Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods (Chicago, Evanston, Addison: apartment, condos, hotel)

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Drover

That and getting rid of Schiller...

Ah yes. There is that.

[Humboldt1]

Oliver Twist,
I love that name. I always found it hilarious how all of Dickens' characters who are good come from good families, with Oliver of course being long time separated from a wealthy family while growing up on the streets.

With regards to lawndale, I don't like the area as the housing I have looked at there while nice once you get inside the gates is nice, it is surrounded by a war zone. There is no sense of community outside of these enclaves of prosperity. I prefer areas where I can walk across the street and speak with my neighbors without fear of them robbing me.

For East Garfield Park, great conservatory but not much else. Once you cross Western and even a few blocks before it is a war zone. That article in business week proclaiming it as 2nd best upcoming area is total BS based stricly upon percent appreciation. It isn't tough to go up in value when you start at less than 100K. Many of those houses that sold in the past five years are now in foreclosure. The stuff I looked at near lake and kedzie for 300K two years ago is now going for 200K and still isn't selling.

And finally, Logan Square. This area is essentially overvalued particularly the western area but also the eastern parts. An example is a brick legal 2flat with finished basement at 2713 w medill that sold for 550K in nov 05 and sold in jan 08 for 390K. There will be some deals in Logan the next couple of years buying from those who bought in the past 3-4 years looking to flip and who lost.

I live in Humboldt Park. It will be awhile before we improve and the forces of bickerdike and hhdc certainly seemed determined to keep the areas poor, even if it comes to the detriment of their neighbors. Those forces are more pronounced east of the park between north and division. Bickerdike is much worse than HHDC as many of their developments are owner occupied.

[Drover]

I drove through McKinley Park again today. There's a lot of potential there. Modest yet nice housing stock (even if much of it could use some freshening up), a nice, spacious tree-shaded park anchoring the southern end of the neighborhood, and convenient to downtown thanks to the Orange Line. The question is, which way is this somewhat marginal neighborhood going to go? Is it going to latch on to the apparent success of its east neighbor Bridgeport? Or is it going to start sliding downhill like its western neighbor Brighton Park? I'd be shopping for a place in McKinley Park today if I could know for sure that it's at least not going to go the same way Brighton Park is going.

[sukwoo]

If I was childless and single I would definitely look into Humboldt Park.

[Humboldt1]

I am childless and single and have been in Humboldt Park years. It isn't that great. I would and am looking east of the park. This is WestTown. Only west of the park is truly Humboldt Park, though the puerto ricans like to refer to paseo boriqua as part of Humboldt Park, it is actually WestTown.

In that area, go to California Clipper and the Continental (both named after trains) and you will see the future of west town (call it east humboldt if you must). More and more of those I have had drinks with live in the neighborhood. I am looking to buy another building there just east of norweigian american hospital. I am waiting on the sidelines now as prices continue to drop.

The true Humboldt Park, where I live near north and pulaski never had the huge run-up in prices seen in areas such as avondale and logan. Prices have held steady the past year, though I expect them to drop modestly over the next 12-18 months. When they do drop, I will buy, but in a better area. I don't like having to feel like I have to be armed to walk just a few blocks south of my block or west also. North and east there are no problems so long as you exercise common sense and don't walk down deserted allyways or empty streets. I can walk up and down north avenue east of pulaski without any problems, though I advise not walking on the park side between kedzie and california.

In humboldt park, stay east of pulaski and north of grand avenue. Also stay north of division street. East of the park, stay north of grand.

Phl Gd, please address the area east of the park as you know it perhaps better than I.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

Except for a short chunk of the Broadway corridor, it seems like Uptown has finally arrived. Little Saigon also still has a slight rough edge, but hey, it's Little Saigon and I'm not sure it should or ever will be any other way.

Anyone know what's to become of the Uptown Theater?

There have been so many plans swirling around that place... I hope it can be rehabbed soon, or we're sure to lose it!

The part of Uptown I live in (Buena Park) has truly arrived. It's basically a northern extension of Lakeview. There are still a good number of homeless people who hit the liquor stores on Broadway, but they actually seem to be in bigger numbers down in Northern Lakeview by the seedy Hotel Chateau!

Anyway, central Uptown has many obstacles facing it, but the crime issue has been overstated. Yes, it's worse than Lakeview, but Uptown is not anywhere near the same crime levels as a bad south side or west side ghetto. But you still have to have thick skin to live in central Uptown. And the "bad neighborhood" discount on real estate is there, but you're not going to find absolute steals. My place in Buena Park was probably about $60,000 less than a comparable place three blocks south in Lakeview.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

That and getting rid of Schiller...

I did what I could in the 2007 election. I don't know if I'll still be here in 2011, but I may still give money to her challanger. She is the worst Alderman in the city, hands down.

This little gem is from the 2003 election. As you can see, Helen Shiller is loved by all in the ward. Since then, Rogers Park has taken the crown from Uptown in many of these categories:

[Drover]

That's hilarious.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Drover

Except for a short chunk of the Broadway corridor, it seems like Uptown has finally arrived. Little Saigon also still has a slight rough edge, but hey, it's Little Saigon and I'm not sure it should or ever will be any other way.

Anyone know what's to become of the Uptown Theater?

A shelter for all the homeless that keep Schiller in office.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There have been so many plans swirling around that place... I hope it can be rehabbed soon, or we're sure to lose it!

The part of Uptown I live in (Buena Park) has truly arrived. It's basically a northern extension of Lakeview. There are still a good number of homeless people who hit the liquor stores on Broadway, but they actually seem to be in bigger numbers down in Northern Lakeview by the seedy Hotel Chateau!

Anyway, central Uptown has many obstacles facing it, but the crime issue has been overstated. Yes, it's worse than Lakeview, but Uptown is not anywhere near the same crime levels as a bad south side or west side ghetto. But you still have to have thick skin to live in central Uptown. And the "bad neighborhood" discount on real estate is there, but you're not going to find absolute steals. My place in Buena Park was probably about $60,000 less than a comparable place three blocks south in Lakeview.

Well you do know the Hotel Chateau is in Schillers ward dont you?