Safe to walk to Clybourn Metra from Wicker Park? (Arlington Heights: 2009, apartments)

[darkroom1]

My job in Arlington Heights just started offering a free shuttle from the AH metra station to the office! That means I'm looking to live in the city.

I like Wicker Park because it's close to the Clybourn Metra. Is it safe to walk to that station? And are there unsafe areas in Wicker Park? All I've been told is to stay east of Western.

I understand no city is perfectly safe.

Some of the places I'm looking at:

-at Blackhawk and Bosworth ( 1 block east of Ashland, between North and Division)

-Ashland and Division

-Cleaver and Potomac by Pulaski Park

-Bell and North (3 blocks east of Western)

Are these any good?

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by darkroom1

My job in Arlington Heights just started offering a free shuttle from the AH metra station to the office!...

Those intersections are all basically equal in crime,those areas are not the best crimewise,but not the worst either. The safest walk in my opinion would be down Ashland or Armitage (at reasonable times). Crime and "safe" areas can change from block to block. One thing I will tell you is avoid walking alone too late at night in most areas of the city, including Wicker Park. Carry mace. Avoid getting drunk and walking home alone.

[JillSin2009]

I used to date a guy who lived on Claremont and North which is a few blocks east of Western. I'm not too sure where the Clybourne Metra station is, but if it's west of Western you're in Humboldt Park which really isn't that bad. It's just primarily a Puerto Rican neighborhood that's against gentrification. And with much cheaper rents. Even on the Western border. Check out the Metra website Metra - Welcome to Metra and get the address of the Clyborne station, then map it. Remember, east of Western = Wicker Park. West of Western = Humboldt Park.

[darkroom1]

Thanks for the feedback!

Is west of Ashland and north of Division generally a better idea? I'm pretty comfortable navigating somewhat dicey neighorhoods, since I've lived in various parts of NYC and other large urban areas for much of my life. Then again, I'm not necessarily an "urban pioneer."

Again, thanks for your help.

[darkroom1]

Originally Posted by JillSin2009

I used to date a guy who lived on Claremont and North which is a few blocks east of Western. I'm not too sure where the Clybourne Metra station is, but if it's west of Western you're in Humboldt Park which really isn't that bad. It's just primarily a Puerto Rican neighborhood that's against gentrification. And with much cheaper rents. Even on the Western border. Check out the Metra website Metra - Welcome to Metra and get the address of the Clyborne station, then map it. Remember, east of Western = Wicker Park. West of Western = Humboldt Park.

Thanks for the info. The Clybourn metra is at Ashland and Armitage-ish, so it's by the river in Wicker Park/Bucktown. I think Humboldt Park is a little farther than I want to be from the station.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by JillSin2009

I used to date a guy who lived on Claremont and North which is a few blocks east of Western. I'm not too sure where the Clybourne Metra station is, but if it's west of Western you're in Humboldt Park which really isn't that bad. It's just primarily a Puerto Rican neighborhood that's against gentrification. And with much cheaper rents. Even on the Western border. Check out the Metra website Metra - Welcome to Metra and get the address of the Clyborne station, then map it. Remember, east of Western = Wicker Park. West of Western = Humboldt Park.

From Western and North ave to the train station is one hell of a walk for most people.
The neighborhoods do not have distinct recognized borders like you state. Its more like West of Western bad,East of Western a bit bad,West of California really bad.

Humboldt Park is just a "Puerto Rican neighborhood that's against gentrification." Maybe, but thats because they are trying to hang onto all their lucrative drug dealing corners. HP is full of gangs still.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by darkroom1

Thanks for the feedback!

Is west of Ashland and north of Division generally a better idea? I'm pretty comfortable navigating somewhat dicey neighorhoods, since I've lived in various parts of NYC and other large urban areas for much of my life. Then again, I'm not necessarily an "urban pioneer."

Again, thanks for your help.

Try to stick between North ave and the expressway. Then give take a block west of Damen all the way to Ashland. That area is much safer and closer to the stop, although I dont think there are as many apartments around there.

[wickedripeplum]

I wouldn't say it's a particularly bad neighborhood right around the Clybourn Station, but there's not a whole lot right around the station because of the way the intersection at Ashland and Cortland is under the tracks and the expressway. For the record I don't use that metra stop at all, I just take the Ashland bus by it on my way to work.

Really the only thing I's say about any of those walks (if you are planning on walking and not riding a bike or taking a bus) is that they're kinda long. The shortest is like 3/4 of a mile and the longest is a mile and change.

[Drover]

Yeah, to build on what wickedripeplum says, the walk from Wicker Park to the Clybourn train station is likely to be quite a bit longer than it looks on a map. Even riding a bike there can be tricky since the bike racks fill up pretty quickly. I'd stick to as close to North Avenue as possible to make sure you can catch the North Avenue bus to the station.

[Lookout Kid]

Your biggest danger would probably be getting hit by a car or asthma from car exhaust. The Clybourn Metra station is in a bit of a no-man's land surrounded by industry, warehouses, and lots and lots of vehicle traffic. I don't know if I'd want to walk there every day from anywhere! It's not a high crime area by any means, but it does get pretty deserted around there as far as pedestrians are concerned.