Can anyone help me decide between two places/areas for a summer lease?

[Standard111]

Originally Posted by marothisu

What are you talking about? They're pretty similar in these regards. Most houses these days are not exactly cheap in Lincoln Square. Established too? Yeah both are. Let's not forget that the Mayor lives in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood and the former Governor did too (until he went to jail, of course).

Really? The average price of a home psf is the same in Lincoln Square as in Roscoe Village? I'll take your word for it, I guess, but that surprises me. I would not expect that.

I don't really see why it's relevant where the mayor lives. How does that establish prices relative to Roscoe?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Standard111

Really? The average price of a home psf is the same in Lincoln Square as in Roscoe Village? I'll take your word for it, I guess, but that surprises me. I would not expect that.

I don't really see why it's relevant where the mayor lives. How does that establish prices relative to Roscoe?

The average home price is a little lower in Lincoln Square, I will agree, but there are also parts of Lincoln Square that are next to areas like Albany Park that are cheaper for sure that will bring the median price down. There are also many very nice homes in the area that are not cheap at all. A number of homes there for $550K on up.

Comparing these two homes built around the same time for example:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/48.../3698164_zpid/
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/20.../3709685_zpid/

The one in Lincoln Square is $273/sq ft while the one in Roscoe Village is $303/sq ft. While definitely a difference, it's not massive.

You were also talking about established and to me that has nothing to do with price per square footage. To me it has to do with the types of people who live there. There are many pretty well off people who live in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood, just like in Roscoe Village.

[Standard111]

Originally Posted by marothisu

The average home price is a little lower in Lincoln Square, I will agree, but there are also parts of Lincoln Square that are next to areas like Albany Park that are cheaper for sure that will bring the median price down.

Well that's all I meant. The OP noted there was a difference in rents, and all I was saying was that was to be expected, to some extent. It would make sense that apples-to-apples rents would probably be a little higher in RV in most cases.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Standard111

Well that's all I meant. The OP noted there was a difference in rents, and all I was saying was that was to be expected, to some extent. It would make sense that apples-to-apples rents would probably be a little higher in RV in most cases.

Sure - but Lincoln Square for home owning is in no way that cheap for a good home and it's not that far behind Roscoe Village for numerous homes. The rents aren't all that different - IMO, both are fine areas for sure. Not wild, but they have a number of good food places, entertainment, and they're both pretty damn safe. Both are for sure established these days.

[Michael Scott]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Only late at night - there's ways around it, but it's slightly harder than living in some other areas, but definitely not impossible by any means. If you're going to be leaving a bar or whatever on average at a little after 1am, it's not going to matter at all.

You never know, really. There can be other ways home anyway - like you can take the Red Line to Lawrence and then I believe that bus runs all night too.


Pretty much. There's a bunch of pretty decent restaurants and low key kind of bars on Lincoln Ave between say...Sunnyside Ave and Lawrence and north too. The around around the Western stop is kind of like a quaint small town center really. And of course there's stuff on Western Ave (including a pretty good late night (i.e. 3am) Korean BBQ place north of Foster on Western Ave), kind of all around but some main streets definitely have more than others up there (like around Foster and Damen you aren't going to find as much as some other areas, but maybe a few things).

You can also take the Western Ave bus up to Devon Avenue, which is like Little India/Pakistan, or you can easily drive there of course. Some of those places are open pretty late too.


In the end, if you're commuting to the northern burbs, you may have an easier time on the freeway when it's busy out than RV, and if it's the Loop, then it's 10 minutes more. You said though you'd be saving money so basically you can live in Chicago without sacrificing a TON for a summer and save more money (or have more money to enjoy yourself with).

Again, many many thanks for your help. We will likely be going with the LS apartment.

[Larry Siegel]

LS and RV are not very far apart (2 miles) and are both very safe, respectable areas. Roscoe Village is a little ritzier and more centrally located. Campbell is a little far west to feel like the "real" Lincoln Square which is along Lincoln Avenue, east of Western and south of Lawrence. I'd go with Roscoe.

[svicious22]

Be careful a lot of realtors advertise Roscoe Village and Lincoln Park because they are desirable neighborhoods when in actuality the properties are not really in these hoods.

[knitgirl]

OP isn't looking in Lincoln Park - he's looking in Lincoln SQUARE.