What are the best high rises in Chicago - Please convince me to move to River North vs Manhattan

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

You sound like a true bro.

I don’t think there are a lot of bro neighborhoods left, but maybe look at Wolf Point. That is a good place to be rent poor with other tech bros, and whatever remains of the bottomless mimosa river north brunch crowd gals will prolly be impressed with your staggering river views, in both directions even perhaps.

"ladygagafan" is not the screen name for a "true bro."

[jonnynonos]

That is likely a good point.

Nevertheless, it is a bro-y set of attitudes.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

There's a lotta mom & dad trust funds from the suburbs & all over the Midwest helping to boost these young folks.

Most of Streeterville is not filled with trust fund kids. Most of Streeterville is made up of professionals (I've known plenty of doctors and lawyers there), and executives (C-suite executives - I've know multiple that live in Streeterville).

I think you vastly over-estimate the number of people living in Chicago on trust funds. I'm sure there are some, but the vast, vast majority of people I know who live in high-rent districts are earning their own money. Part of what is going on in River North is that the Near North residents have a higher average age than you may think. It feels younger, because young professionals will stop off at bars and restaurants in River North on their way home farther north, but many of the youngest people you see don't actually live in the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

$120k is solidly upper middle class for Chicago and can afford a very comfortable lifestyle.

I would not say that it's "solidly" upper middle class. It's solidly middle class, and it's toward the upper end, and then ONLY for single people or maybe DINKs. $120k/year for a family that has children is just middle class, not upper middle class, and that's true across the entire Chicagoland region. I think objectively upper middle class for families starts at about $150k (that's two parents each earning $75k/year, or one at $50k and one at $100k - plenty of couples in Chicago fit into that description).

If you want to live in new construction downtown, or in the higher-end suburbs, it's certainly not going to yield a luxurious lifestyle. Comfortable, maybe, luxurious, no.

[thinkertinker]

I guess if you really want River North go for it. But I don't think River North is worth it at all. While it's a cool area, it feels so sterile, and not to generalize, but it feels very douchey (the overall vibe and some of the visitors). I feel like you could live in other areas that offer dense/urban living that are more affordable and have a lot more character and are interesting.

I find River North to be one of the most sterile places in the city and its residents as well. I'd take living in the Loop or South Loop or the Gold Coast over River North.

You can get more "luxurious" living in cheaper neighborhoods that have a ton more character and even more to do than River North. I'd say shoot for Lincoln Park or Old Town, offers a lot more bang for your buck. River North is just full of sterile looking high rises, with douchebag nightlife and some decent restaurants. Only thing that I give River North an edge to is vibrancy and convenience to the rest of downtown.

[thinkertinker]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

You sound like a true bro.

I don’t think there are a lot of bro neighborhoods left, but maybe look at Wolf Point. That is a good place to be rent poor with other tech bros, and whatever remains of the bottomless mimosa river north brunch crowd gals will prolly be impressed with your staggering river views, in both directions even perhaps.

Okay I take back my previous post. I see now see this guy would fit in perfectly in River North.

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

Way not true. $120k is not like a queen in the upscale suburban areas of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Perhaps a drag queen?

Maybe not a queen but it is the beginning of upper middle class in CCC and it is definitely not in Chicago. I've lived in two C's (Cleveland and Columbus). They are amazing bargains if you can make a little money and put up with the grit of Cleveland.