Area around Western/Devon (Chicago, Granville: to rent, condo, home)

[kak49]

Hey guys/gals!

I am 24 yo male currently live in the south loop but am looking to move further north to be closer to work.

How is the area around Western/Devon? Safe? Can I walk to everything? Groceries? Pet Store? Bars/Restaurants?

What about Ashland and Foster?

Thanks so much! Just found this great site!

[supernerdgirl]

I'm not very familiar with Western/Devon, but Ashland/Foster is pretty much in the Andersonville corridor of "basically anything you want within a few blocks." I know for a fact there's a pet store on Clark between Foster/Bryn Mawr, there's a Jewel and a produce store at Clark/Catalpa, and a bunch of bars and restaurants. I live closer to the lake (by the Bryn Mawr stop) and i walk over there often to go to the bank (Fifth Third). I don't know about rent costs or anything ... more expensive than where I'm living, haha! Hope that helps.

[Chiguy1957]

It must be Rogers Park Day on this forum.

If you're a 24 yo looking for that slice of cosmopolitan city life, I think you'd be happier at Foster and Ashland at the edge of Andersonville. You don't mention whether you're looking to rent or buy, or what type of housing.

I live just a few blocks from Devon and Western, and while we have probably the best Indian food in the entire midwestern United States, if not the whole country, there's not much else to attract the younger set as far as bars, boutiques, or clubs.

East of Western it's mostly large buildings that are going condo. West of Western there are a lot of classic Chicago bungalows, owner-occupied 2/3-flats, and a few corner courtyard buildings. Whites are a plurality in my 'hood, but it's pretty diverse overall, and surprisingly, there aren't as many people of Indian-Pakistani descent as one would think by the business district. There's been a noticable increase in gang activity over the past couple years and it can be rough here and there, but there's also some major development going on right near Devon & Western as well as throughout the 50th ward.

As many of the neighborhoods south and east change, this part of West Rogers could either become the dumping ground for all the displaced dregs from the gentrified areas, or it could become the new "it girl" of the North Side. The jury's still out, but I stick by my original premise that you'd be happier in a hipper part of town.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

I don't know a whole lot about Western/Devon. It seems like an interesting area. Heavily South Asian business district, as indicated by Chiguy. I've also seen a lot of Orthodox Jews in that neighborhood. From what I understand, it was a very large Jewish community up until the '70s, and is still the home of the largest communities of Hasidic Jews in the Midwest. They call the area around Western/Devon the "Golden Ghetto" for just that reason. Used to, anyway.

Ashland/Foster is, as SuperNerdGirl said, right by the thick of Andersonville, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Chicago. Plenty of restaurants and nightlife. Stuff going on. Close to transportation.

[Chiguy1957]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

...I've also seen a lot of Orthodox Jews in that neighborhood.

There's still a thriving Jewish neighborhood, but it's along Devon west of California.

Let me add that West Rogers is an area, if one chooses to stay within city limits, that's comfy and conducive to settling down after having outgrown the "trendoid-urban jock-bar-hopping-flag a cab" neighborhoods. It's a 20 minute drive to the Loop, the Brown and Red lines are within a couple miles, and all the city conveniences and delights are not a big project to enjoy. It's one of the most affordable decent citty neighborhoods, and we're not overrun with yuppies...yet.

[Drover]

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind!

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Drover

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind!

Sometimes weird. Sometimes funny. Always one of the best shows in Chicago.

Neo-Futurarium. Ashland and Foster.

[87vertgt]

I wouldnt move around there....lots of unfriendly people live there.......always smells like curry......

Clark and devon is cool...

[87vertgt]

oh also....I lived down the streets from there (Granville/Western) for about 5 years so I am talking from experience.

[Drover]

Now I admit I haven't been there in a couple of months, but I'm not too sure that there's much of anything "cool" about Clark & Devon. About the coolest thing I can say for Clark/Devon is it has one of the best 24-hour diners in the city...