational French class, rugby. Would love to be able to walk to a boxing club, a nice gym, etc.
4. If there was a (heavily generalized, stereotypical, and surely unfair) spectrum bookended with Lincoln Park yuppie and Wicker Park hipster, I would be squarely in the middle of that spectrum.
5. I am single and like smart girls, readers, academic types.

Neighborhood first impressions (forgive my errors in neighborhood geography here): I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago and walked from River North through the eastern streets of downtown/lakefront to Soldier Field, then came up the western streets of downtown/The Loop, went up through River West, cut over to Ukrainian Village, up through Wicker Park and Bucktown, over to Lincoln Park, and then back down to River North through Old Town and Gold Coast.

I thought this was going to be a Wicker Park vs. Bucktown decision, but I was actually more intrigued by River West, Fulton River District, and even Printers Row. I think it was just the feel of the scale and density. Wicker Park and Bucktown probably actually have a lot more street activity at 10p on a Friday night. I've just lived in a couple neighborhoods before with the densities of Wicker Park/Bucktown in far lesser cities and want to be closer to a downtown feel (without being in a high rise).

Am I crazy? This is entirely based on one extremely long walk. My friends that live there are affluent-high-rise-downtown-to-suburbs-once-they-have-kids types and have different neighborhood sensibilities.

[jwaiter]

Bucktown around the Damen Blue Line stop would be perfect for you I think.

[jdiddy]

Any of the areas you listed could fit. Your choice should really come down to the individual apartments/lofts you view.

[jwaiter]

What is your reason for not moving to Bucktown/Wicker Park?

[jwaiter]

River West/Fulton River District/Printers Row are closer to the loop, but besides cheesy tourist bad dance clubs theres not much nightlife. WP is much better for hanging out and walking around.

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

What is your reason for not moving to Bucktown/Wicker Park?

did you read his post, he explained it.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

What is your reason for not moving to Bucktown/Wicker Park?

This is my question as well.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Aleking

did you read his post, he explained it.

Agreed.

I still think the OP will likely, over time, end up happier in WP/B-Town, simply because of the overall neighbohood feel, but his desire to live in more of a mid-size building makes that tougher. I believe there are actually a few of those newer-style buildings (though perhaps they're all condos) closer to the Western stop, which would be worth consideration.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by Aleking

did you read his post, he explained it.

Not well, he said...

1)I thought this was going to be a Wicker Park vs. Bucktown decision
2)I was actually more intrigued by River West, Fulton River District, and even Printers Row.
3)I think it was just the feel of the scale and density. Wicker Park and Bucktown probably actually have a lot more street activity at 10p on a Friday night

What didn't you like about the "scale and density?" It's very dense. The scale? Were people too short, ceilings too low? What the hell does this mean?

4)want to be closer to a downtown feel (without being in a high rise).

Maybe Gold Coast?

[aragx6]

^It was this line:

If possible, I'd also like to avoid the little brownstones that are split up into condos. Ideal: 5-12 story loft building

WP/B-Town are the epitome of Brownstone neighborhoods.