Daughter to attend UIC... safe/affordable areas?

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by surlycue

Her commute from Edgewater via public transit will not be pleasant. She will spend around 40 minutes getting downtown on the red line and then have to transfer to the Blue Line (UIC-Halsted stop) or a bus (will get you closer to UIC). This will be a hellacious commute in the winter for sure.

Edgewater as a neighborhood is great though. It is not yet gentrified in the the traditional sense so one can still get great deals and a fair amount of amenities. It is still a city neighborhood though so she needs to be very observant when out, especially alone or at night.

It's not THAT bad, sheesh.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

It's not THAT bad, sheesh.

Not pleasant=not short. If she has lots of reading though for class it should be fine. There are normally plenty of seats if you get on at Thorndale or Bryn Mawr, so bring a book and read a couple of chapters on your ride.

But, if she's anything like I was in college, the less time it takes to get to class; the more likely she is to go. I can imagine waking up for a 9 am class in January, looking out the window and thinking, hmmm...

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by surlycue

Not pleasant=not short. If she has lots of reading though for class it should be fine. There are normally plenty of seats if you get on at Thorndale or Bryn Mawr, so bring a book and read a couple of chapters on your ride.

But, if she's anything like I was in college, the less time it takes to get to class; the more likely she is to go. I can imagine waking up for a 9 am class in January, looking out the window and thinking, hmmm...

True. But if you're going to move to Chicago you best be getting used to winter pretty quickly.

[long101]

Originally Posted by jtjmom

Yup, you hit the nail right on the head. She refuses to live in a dorm... not a communal animal, I guess... lol

I think she's looking into the $700-$800/mo range (we are small town folk... our HOUSE costs that much), and probably no more than 30-40 minute commute. And yes, both roomies are guys.

I think she's looking into someplace called Edgewood or Edgewater... any opinions?

Thanks so much!

~D

I would look off of Taylor street inbetween the East and the West campus so she has access to both (Taylor & Loomis is a good meidan). She can get a decent 3br for 1600ish and it is generally a safe area. The UIC area is a gentrified area, you have 750k townhouses next to section 8 apartments, you/she will notice this when you go to the Jewel/Dominicks. It is a nice area. The closer to Roosevelt you get (except on the Halsted corridor) the sketchier it gets. Most of the people that live around there are UIC students, teachers, and people that work at the hospitals.

Also very important, while you are visitng try Mario's italian Ice off of Taylor.