I've never even been to Chicago, but I'm moving there! (Cicero: for sale, apartments)

[cromag]

Ok, well the title is a lie..I was there for about 6 hrs 12 yrs ago. To be fair though, I was a kid and wasn't really looking at it like a potential home.

I currently live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. My girlfriend and I have been in the sunshine for over a decade now and we are ready for a change. Chicago seems to have everything we want:

-cold weather/seasons
-big metro area (I have an entertainment industry job)
-access to great food and culture
-more historic, less plastic and transient place than South Fl

We have a household income of approx. $110, 000 which we hope to have once again in Chicago. We also plan to bring about 20-30K from the sale of our house in FL towards a new purchase in Chicago.

Obviously we will rent for a year to get a vibe for the place, but we are REALLY in need of some practical advice. I know from living in FL that peoples opinions on neighborhoods are highly subjective. We live currently in what many people consider "the hood". However, we along with the other residents know we live in one of the best kept and affordable secrets in South FL. I'm hoping that anyone who gives us advice can do so without a lot of exaggeration. Reading other posts on this board would lead you to believe that the only thing in Chicago are either mansions or crackhouses.

Some questions:

I've seen maps of Chicago and it's neighborhoods. If someone lives in Wrigleyville (for instance) do they live in the City of Chicago? Is their address Chicago or Wrigleyville?

What towns are close to the heaping mass of Chicago but technically aren't "in" Chicago?

What are absolute neighborhoods to avoid...i.e the WORST of the WORST? The punchlines to jokes about hookers and crack.

Does the EL go anywhere outside of Chicago city limits?

Any help would be appreciated!!

[Sprout]

I'm planning a similar move. Wanna chat?

Sprout

[Mel2882]

I am wondering some of these things also.

[prairiestate]

I've seen maps of Chicago and it's neighborhoods. If someone lives in Wrigleyville (for instance) do they live in the City of Chicago? Is their address Chicago or Wrigleyville?

Unlike some cities, Chicago has very well defined neighborhoods. Driving into Mt. Greenwood, you'll see a sign saying "Welcome to Mt. Greenwood" Chicago isn't even mentioned, though it is a neighborhood. If you're in the city limits, your address will be Chicago. Wrigleyville is a neighborhood, technically a subset of the larger and official Lakeview neighborhood.

What towns are close to the heaping mass of Chicago but technically aren't "in" Chicago?

Don't infer any sarcasm, but you really need to get youself a Rand McNally atlas. There are literally over 300 suburbs, and dozens that are near the city. Some of the most popular for younger people are Oak Park, Forest Park and Berwyn. Check out the Chicago Suburbs board, there are numerous threads discussing these towns. I would also like to throw in a plug for Oak Lawn. Suburban comfort and city amenties, affordable housing, with a lot of apartments and condos. Also, it's near the Orange Line (the EL from Midway), and has Metra (commuter rail) service.

What are absolute neighborhoods to avoid...i.e the WORST of the WORST? The punchlines to jokes about hookers and crack.

I hate generalizations, generally speaking. Sometimes they do apply though. Avoid the west side, west of Halsted at a minimum. Stay farther east depending on your comfort level. On the south side, Hyde Park is ok, actually a very nice neighborhood, but surrounded by some very bad ones. Bridgeport, Chatham, Washington Heights, Avalon Park are all ok. Beverly, Morgan Park, Mt. Greenwood are quite nice. Anything on the southwest side, west of Kedzie will be ok to good. The rest of the south side, you probably want to avoid. There are some emerging areas like Bronzeville and Kenwood that will probably be nice places to live in another decade or so. The epicenter of the south side ghetto is Englewood, around 63rd and Halsted. Also, the far south side communities, especially Roseland, are really bad. There are number of suburbs that are no go areas as well, in west and south Cook County. The one you would probably be most likely to encounter is Cicero. Especially avoid the northeast side of that town.

Does the EL go anywhere outside of Chicago city limits?

A little bit. The Yellow Line has two stops, one in Skokie, and one at Howard Street. The Purple Line runs in Evanston. The Blue line goes out to Cicero and Forest Park. Metra commuter rail runs extensive service in the 6 county area, and even over the state line into Kenosha, Wisconsin. The South Shore line runs commuter trains all the way out to South Bend, Indiana.

[fp1978]

I also plan on moving to Chicago from Charlotte sometime in the (hopefully) near future. I've never been there except for a day I spent in one of the city's suburbs. Does anyone know what the job situation is like there? I know that this question has probably been answered thousands of times on this board, but any info would be helpful.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Unlike some cities, Chicago has very well defined neighborhoods. Driving into Mt. Greenwood, you'll see a sign saying "Welcome to Mt. Greenwood" Chicago isn't even mentioned, though it is a neighborhood. If you're in the city limits, your address will be Chicago. Wrigleyville is a neighborhood, technically a subset of the larger and official Lakeview neighborhood.

So the answer to the question is, yes, if you live in Wrigleyville/Lakeview, you will have a Chicago address.

Don't infer any sarcasm, but you really need to get youself a Rand McNally atlas. There are literally over 300 suburbs, and dozens that are near the city.

Yep. I've lived in the Chicago area for most of my 30-some years and I still hear the names of suburbs I've never heard of before. The ones I can think of that directly border Chicago are Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Norridge, Harwood Heights, Elmwood Park, Elk Grove Village, Park Ridge, Bridgeview, Cicero, Franklin Park, Schiller Park, McCook, Summit, Bedford Park, Burbank, Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Marionette Park, Blue Island, Calumet Park, Calumet City (I think), Whiting IN, and East Chicago IN. And I probably missed a few.

I hate generalizations, generally speaking. Sometimes they do apply though. Avoid the west side, west of Halsted at a minimum.

I'm not sure when's the last time you were in the West Loop area, but it's now one of the swankiest and most gentrified in the city, pretty much all the way out to Ashland Avenue. Along the Chicago Avenue corridor is now at least somewhat gentrified all the way out to Western Avenue.

Anything on the southwest side, west of Kedzie will be ok to good.

I'd move that a little further out, to Pulaski. Some areas around Kedzie are pretty nasty, such as Little Village. Marquette Park is kind of touch-and-go too. The major exceptions of course are Pilsen and Tri-Taylor, though I'd still be a little cautious in Pilsen. It's a street-by-street area.

The Yellow Line has two stops, one in Skokie, and one at Howard Street. The Purple Line runs in Evanston. The Blue line goes out to Cicero and Forest Park. Metra commuter rail runs extensive service in the 6 county area, and even over the state line into Kenosha, Wisconsin. The South Shore line runs commuter trains all the way out to South Bend, Indiana.

Just one correction, the Purple Line runs all the way to Wilmette.

[mcfamilyof4]

I'm getting ready to leave SKOKIE (North shore) for North Carolina (Raleigh).

[AnnieLeigh]

If you are going to buy, Blue Island is a great suburb with trains going directlly downtown and the expressway nearby and it is super reasonable. I also work in the entertainment industry and find it convenient yet relaxing. It is an up and coming area and has a great historic district. Nearby is Beverly, which is one of the oldest historic districts still in city limits. That has train access as well. It is really high as far as buying but renting would be reasonable. I have a small house for sale though in Beverly and I think it may be the cheapest at 210,000 and it is a smalll 2 bedroom ranch. So for buying, I would suggest some up and coming areas like Blue Island (SW suburb) or Pilsen (artsy district in city limits).

[redboar]

I grew up in Skokie. To answer the originator of this thread, unless you like long periods of snowless wintry weather from October to May, unpredictably hot/humid or cloudy and dreary summers, rude snobby people, overrated food (stopped being good in the mid-90s, disregard what anyone tells you now unless you think paying a min. $30 a plate in downtown or Lincoln Park is a privilege), and horrendous traffic especially on Fridays, then stay away from Chicago. Much better alternatives would be Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, LA suburbs or any major city in Colorado. The latter will get you cold snowy winters but people know how to deal with it and dressing for cold is in style, unlike Chicago. I worked a job one winter a few years back that required me to be outside along the lakefront during the winter, the direction where the coldest winds and fiercest storms usually come from. I had an ear protector on, like from North Face or something. People walking by looked at me as if I was visiting from Mars. Well I don't like the flu and earaches, so I guess I let them deal with it.

I can say so many negative things about this city there's not even a point. I've been out west for several months now and although far from perfect, it's been a relief so far.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by redboar

I grew up in Skokie. To answer the originator of this thread, unless you like long periods of snowless wintry weather from October to May, unpredictably hot/humid or cloudy and dreary summers, rude snobby people, overrated food (stopped being good in the mid-90s, disregard what anyone tells you now unless you think paying a min. $30 a plate in downtown or Lincoln Park is a privilege), and horrendous traffic especially on Fridays, then stay away from Chicago. Much better alternatives would be Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, LA suburbs or any major city in Colorado. The latter will get you cold snowy winters but people know how to deal with it and dressing for cold is in style, unlike Chicago. I worked a job one winter a few years back that required me to be outside along the lakefront during the winter, the direction where the coldest winds and fiercest storms usually come from. I had an ear protector on, like from North Face or something. People walking by looked at me as if I was visiting from Mars. Well I don't like the flu and earaches, so I guess I let them deal with it.

I can say so many negative things about this city there's not even a point. I've been out west for several months now and although far from perfect, it's been a relief so far.

Let me guess: there aren't enough nice people in Chicago to fill a 15-passenger van...

a) We do not get wintry weather from October to May. In May it's routinely in the 70s and occasionally in the 80s. Every once in a while we dip below freezing in October, though 70s are not uncommon then either.

b) Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix sure are great, comfortable alternatives if you don't like Chicago summers. You're truly on the ball with those recommendations there.

c) As for rude, snobby people... let's just say certain folks tend to draw out the worst in others. If you're not one of those, you'll be fine.

d) If you can't find places to eat for cheaper than $30 a plate, even in Lincoln Park or Downtown, you're not looking very hard. And if you are willing to pay $30 a plate, it's not just for the privilege of eating in some geographical location. This city has a reputation for world-class cuisine for a reason.

e) Horrendous traffic isn't much of an issue for someone who lives in the city and has easy access to public transportation (which the OP specifically inquired about)

f) Nobody's going to stare at you like you're from Mars because you're wearing ear protectors in winter. Half the people walking down the street will be wearing some form of headgear in winter. If people stare at you, it must be for some other reason.

If you come to Chicago without an attitude or a chip on your shoulder, you'll do just fine here.