Starting job at UIC, suggest a burb and train line/commute (Chicago: apartment, to rent)

[stlouisblue]

Howdy everyone! I have been reading a lot of the threads on here and there are a lot of cool people and info on this site...so it has already helped. But I figured I would post my specific situation to get your feedback.

-Moving to Chicago, starting new job at U of Illinois-Chicago in 4-6 weeks.

-I will be keeping my car (just bought last year and love it too much to sell).

-Regarding my home, safety is the number one priority. I know crime can and does happen everywhere...but obviously there are better places than others in this regard. I don't want my home or car broken into and I certainly don't want to worry about violent crime where I live.

-Commute wise, it would be nice to keep to 45 mins or under...but if there is a place that is too good to pass up and is more towards an hour, I would consider.

-I am looking to rent an apartment, condo, etc. Would like to keep rent at $1,500 max.

-I am a single male, 45, don't have any kids so I don't really care about school districts.

-I have a cat...where I go, he goes.

-Would it be too much of a pain to have to switch train lines to get to and from work? Should I only be looking at burbs that are on the Blue Line or Metra line?

Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks so much in advance!

[Vlajos]

Do you like suburbs? I would just live near UIC personally.

[stlouisblue]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Do you like suburbs? I would just live near UIC personally.

Hi Vlajos. In the past I've lived in the city (bigger than CHI), suburbs, and a rural area.

The reason I am leaning towards a suburb (or outskirt of the city) is I want/need to keep my car. I know having a car in the city brings a lot of issues with it (traffic, parking space, parking cost, break-ins, registration costs, etc).

[Vlajos]

If you live near work, traffic will be of little concern. But your right about the cost of parking. It's probably $150/month to rent a space. City car fee is about $90/year.

Traffic is atrocious on 290 for a commute from the suburbs though. Maybe Oak Park since it's on the Blue line? Though they have an annual car fee too.

[stlouisblue]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

If you live near work, traffic will be of little concern. But your right about the cost of parking. It's probably $150/month to rent a space. City car fee is about $90/year.

Traffic is atrocious on 290 for a commute from the suburbs though. Maybe Oak Park since it's on the Blue line? Though they have an annual car fee too.

If I were to live near campus, I would want to sell my car...but like I said that is not an option for me. I have to keep my car. That's why I was leaning towards a suburb and take train into work every day. Also like I mentioned in my original post safety is important to me, and I know some areas (city and suburb) are better than others. That's really the info I am looking for...a safe place to live, near a train line which would give me a commute of less than 45 mins to UIC.

[Vlajos]

UIC area is safe. Anyway, I suggested Oak Park for a suburb. You may want to ask in the suburban forum, if you don't like Oak Park.

[paytonc]

A great many UIC faculty members live in the Oak Park / Forest Park / River Forest area precisely because they're the first suburbs past the western city limits, and on/near the Blue Line. (There aren't any Metra stops immediately on the UIC campus, although there are some to the south.) They're also pre-war towns, with more architectural character and walkability than postwar suburbs.

That said, do note that there's a separate Chicago Suburbs forum.

[OKParker]

Why are people suggesting Oak Park? Are you only interested in a suburb? If so, then Oak Park or Forest Park make sense due to the blue line. Otherwise, are you interested in the city neighborhoods?

[pvande55]

Almost any suburb to the north or West, ride the UIC shuttle from Union Station Or do what a friend of mine working there does: get a folding bike, take it on the train, get off at Western and ride to UIC.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by OKParker

Why are people suggesting Oak Park? Are you only interested in a suburb? If so, then Oak Park or Forest Park make sense due to the blue line. Otherwise, are you interested in the city neighborhoods?

The OP seems to the think you can't have a car in the city.