Single female moving to Chicago....need help with neighborhood.

[personone]

Originally Posted by chet everett

While I agree that the West Loop would might afford decent access to the UP-W line via Olgivie Transportation Center, the reverse commute schedule along that line is among the worst -- Union Pacific / West (UP-W) Schedule Realistically there are maybe two options that work with a normal office type schedule and either would be more than 55 minutes of rail riding...

I would also question the recommendation of Bucktown, which is so poorly located for any kind of drive to Wheaton that either the "long way around" via the Kennedy, TriState, and E-W Tollway or the slightly less circuitous route of the Eisenhower would each tell well over an hour through numerous choke points...

River North at shaves off a few bottlenecks, but has relatively few locations with any kind of greenery for dog walking...

Gold Coast is similarly unable to hold a candle to Lincoln Park when it comes to pet friendly environs.

Yup, with the OP's budget, and looking for a dog-friendly environment and plenty of outdoors paths/trails for exercising, I don't think you can beat Lincoln Park. Specifically eastern Lincoln Park, near the park. Although the commute for her definitely wouldn't be fun. Just from what she described she is looking for (minus the commute since she doesn't seem worried about it), I'd go with Lincoln Park.

[sfcambridge]

Yeah, unfortunately Lincoln Park and even most locations on the lake are really not practical for her or she will want to shoot herself with her commute. She thinks she is used to traffic, but she is not used to weather + traffic.

If you have to be there early... like 6am or something... that is great because the commute there will be traffic free. Your drive home will be worse.

And definitely rent - do not buy. You will definitely wind up moving once you figure out what works for you here.

I agree that Oak Park is also a reasonable compromise if you want to live a bit closer to work, still be close to the city to explore on evenings/weekends, and find individuals in your age range.

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by chet everett

As I recall your kids are either in college or moved out like mine. That shapes our perspective but I know enough coworkers that are closer to the OP's age that she very well could be annoyed by neighbors that treat even a costly high rise as more of frat house. It is one thing to enjoy a nice healthy jog on the Prairie Path with one's dog and quite another to feel like a cougar surrounded by boys looking to share stories of their conquest with other bros...

My kids are in their 30s. Maybe they're the cougars :-)

It is a little hard for me to think of a single woman in her 30s feeling out of place in downtown Chicago or the near north, near west, and near south sides. Where else do single women in their 30s live?

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

My kids are in their 30s. Maybe they're the cougars :-)

It is a little hard for me to think of a single woman in her 30s feeling out of place in downtown Chicago or the near north, near west, and near south sides. Where else do single women in their 30s live?

...she was as fit as someone in their 30s but is in fact a decade older. There are a few folks I work with that describes pretty well; being born in the 70s is fairly different cultural thing. The social scene in many parts of Chicago will emphasize those differences...

The other factor that keeps giving me pause is the thought of the OP working in Wheaton, at the college. It both rather inconvenient for a commute from any spot in Chicago and rather far removed from the sorts of environment one is likely to encounter surrounded by 20 somethings in any Chicago neighborhood.

While I sympathize with the OP's desire to live closer to where entertainment is vs where work is, there are lots of good to believe being in Oak Park provides much better access to work than spots in Chicago as well as easy access to entertainment. The fact that Oak Park is not a "youth oriented" also is a point in its favor for the OP's demographics...

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...she was as fit as someone in their 30s but is in fact a decade older. There are a few folks I work with that describes pretty well; being born in the 70s is fairly different cultural thing. The social scene in many parts of Chicago will emphasize those differences...

OK, 40s, that's different. I would say one of the richer precincts of Lincoln Park but it would be the commute from hell. No easy solution.