" Near West Side/United Center-too dangerous?" (Madison, Warren: section 8, apartment)

[Humboldt1]

Around the United Center it is not too bad, though the area is one big parking lot and not very appealing within a couple blocks of the United Center. You have to get east of Ashland before it becomes better. Also, a few blocks north of there it is okay, particularly north of grand (500N).

West of Western is a totally different story and it will be awhile before that area gentrifies, though there is some new construction. Watch the 2600W block of Washington as there is a huge potential loft development there. If that takes off that could help the surrounding area. That building just sold for $3.6MM and could easily be something like Shoemaker Lofts when it gets developed. With more yuppies in the area this would encourage retail development, which is sorely lacking, particularly west of the United Center. Walgreens and McDonalds is about all that is there now along with a few gas stations.

I think the United Center will probably stay about the same as it is for a long time. So long as it makes more sense to have parking lots than retail and parking garage, that area will continue to be a big hole of asphalt. I don't see that area ever developing into a Wrigley Field type of area with housing and retail next door to the arena. In some ways the United Center is the area's worst enemy, as it has encouraged parking lots instead of development. I don't see this changing anytime soon.

East of Ashland is coming along nicely, particularly as you approach Halsted. If I were ever to get off of this urban pioneer kick I am on, I would definitely buy a loft there. Great restaurants and places to hang out and very close proximity to the loop where many of those living there work.

[chicommuter]

What would you say to someone thinking about commuting by metra from the west and getting off at kedzie to grab the #52 north? I work near addison and there's really no good public transportation to get there from the west burbs. Yes I could grab the blue line, but thats blocks from Ogilvie and and still a bus ride.

[Drover]

Work near Addison and what? California?

[chicommuter]

Yep. California and Roscoe to be exact.

[simple81]

Humboldt 1,

How are you? Funny you should ask. The Wilcox posters are still here. Four years have past, since I last posted on here. I'm so overdue for a post. Our group, in fact, continous to grow. Young urban professionals, neighborhood verterans, and budding artists makes up our team and we are truly proud of the strides we have made in our community. We understand that change will not happen overnight. You speculate decades. However, let's be realistic, if I were able to speculate the time period or upside of a Chicago neighborhood, I'd quit my corporate job right now.

I have a vested interest in MY community. Therefore, I take the initiatives to get involved.

We are fully aware of the various urban news blog sites and we love it! Keeps us in tune. Thank you so much so for asking! Stay tuned!

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

I agree with Noid that East Garfield Park will gentrify after Humboldt Park. However, it will be awhile before Humboldt Park completely gentrifies, particularly west of the park.

South of grand as I have noted is the division line currently as well as division street.

East Garfield Park east/west goes from 2600w to 3400w and is bounded north by 400N and maybe polk (700s). There are a lot of great old buildings but lots of riff raff. Actually, 0. Jjthanks to the riots of 1968 (why people burn down their own neighborhoods is beyond me although I doubt any of those lighting matches own any property) there are lots of empty lots and a declining population.

Humboldt Park west of the park will gentrify over the next 20 years and east garfield park will gentrify after that. We are talking 30 years folks.

3 years ago I wanted to see a property in the 3000 block of walnut (300n) and the realtor would not even let me out of the car. The local thugs had set up a car wash at the round a bout stop sign on the street. Those were definitely not people I wanted as neighbors.

How about the poster that lives in the 2800 block of wilcox? How are they doing these days?

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by chicommuter

Yep. California and Roscoe to be exact.

Midway or Hot Doug's?

The area around the Metra stop is not necessarily somewhere I would want to be by myself at odd hours, but I've driven past it during normal commuting hours and it seems to be ok with a good number of people standing around waiting for buses.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by chicommuter

What would you say to someone thinking about commuting by metra from the west and getting off at kedzie to grab the #52 north? I work near addison and there's really no good public transportation to get there from the west burbs. Yes I could grab the blue line, but thats blocks from Ogilvie and and still a bus ride.

Hmm... to be honest, that bit of Kedzie by the train station is pretty desolate and kind of creepy. There's a fire station by that intersection and they usually keep their "garage doors" open in the summer, so there's at least someone nearby. But in the colder months, you're on your own. I could handle standing around waiting for a bus there once in a great while, but I don't know that I'd care to do it every day.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Midway or Hot Doug's?...

Or WMS gaming or ComED.

Maybe even Eagle Insurance.

[Humboldt1]

Have they "taken care of" the black thug that shot the cop and his girlfriend? I suspect when he is dealt with you will not read about it in the news.

As I said earlier, I looked at buying 2848 wilcox 3 years ago. I am no longer considering your area west of western (south of grand). There are just too many problems (and this is coming from a guy who lives in humboldt park, albeit north of grand (almost all hispanic, few blacks).

I wish you well in improving your area but will be focusing my time and money on buying in more gentrified areas like logan square and west town (possibly west haven in the future).

Still, you have a great conservatory. I go there all the time.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Have they "taken care of" the black thug that shot the cop and his girlfriend? I suspect when he is dealt with you will not read about it in the news.

The suspect was released - he had pretty solid evidence that he was elsewhere at the time.