The worst area that YOU been to in Chicago? (Crestwood: yard, buildings)

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by VA All Day

Wrigleyville on game day.

During my last few years in Chicago, Wrigleyville in general became all but a "no go" zone for me. Even though I lived nearby in East Lakeview. I just couldn't handle all the rowdiness anymore.

[Rambo2018]

Wilson and Sheridan

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Rambo2018

Wilson and Sheridan

That's your worse? You have seen nothing yet..lol

[EddieOlSkool]

Altgeld Gardens. Was going to Hegewisch from Alsip and the train on 130th just stopped. So a bunch of cars headed down Indiana ave and turned left on 134th street. I felt the bus in front of me was moving way too slow.

[andrew61]

Back in the '90s when I first moved to Chicago and I still had a car and drove, I drove through many of the bad parts of the South and West Sides just out of curiosity.

I remember once I wanted to visit the Hyde Park neighborhood and walk around, but I wasn't sure of precise locations and I ended up exiting Lake Shore Drive just a little too soon. In those days the area north of East 47th Street was very scary -- lots and lots of boarded up houses and buildings. Freaked me out a bit. Then I crossed one street (it was 47th, I think) and the area was suddenly very nice.

Another area that freaked me out driving through was a portion of Roosevelt Road a couple miles west of downtown. Lots of boarded up buildings and vacant lots where I presume buildings used to stand.

I also sometimes drove on Halsted right through Cabrini Green when it was still standing.

On foot, the worst area I've been was probably Austin just south of North Avenue and just east of Austin Boulevard. But it was close to the Oak Park border and didn't seem all that bad. Oh, and one time, thinking I was in Evanston, I turned a corner off Chicago Avenue and ended up in the Rogers Park area north of Howard Street referred to by some as the "Juneway Jungle" and I remember being scared out of my wits. Truth be told, however, nobody hassled me in either of those locations and I got through them without incident.

[OKParker]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Back in the '90s when I first moved to Chicago and I still had a car and drove, I drove through many of the bad parts of the South and West Sides just out of curiosity.

I remember once I wanted to visit the Hyde Park neighborhood and walk around, but I wasn't sure of precise locations and I ended up exiting Lake Shore Drive just a little too soon. In those days the area north of East 47th Street was very scary -- lots and lots of boarded up houses and buildings. Freaked me out a bit. Then I crossed one street (it was 47th, I think) and the area was suddenly very nice.

Another area that freaked me out driving through was a portion of Roosevelt Road a couple miles west of downtown. Lots of boarded up buildings and vacant lots where I presume buildings used to stand.

I also sometimes drove on Halsted right through Cabrini Green when it was still standing.

On foot, the worst area I've been was probably Austin just south of North Avenue and just east of Austin Boulevard. But it was close to the Oak Park border and didn't seem all that bad. Oh, and one time, thinking I was in Evanston, I turned a corner off Chicago Avenue and ended up in the Rogers Park area north of Howard Street referred to by some as the "Juneway Jungle" and I remember being scared out of my wits. Truth be told, however, nobody hassled me in either of those locations and I got through them without incident.

Yeah 47th is still a pretty ****ty area near the green line tracks, but I'm thinking you were closer to the lake. The area has gotten a lot better.

Roosevelt has never recovered from the post-MLK riots back in the day - thats why there were so many vacancies. You probably went through the area west of western where North Lawndale continues on till Cicero (which is also incredibly barren) and this area doesn't pick up any liveliness until the Island in south Austin - where it is fine in terms of store coverage relative to these other areas. Then you hit Oak Park which looks good, but doesn't have too much of interest outside of a few food options.

Austin in the northwest corner is completely fine. West of Central and you are relatively safe. It didn't seem bad because it really isn't as bad as it is hyped up to be - its not like WGP or EGP.

[personone]

Originally Posted by OKParker

Austin in the northwest corner is completely fine. West of Central and you are relatively safe. It didn't seem bad because it really isn't as bad as it is hyped up to be - its not like WGP or EGP.

I had to go to a medical specialist in Austin, and was a little nervous at first (took CTA), but it wasn't bad at all. Of course, I was in the section that borders Oak Park. I've also driven through Austin and it did not seem bad either. I saw some beautiful architectural homes. In contrast, I have driven through parts of the south side returning to Chicago (don't know exactly which neighborhoods) that "looked" IMO much worse than Austin.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Rambo2018

Wilson and Sheridan

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

That's your worse? You have seen nothing yet..lol

That remains the only corner I've seen a shooting on .

[emathias]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Once in one of those tunnels going under Lake Shore Drive near the Montrose Beach area, I saw a homeless (I presume) guy whip it out and take a leak right in front of everyone passing by. In broad daylight, no less.

I just chalked it up to what I like to call "the joys of city living".

At least he was in an underpass - I saw a homeless guy pee into a trash can, at rush hour, literally across the street from the Willis Tower, on the NE corner of Wacker/Adams.

[ChicagoMeO]

One strange thing I encountered is - driving thru some areas that are supposed to be high crime areas. The neighborhood looks nice and clean and no graffiti, houses are good condition, specifically around South Holland or Hazel Crest. You look at the neighborhood and cannot believe it is high crime.


Take a trip on Lake Shore Drive, (route 41) then go south on South Shore Drive, continue that till you get to the Indiana border. its amazing when you get to the east side around South Chicago area, wow that area sure needs updating. Route 41 makes a lot of turns there, if you miss it, you will end up on a side street.