Is the area around 53rd-55th South Cottage Grove safe to live? (Chicago: apartment, crime)

[Enschede134]

Hello everyone,

I'm newcomer in this forum and also new to Chicago. I'm looking for an apartment around U of Chicago and currently have one apartment offer at 53rd-55th S Cottage Grove Ave. The apartment itself seems nice and affordable for us but I am just wondering if this area is safe enough for a family of 2, soon to be 3 (with the baby coming later)?

I appreciate your input. Thanks a lot!

[citylove101]

This is the very western edge of Hyde Park and can be somewhat lonely and desolated late at night. It's not the part of HP I'd feel most comfortable in taking my baby out in a stroller during a hot, summer evening. The park is a nice touch during the day, but some of the nearby blocks in this part of HP, like Drexel and Ingleside, can be a bit sketchy. Not ugly or burnt out or horribly violent or anything like that, but I suspect it could be a bit discomforting if you're unused to city living. Having a car here would also help, as you're not really close to the El or the commuter lines and would have to use the bus to reach either one or go downtown.

Personally, from what I've seen of HP, and I visit regularly, I would try to live a little further east, like from Greenwood or so on east toward the lake. That also puts you closer to local shopping on 53rd St.

[squirrels]

Personally I'd avoid living anywhere with street names in the double digits. That's just me though.

[Freefall18]

Originally Posted by squirrels

Personally I'd avoid living anywhere with street names in the double digits. That's just me though.

You can go ahead and ignore this comment

[squirrels]

Originally Posted by Freefall18

You can go ahead and ignore this comment

You can go ahead and ignore this comment

..

Really though, I despise the south side. I'm sure some parts are nice like around the UC campus, but you'll never find me more than a few blocks south of Congress.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by squirrels

Personally I'd avoid living anywhere with street names in the double digits. That's just me though.

What an insanely ignorant comment this is. You are basically the same as everyone who moves to Chicago without knowing anything about the city, and assumes every part of the south side is bad.

Hyde Park is very nice and safe, and some of the areas in Kenwood north of that are nice too (i.e. where Obama's mansion is). Then you also have Chinatown which is in the "double digits" and safe (some parts especially closer to the river are nice too). Then of course you have good and safe communities like Beverly, Mt. Greenwood and also Ashburn to a fair extent. Or you could talk about Near South Side like Prairie District which is "double digits" and full of old mansions that are inhabited and not cheap. Also full of some modern and expensive high rises. Or also Jackson Park Highlands in South Shore which is full of nice houses or pretty much the surrounding areas of Midway which are all safe and pretty well maintained. There's also some nice parts of areas like Bronzeville

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by squirrels

..

Really though, I despise the south side. I'm sure some parts are nice like around the UC campus, but you'll never find me more than a few blocks south of Congress.

No one cares where you go expect maybe a few family members.

[Enschede134]

@citylove101: Thanks for your comment!
@squirrels: Sorry, I will just ignore your comment since I find it not helpful/informative regarding my questions.

My friend tells me that around UC campus there are police cars patrolling the area extensively, also there are police officers standing at every intersection (just on-campus area) until midnight. I really hope that the area's general safety is ok enough to live. My husband and I are both indoor type, so we do not wander around at night or even late evening, I think at least that will help us avoid being potential crime victims. Anyway, I'm also searching other places as well, hope to find a better offer to settle down in Chicago.

[marothisu]

Hyde Park is one of the safest neighborhoods in Chicago. Honestly..

[chet everett]

The issue I have with calling Hyde Park "one of the safest neighborhoods" is that it could lead people to not head the very stern and real warnings from respected voices like that of UofC campus security -- there are specific warning to avoid doing very common things like carrying a smartphone or personal music player...

The area along Cottage Grove is desolate -- if you are not walking directly to / from a bus or parking lots for the UofC hospital there are not many pedestrians on that area, to the point that is is noticeable and kind of creepy.

A few blocks further east things are dramatically more pleasant.