Irving Park, Albany Park, Rogers Park? (Chicago, Cicero: apartment, rent, appliances)

[cm143]

Good to know...thanks guys!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by cm143

Hi,

My husband and I are currently living (renting) in Roscoe Village, but we would like to move and get more “bang for our buck”. We live in a very vintage (read: falling to pieces around us) 2br without laundry, without a dishwasher, without a/c, and our heating bills reach $400+ in the winter AND we’re still freezing our arses off with our thermostat set at 65F/day and 60F/night. We’ve noticed some nice, affordable apartments in Irving Park/Old Irving, Albany Park, and Rogers Park and I’d like to know a bit more about these neighborhoods.

About us…we’re in our mid-30s; he’s a musician, I’m a grad student. We both work from home, as well. We’re hoping to have a baby next year. We don’t have a car. My main concerns our safety! (I’ve checked ChicagoCrime.org but it’s difficult to get a good idea) and a possible feeling of isolation. Again, I am unfamiliar with this area, so I may be way off on my assumptions. Hoping for a 2br+den or 3br with in-unit laundry for $1350 or $1500 with heat

What is the difference between “Old Irving” and “Irving Park”? What are the actual street boundaries for each area? Which areas are the safest; i.e., which streets should we avoid? Are there any tricks or tips for finding a rental (besides Craig’s List & the Chicago Reader)? Since we don’t have a car, are the buses and train convenient in this area? I’ve seen a couple of desirable apts. at Addison & Keeler and Milwaukee & Irving Park Rd.; what do you think of these areas?

For Albany Park, are there areas to avoid? Which are your favorite parts?

Is WEST Rogers Park safer than East Rogers Park? I’ve heard some bad things about Rogers Park in terms of safety…am I way off? There seems to be some very nice rentals in the area around Morse Ave. in East Rogers Park…is this a bad area? Also, what about the area NE of Devon & Western near Warren Park?

Lastly, what’s up with the area just west of Rosehill Cemetery?

I know I’m asking a lot! Thank you in advance for any advice!

OK, here we go, Irving park resident chiming in. Difference between Irving Park and Old Irving... Irving Park is community area whose borders are roughly Montrose to the north, Addison to the south, the river to the east and the Grayland Metra line to the west. There are some variations of this border on the west end, extending as far south as Belmont and as far north as Lawrence, but those are the rough borders and will suffice for this conversation.

Old Irving Park is a specific section of Irving Park where there is a preponderance of older, single-family homes typically on double-wide lots. It is the "creme de la creme" of Irving Park. The rough borders of Old Irving Park are Montrose to the North, Addison to the south, the Kennedy to the east and Kostner to the west.

Most of Irving Park fine, but there is some gang activity in the corridor between Kedzie and Central Park. Not enough to be a deal-breaker IMO, but something to be aware of. Just from an aesthetic perspective, not to mention better access to transit, I strongly prefer the portion west of Central Park.

Albany Park is hit-or-miss and can be block-by-block. Some parts of it are shady and run-down; other parts of it have million-dollar homes, including the part where Rod "Hair-Helmet" Blagojevich lives. Albany Park has quite a bit more gang activity than Irving Park, and again, much of this activity is concentrated in the corridor between Kedzie and St. Louis Avenues.

As for a feeling of isolation... you may experience it in the immediate area, especially in Irving Park and double-especially in Old Irving Park. The latter is especially family-oriented, and Irving Park in general is not a hip or trendy or "artsy" area at all. BUT -- hop on the Blue Line and you're a 15-minute train ride to Bucktown and Wicker Park. So while you're not in the middle of the action, you have quick and convenient access to it. Albany Park has its pockets of trendiness here and there, especially around the Francisco and to a lesser extent Kedzie train stations, but it too is mostly a bedroom community and not a "hot spot" neighborhood.

And speaking of transportation, all manner of buses criss-cross both Irving Park and Albany Park. Albany Park has the Brown Line and Irving Park has the blue Line. Irving park is also served by two Metra lines on its west edge if quick downtown access is a priority. In both neighborhoods, transit convenience grows exponentially the closer you are to the L line.

You should be able to find a 2-bedroom is well within your budget, even taking heat into consideration. A 3-bedroom in your budget is also quite possible but would require a bit more shopping around.

[cm143]

Thanks Drover...awesome info!!! I'm looking at a few apartments this week at; 3638 N. Keeler, 3737 N. Milwaukee, 4150 N. Kilbourn, and 4332 N. Sacramento.

[jessiegirl_98]

I live in East Rogers Park and love my little area. I live a few blocks east of Clark near Devon. Certain areas can be spotty though.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by cm143

Thanks Drover...awesome info!!! I'm looking at a few apartments this week at; 3638 N. Keeler, 3737 N. Milwaukee, 4150 N. Kilbourn, and 4332 N. Sacramento.

The Milwaukee address would probably be least convenient to the L, but it's right across the street from a Metra station in case getting downtown matters. If I'm thinking of the right area, that's a brand new condo/townhouse development, so you'll probably have the best apartment amenities at that address.

I don't think you could go wrong at any of the other addresses as long as you like the apartment. They're all in relatively quiet neighborhoods (though you'll have noise from the expressway at the Kilbourn address if that's a concern) and they're all less than 10 minutes walking distance of an L station. Parking at all of these addresses should be pretty easy except maybe the Sacramento one. I know you don't have a car now, but you said you're looking to start a family soon and hauling a baby and all their stuff around without a car is no fun. So a car may be in your future, and parking might be something to think about.

[cm143]

Very true about the car & baby thing. Should I be looking for rentals in other places other then the Chicago Reader or Craig's List?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by cm143

Very true about the car & baby thing. Should I be looking for rentals in other places other then the Chicago Reader or Craig's List?

Chicago Reader is probably the best printed source for rentals. Another course to consider is going through an apartment rental agency. There are a few listed in the "read here first" thread at the top of the Chicago forum.

[cm143]

Thanks!

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by cm143

Thanks Drover...awesome info!!! I'm looking at a few apartments this week at; 3638 N. Keeler, 3737 N. Milwaukee, 4150 N. Kilbourn, and 4332 N. Sacramento.

4332 N. Sacramento is in Albany Park.

3638 N. Keeler is in Old Irving Park.

3737 N. Milwaukee is in Old Irving Park.

4150 N. Kilbourn is in Old Irving Park.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by surlycue

I am pretty sure that the Milwaukee and Irving Park intersection is in Portage Park not Irving Park.

This Six Corners is the intersection of Irving Park,Cicero, and Milwaukee.

Cicero is the border Line between the neighborhoods.

West of Cicero is Portage Park.

East of it is Old Irving Park.

http://maps.cityofchicago.org/mapchicago/viewer.htm