Safe CTA stops to live close to for a newcomer (Chicago: crime, restaurants)

[mmvii]

Originally Posted by Drover

There's a small patch of rough stuff around the Sheridan stop too, so be cautious about where you end up there. Given your criteria I'd concentrate your search along the Brown Line, pretty much anything from the Addison stop through the Rockwell stop. Nothing wrong with the areas near the Southport or Paulina stops, but they are pretty "nightlife-ish" and may not be as quiet as you need. That said, nightlife near there tends to be more grown-up than in the heart of Wrigleyville.

Where near the Sheridan red line stop is there anything rough?!?! The Chateau Hotel is pretty close but really that's one building that has a couple of bums...

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by mmvii

Where near the Sheridan red line stop is there anything rough?!?!...

Gill Park co-op.

[mmvii]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Gill Park co-op.

Meh, that's a slight black eye in the area but really not a big deal. What's city living without a couple of bums?

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by mmvii

Meh, that's a slight black eye in the area but really not a big deal. What's city living without a couple of bums?

There are crackheads and gang-bangers over there too.

You must not have too much experience around there.

[mmvii]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

There are crackheads and gang-bangers over there too.

You must not have too much experience around there.

Come on, I walk through there all the time. Yes, you have to keep your eyes open but tell me where you don't...

[heartchicago]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

City of Chicago Interactive map

Thanks. There is also one on the chicago apartment finders website. I found it last night when I thought to check their website. I think it is helpful too.

[heartchicago]

I will start looking on the brown line too. One of things that I liked about living near the Loyola or Granville stops on red was that it is close to Devon and Western which is where the Indian market is. We are Indian and need certain vegetables, items from there. Initially, I thought living closer to school would be better. But, now I think I should fine tune the area to a brown line stop or red line stop and apartment that fits most of what we want that is also near enough to a major street so we can just catch a bus to go up to the Devon/Western area. Please keep those great suggestions coming. As I "talk" with you guys I get a better idea of zooming in on an area. So right now, I am concentrating on the Lincoln Sq., Ravenswood, and W. Rogers Park area. Someone posted a comparison of Houston neighborhoods to Chicago and I thought it was great (assuming it is accurate). The W. Rogers Park area then is closest to what I am used to in Houston, and it is near the Indian market, so I think that might be my best option. It does mean I will have a longer commute to/from school everyday, but that's an acceptable trade off. Based on the brown line suggestion I am thinking of these two areas below because they are also close to Western where we could just hop on the bus to get up to Devon and Western.

How is the Lincoln Sq. area? How about the area near the Western stop on the Brown line?

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by heartchicago

How is the Lincoln Sq. area? How about the area near the Western stop on the Brown line?

Lincoln Square is a wonderful neighborhood, might be a bit of a stretch on your budget but from there you can easily hop on the Western bus up to Devon.

The commercial strip in Lincoln Square along Lincoln off of Lawrence is great. Lots of little shops, restaurants and bars. It should only be noisy right on the strip. The residential streets will be fairly quiet.

[heartchicago]

Originally Posted by surlycue

Lincoln Square is a wonderful neighborhood, might be a bit of a stretch on your budget but from there you can easily hop on the Western bus up to Devon.

The commercial strip in Lincoln Square along Lincoln off of Lawrence is great. Lots of little shops, restaurants and bars. It should only be noisy right on the strip. The residential streets will be fairly quiet.

My budget is flexible, but obviously I would like to keep the rent minimal. I see what you mean though, because I am not finding anything around $800 for a nice 1BR in Lincoln Sq. I don't mind spending more if the area is safe and our other concerns are satisified.

Where is a major grocery store in the Lincoln Sq area? (Jewel, Dominicks, or Meijer)

Also, is the area around Western and Devon relatively safe?

[Carantini]

800 a month for a 1 BR by an L 20 min. from the loop and near a grocery store....its gonna be hard, very very hard, unless you wouldnt mind living in a non-yuppy area.