Eclectic Neighborhoods? (Chicago, Lincoln, Sheridan: apartments, rent, crime)

[relo123]

I am considering relocating to Chicago in a couple of months and am looking to live in a certain kind of neighborhood. If you are familiar with the Grandlake/Lake Merritt/Piedmont section of Oakland, CA it would be similar to this area. In short, I like neighborhoods that are diverse, both in terms of class and make-up, unpretentious, and intellectually vibrant. A good mix of apartments and single-family homes would be good too. Think of a college town in the middle of a big city. Any neighborhoods come to mind? Of course, I would also like it to be relatively safe, but understand that living in a major urban center comes with certain realities. My budget is $700 to $900 for a shared situation, studio, or one-bedroom apartment.

Finally, how bad is the heat in Chicago during the Summer, really? I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in L.A. and am fairly used to temperatures in the high 90's to low 100's. I've also lived in the Sacramento area which gets even hotter. My concern though is of course the humidity, which I have not dealt with personally, and its effect on the temperature. In other words, does it work like a wind chill factor?

Thanks!

[chitownabs]

I have never been to Oakland, so I am not familar with the neighborhood you are describing. I was going to recommend the DePaul area of Lincoln Park, but then I re-read the 'unpretentious' part, and decided against it. DePaul is very intellectual, has nice makeup, but I think you will probably find it a bit too "snobby".

I think you might have a good time in Lincoln Square. I have a good friend that lives there and it's pretty nice. He lives in a studio that runs about $600 a month.

In terms of the weather, the humidity does kill you. It's not a dry heat in the least bit, it's like swimming in the heat. You will sweat a lot, and it starts somewhere in early July and does not let up until after Labor Day. Your air conditioner will be on at home during this time constantly. After Labor Day the weather is completely unreliable -- it could very easily be 90+ or it can swing <70 degrees in less than 24 hours (more like 4 hours). Beginning of October is 70s and gets into 50s and 40s by the end.

[relo123]

Thanks for the info. Any thoughts on Wicker Park? I've heard that's pretty nice. What about Hyde Park/Univ of Chicago

The heat sounds like it's going to be an issue for my 11 y/o Bassett Hound. He drops like a like log if it gets above 80 degrees and that's in a dry heat!

[chitownabs]

Wicker Park is nice, but I think you will have a hard time finding something in your price range.

I do not know too much about Hyde Park, but it is pretty far south and your commute might be difficult. Will you be working in the city?

[j33]

I've lived in the Wicker Park area for 5 years (a bit south of it), and I've known people who have lived here for fifteen years, so I'm pretty familiar with the place. You should be able to find a one bedroom on the outskirts from 700-900 (perhaps closer to 900 though) without too much difficulty or a shared situation with no difficulty whatsoever. Do a craiglist search and don't but any of that 'west wicker park' nonsense.

Here is a good example

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/308938664.html


Now Hyde park, that is an intellectual area (no offense to Depaul, but 'intellectual' and 'lincoln park' should not be uttered in the same sentence), it is home to University of Chicago. It is in itself a great area, but a but of an island and the transportation options to downtown are pretty limited (the metra and the #6 bus are your best bets). That being said, living by the University of Chicago is a bit of a treat, they have plenty of interesting events open to the public, a beautiful campus, the Smart Museum of Art and the famed "renaissance society" (can you tell I'm a bit of an art fan).

[Ars longa]

East Rogers Park around Loyola Uni might suit you. Dunno about intellectual, but it's very diverse, a lot of street cafe that brim with life at summer, it's right beside the lake, and there is a lot of yound people around. It should fit your budget as well. Look for zip code 60626 and scroll down right to the lake shore. Area from Sheridan/Greenview to Sheridan/Albion - just not right on Sheridan, take a block either east or west - might be what you're looking for. It's right beside Red Line train that runs north-south through the entire city and it takes about 35 minutes of a straight route to the downtown.

[relo123]

At this point I don't know where I will be working, but would presume it would be in "The Loop." I checked out Rogers Park and Lincoln Park a few years ago while driving through the area and thought both looked OK. I'll have to see what areas feel most comfortable when I come out in a few months. Thanks to all for the great info! These forums are such a great resource.

[Chadrush431]

I can't speak from experience as a Chicagoan, but I've done a lot of weekend trips there over the last few years and had a lot of fun in the Belmont/Halsted section of Lakeview. Its known as the gay friendly neighborhood so its got a cool vibe and lots of eclectic shops and cafes. A bunch of good ethnic restaurants and a great music venue, the Vic Theatre, that I've seen quite a few shows at. Unfortunately I can't tell you anything about rent prices, but I've done some studying on crime data (check out chicagocrime.org) and it seems like a safe place. Sorry I don't know much about it specifically, but I just wanted to post and give you another choice worth checking out.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by relo123

Thanks for the info. Any thoughts on Wicker Park? I've heard that's pretty nice. What about Hyde Park/Univ of Chicago

The heat sounds like it's going to be an issue for my 11 y/o Bassett Hound. He drops like a like log if it gets above 80 degrees and that's in a dry heat!

Wicker Park is nice, but is more expensive. I'm sure you could find something for $900 though. I would also check out Lincoln Square and Andersonville. They are nice and safe, but a bit cheaper and still have great restaurants and bars around them. Belmont/Halstead that someone suggested is nice, but is more yuppie then the other areas and is probably out of our price range (unless you get a studio)
As for the heat with your dog, yes, it gets hot. My dog will step outside, smell the air, and come right back in. We combat that by taking her to the dog beach (off of Wilson on LSD) about every other day in the summer. Then, she can play in the water to cool off.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by relo123

At this point I don't know where I will be working, but would presume it would be in "The Loop." I checked out Rogers Park and Lincoln Park a few years ago while driving through the area and thought both looked OK. I'll have to see what areas feel most comfortable when I come out in a few months. Thanks to all for the great info! These forums are such a great resource.

There are still many parts that are questionable in Rogers Park. Apparently you drove in one of the parts that is ok.Be sure to research more before you commit. Lincoln Park is very expensive. You will live in a shoebox for $700-$900. If you are gonna do the LP, do the shared thing if at all.

I would recommend Uptown, Edgewater(which Andersonville is a part of), or North Center for affordability,access to transportation,stores,etc...There are dicey parts of Uptown and Edgewater,you must look around a bit like you did in LP and Rogers Park. In Lake View you can still find reasonable rent if you know where to look.

What type of "eclectic" are you seeking?