Reputation of Oakland/Kenwood (Chicago, Woodlawn: apartment, condos, violent crime)

[waqinator]

I am 29 and will be moving along with my fiancee to Chicago next month. After living in an apartment for a few months, I am contemplating between buying a condo in/near downtown or a townhome in one of the suburbs.

While searching online, I came across a condo I like a lot (for its price) in the Oakland/Kenwood area.

Since I have never lived in Chicago, I know nothing about this area other than being south to 'South Loop', it is very close to my future work place.

I am 29 and will be moving to suburbs when it's time to have kids. For now, I am just looking for a clean and safe area close to work. Is Oakland/Kenwood good in that respect?

Thanks for your help.

[prairiestate]

I don't know a lot a about the area, but I would have to say not yet. It's been in the process of redevelopment for several years now, and is better, but still has a long way to go before it can be considred safe. Neighboring Hyde Park is a very nice (and expensive) community, and I still don't feel entirely safe walking around there. They really seem to have more then their share of violent crime, because it is surrounded by some extremely rough neighborhoods, including Oakland/Kenwood to the north and South Shore to the south. South Shore is also starting to improve, but again, it's still got a long way to go. Now, if you can wait a few years, the focus of the Olympics will be south of the loop. I can only imagine what that's going to do for neighborhoods that are slowly gentrifing, often painfully slowly, on the south side, like Oakland/Kenwood, Bronzeville, South Shore and others. It's going to be an incredible thing for the city when, yes I say when, we get the Olympics!

[oakparkdude]

Oakland/Kenwood are still in the urban pioneer stage. They're neighborhoods that have long been down and out and are in the long and slow process of gentrification. If you're willing to be a pioneer, there are lots of good deals to be had, rehab as well as new construction.

[vitalove]

I just wanted an update on the Kenwood area. I see some beautiful homes there. Are there some sections of Kenwood that are better than others? TIA.

[Drover]

Barack Obama lives in Kenwood in a house he paid 1.6 million bucks for. So I guess some parts of it aren't so bad.

[prairiestate]

It's not a very big neighborhood, so it can't really be divided into sections. Probably, the closer you are to Hyde Park, the better off you'll be. It's still gentrifying. There are blocks of beautiful, restored million dollar and up homes. There are blocks with new $500,000 townhomes. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of blocks with people living in poverty, and the crime that is attendant with that. In addition, Kenwood is near some of the most dangerous parts of the city, so spillover from those areas pushes crime statistics higher than you'd like in Kenwood, and Hyde Park. So, it really just depends on your comfort level.

[oakparkdude]

Kenwood south of 47th street (South Kenwood) has most of the big mansions and has long been patrolled by the University of Chicago police. Obama and Farrakhan live in this area. North of 47th is still in the urban pioneer stage.

[Manigault]

Oakland/Kenwood? Bring some money! There are a few condos in Kenwood and some new construction in Oakland. The area is surprisingly diverse ethnically and economically for the south side. Because, like Hyde Park, the described area is subject to realtor's whimsical boundary descriptions, you may wanna constrict your search to Drexel to the lake, 43rd to 51st street. Most of the rapid trans offerings are for residents south of 47th street but on-street parking is available in Oakland and Kenwood. The UC police now patrol Oakland in addition to Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn. Living in Oakland is not pioneering -- the place is pretty stable. There are some very nice townhomes near 45th east of Drexel. There is also new construction right around 39th and Drexel.

Check to see if your condo listing is for a place less than 800 east. If so, you are probably not in Oakland. The condos on Cottage Grove from 39th to 47th are for people really taking looking at the long run.

[oakparkdude]

Wow, the UC police patrol Oakland now? I read they were patrolling Woodlawn, but didn't know about Oakland. That's quite an expansion of territory. I wonder how many extra cops they had to hire. When I was a student at UC, I occasionally would drive through Oakland to get a feel for the neighborhood. I'll have to go back and take a look again and see how much has changed.

[Manigault]

I looked yesterday and there is new construction on Cottage Grove all the way from 47th to past 39th street. The area seems on the move. I particularly like the park at 39th and Drexel. Early in the morning you see the ladies walking laps at that park.