Moving to Chicago..question (Evanston, Lincoln: rent, crime, neighborhoods)

[EC1989]

I am either going to be moving to Chicago next year or the year after for school. I know parking in Chicago can be hard to find, but I was wondering if there are any places in the city you can live and have parking but not have to pay tons of money for just the parking. My ideal place would be close to an 'L' line as well. I have lived in the St. Louis area so dealing with crime is not a HUGE issue for me but I don't want a place thats super rundown or anything... All help is appreciated! Thanks!

[KevK]

Originally Posted by EC1989

I am either going to be moving to Chicago next year or the year after for school. I know parking in Chicago can be hard to find, but I was wondering if there are any places in the city you can live and have parking but not have to pay tons of money for just the parking. My ideal place would be close to an 'L' line as well. I have lived in the St. Louis area so dealing with crime is not a HUGE issue for me but I don't want a place thats super rundown or anything... All help is appreciated! Thanks!

In most of the city you will have to pay to park. On street parking is hell to find and even when you do find it you gotta move your car to the other side of the street at 6AM in most places. If you can afford it, Evanston has full L service and you can park there too!

[jessiegirl_98]

There are plenty of places in the city with street parking. It depends on where you work as to where will be the most convenient.

[EC1989]

Thank you! I will have to look into it I guess. I just know parking is hard to find and my sister was living at a place where she had to pay a ton of money plus rent for her parking spot. But I'll do some more research on it.

[jessiegirl_98]

If you live in a place like Lakeview/Lincoln Park (or downtown) parking can be about $250 a month. That being said, many of my friends lived in Lakeview and street parked (I never had the patience for it).
I lived in West Lakeview (near the Paulina brown line) and never had trouble finding street parking easily (e.g., within 1/2 block at all times).
There are also a lot of place that are more north on the blue line where you can easily street park.

[lincolnparker]

Chicago has some of the strangest street parking situations I have seen. We were in andersonville the other day and parked on the street. The bartender says clark becomes a tow away st after 3am. It was not posted anywhere. It was just super strange

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

Chicago has some of the strangest street parking situations I have seen. We were in andersonville the other day and parked on the street. The bartender says clark becomes a tow away st after 3am. It was not posted anywhere. It was just super strange

I am sure it is posted. Although sometimes you have to walk a hundred feet or so to see the sign.

[prairiestate]

Here is an obvious, yet constantly overlooked solution , the Southwest side, aka the area around Midway (Airport). Quite affordable, abundant free parking, fairly safe, close to the El (Orange Line), which is the newest and best maintained line in the system. As an added bonus, you can easily hop on a cheap flight to Vegas or Florida in January!

[sharkylittleton]

Closer to 5pm on weekdays I can park less than a block away from my place. Late nights or weekends I can usually find parking within a 4 block radius. That sure as hell beats paying for parking IMO.

Wicker Park isn't as congested as the lakefront neighborhoods.

EDIT: Winter street parking is an entire new ballgame. It just stinks anyway you look at it.

[SoLoMotorRow]

If you are in the market to buy, there are alot of places
that are 'throwing in' the parking spot (average 20k - 30k). Just
something to think about when negotiating. Depending on where
you are planning on working, the South Loop is ideal. I live
in the South Loop (Michigan Ave/23rd), but not near the train. I take
the bus up Michigan to downtown, but if I were single, renting, etc.. I would find something near Michigan and 14th OR Roosevelt and State. You have a lot more foot traffic and the all the transportation you could need.