Would you move and live in the Chicago area? (Lincoln: crime, home)

[Movingtonewplace]

I'm looking to move to Chicago, Edgewater, Uptown and or lakeview area.
Any suggestions on which area is the best. Also what is crime really like for every day working class.
33 single gay male.

[wase4711]

you didnt have to open a second thread to ask the same questions..

[Walkaboutcreek]

Originally Posted by Movingtonewplace

Also what is crime really like for every day working class.
33 single gay male.

For the working class you get mugged daily, for everyone else, crime is not an issue.

[Bamaman1]

I worked for a company headquartered north of Chicago. We were in constant fear that we would be "promoted" to home office and have to move to Chicagoland.

Thankfully they retired everyone 55 years or older in 2008, and we didn't have the opportunity to experience the city.

No, I wouldn't consider living in Chicago. Bad Crime, bad politics and high taxes are just too much to overcome. After leaving Atlanta, I'm so glad to seldom see congestion and debilitating traffic of any large city.

[ebitdadada]

Now that you have the Fox News answer...

I've lived in the following.
- Minneapolis
- Montana
- DC
- St. Louis
- Charlotte
- Northern New Jersey (NY Suburbs)
- Seattle
- Chicago

Chicago is far and away my favorite of those places (though I did like alot of the above as well). Endless variety of things to do, excellent mass transit, great job opportunities, real diversity, much cheaper cost of living than other places that offer comparable urban amenities / experiences.

Edgewater is great, one of my favorite Chicago neighborhoods & lived there for a year about 2 years ago. Had to move to South Loop due to my wife's commute. Great lake / beach access, red line + Metra access to get downtown (especially once they complete the new Peterson Metra stop) and pretty much any ethnicity of food you can think of. Seriously... its like the frigen United Nations.

If I were Gay, I'd consider Chicago and especially Edgewater even more strongly. Hollywood beach in Edgewater is Chicago's "Gay beach" well at least the south half of it and is a ton of fun.

As far as crime, Edgewater is not Lincoln Park (maybe a few haglers near some El stops) but its generally a rather safe area and has been getting safer for quite a while. If someone tells you otherwise they're probably full of crap / have some kind of ax to grind.

Now, Chicago does have its problems but they're probably more widely publicized than any other major city's problems because "Obama is from there" so I'm sure you're aware.

[Walkaboutcreek]

In case my sarcasm was missed I have lived here a long time, decades longer than many here have been alive. I think Chicago represents an incredible value for those who value urban living. If it were not for winter my old self would probably never leave and I may not even so.

All these posts about which neighborhood is best always make me smile. Clearly there a couple specific areas most will avoid but no one posting here is considering them anyways. Crime happens everywhere, sometimes predictable, sometimes random, but worrying about it is like trying to predict the next earthquake in San Francisco. Sadly, bad things happen to good people all over the world every day. Do your best to use common sense and get on with it.

This is a big city and there are people enjoying all sorts of lifestyles in every neighborhood. Some are in their neighborhood for commute reasons, family, social or other but no one size fits all. Ravenswood, uptown, bridgeport, south loop, lincoln park, andersonville, the loop, and on and on. Find a personal space you like and can afford, move in and enjoy. Whether you are gay, straight, or pick a label, most really don't give a rat's butt. And those that do are easily avoided in life.

Good luck.

[smegmatite]

There's a reason tens of thousands leave Illinois every year... do some research I'm sure you can figure out why

[Master Jay]

Well, every time I come to Chicago I feel like it is home to me. I feel happier, for some reason. I feel like WHO KNOWS, maybe I lived here in my past life?

I can't say with assurance because I never lived here, but for what it's worth, I would certainly give it a chance.

God knows, I come here enough!

[Walkaboutcreek]

Here we go again, moderator shut this down now and save us all the misery.

[Master Jay]

Walkaboutcreek, I like how you summed it up:

"Find a personal space you like and can afford, move in and enjoy. Whether you are gay, straight, or pick a label, most really don't give a rat's butt. And those that do are easily avoided in life."