apartment hunting around S Western - safe? (Chicago, Blue Island: violent crime, houses)

[heartchicago]

I am refocusing my apartment search on the areas off western in which are the following intersections (Western at...): Jackson, Harrison, Ogden, 26th, and Taylor. These locations represent intersections that let me catch a bus up to union station, as well as an easy way to lug heavy groceries back from the Devon Market. However, I am a little concerned because I see a lot more aggravated/violent crime on everyblock in some of these areas than those I was looking for up in the Andersonville, Ravenswood, Lincoln Sq. areas. So I would greatly appreciate your comments regarding safety in these areas off of S. Western.
Thanks!

[surlycue]

No. None of these are safe areas. Anything west of Ashland is not West Loop. Please do not be fooled by deceptive ad/realtors.

Western at Harrison is probably the safest but that doesn't say much. Taylor is the next safest but the edge of the Tri-Taylor neighborhood is not nearly the same as the center of it. The Douglas Park area can get quite dicey after dark.

Check everyblock for 26th at Western, there is a terrifying amount of crime on Blue Island there. Do not even consider living in East Garfield Park/United Center area either.

[Drover]

Yeah, I'd steer clear of most of those areas unless you've determined you have a high tolerance for urban living conditions. The only one I'd even consider is Taylor, and even there you're right where "gentrified" meets "da 'hood."

[southsidehitman]

eh the ogden, 26th, and taylor ones would be ok the other 2 though wouldnt be so great ive been by there and there was tons of black people hanging out evrywhere they didnt seem t be selling drugs or anything and the area seems much better than garfield park

[southsidehitman]

oh snd try the area off western between 35th and pershing called mckinley park that area is safe

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by heartchicago

I am refocusing my apartment search on the areas off western in which are the following intersections (Western at...): Jackson, Harrison, Ogden, 26th, and Taylor. These locations represent intersections that let me catch a bus up to union station, as well as an easy way to lug heavy groceries back from the Devon Market. However, I am a little concerned because I see a lot more aggravated/violent crime on everyblock in some of these areas than those I was looking for up in the Andersonville, Ravenswood, Lincoln Sq. areas. So I would greatly appreciate your comments regarding safety in these areas off of S. Western.
Thanks!

Moderator cut: unnecessary I'll give you a straight answer, and since I jog my dog past those intersections, I'll rank them in the order I personally would choose, based on what I see at 6:00 A.M.:

1. Taylor
2. Harrison
3. 26th
4. Ogden
5. Jackson

#1 and #2 are standard-order upscale stuff - Moderator cut: unnecessary

#3 is the far southwest border of Heart of Chicago. Who needs Devon when Taconazo and Don's Grill are both within walking distance, and Pete's Fresh (the best grocery chain in Chicago) is at the corner of Rockwell and 22nd?

#4 is the southwest border of Tri-Taylor, and a great place to live if you like urban grit and 24-hour sliders. Not only that, if you get in a jam, Catholic Charities is right there to help!

#5 is the site of a former CHA high rise. Too many bad memories for me, but YMMV, especially if you don't carry the burden of despising the CHA around with you like I do.

[southsidehitman]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

Moderator cut: unnecessary I'll give you a straight answer, and since I jog my dog past those intersections, I'll rank them in the order I personally would choose, based on what I see at 6:00 A.M.:

1. Taylor
2. Harrison
3. 26th
4. Ogden
5. Jackson

#1 and #2 are standard-order upscale stuff - Moderator cut: unnecessary

#3 is the far southwest border of Heart of Chicago. Who needs Devon when Taconazo and Don's Grill are both within walking distance, and Pete's Fresh (the best grocery chain in Chicago) is at the corner of Rockwell and 22nd?

#4 is the southwest border of Tri-Taylor, and a great place to live if you like urban grit and 24-hour sliders. Not only that, if you get in a jam, Catholic Charities is right there to help!

#5 is the site of a former CHA high rise. Too many bad memories for me, but YMMV, especially if you don't carry the burden of despising the CHA around with you like I do.

dons grill is really good

[Intergalactic]

Well, according to EveryBlock Chicago, taking just the 1 block areas around each of those intersections, the number of crimes is:
Jackson; 527
Harrison; 345
Taylor; 226
26th; 95
Ogden; 93

Taking the three block areas around the two lowest, and only looking at burglaries and armed robberies, one gets:
26th; 21 burglaries, 11 armed robberies
Ogden; 23 burglaries, 25 armed robberies.

The crimes around Odgen are mostly to the north of Odgen, particularly at the corner of Roosevelt and Western. The only residential area not to get much crime is the little group of houses near 13th and Heath.