Hyde Park/Kenwood/Bronzeville Apartment Suggestions? (Chicago: neighborhood, living, bus)

[Manigault]

Check Mac Realty, too.

MAC Property Management :: *Apartments for Rent in Chicago and Kansas City :: Chicago > Hyde Park (http://www.antheuscapital.com/mac/a_ch_hp_overview.html - broken link)

There were folks lined up in front of the place at 8 am today.

[missinnocence]

Thanks Manigault! What do you mean folks were lined up outside of the place? What place- the leasing office or a certain complex? And lined up for what... the only thing I can think of is a section 8 line which I've had to stand in as it wrapped around the block- no fun.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by missinnocence

Thanks Manigault! What do you mean folks were lined up outside of the place? What place- the leasing office or a certain complex? And lined up for what... the only thing I can think of is a section 8 line which I've had to stand in as it wrapped around the block- no fun.

The place has a leasing office on 53rd street. I don't know what the folks were lined up for but they certainly weren't section 8 people. I think they were trying to apply for the nicest apartments. All over the city I'm seeing the moving vans this weekend.

[aliay]

FWIW, I have issues calling any neighborhood a "ghetto," particularly when it has three Starbuckses ;-)

Just to add to the conversation a bit, I (white, female, U. of C. student) like Hyde Park a lot, but it isn't for everybody. I think the people who are most frustrated with HP are those who are, as mentioned before, looking for some kind of busy city nightlife. Hyde Park is much more quiet and understated for that, but who knows, things may change-- in the past few years there has been a lot of new restaurants and developments in the works. For better or for worse, the University has a HUGE stake in the vitality of the neighborhood.

As far as crime and sketch factor goes, I take the same cautions in HP that I would anywhere, but even walking around late at night I feel pretty safe. The neighborhood has a lot of activism, a nice blend of ages, incomes, and ethnic backgrounds, and other neighborhoods are not so far away.

[maclock]

I don't mean to make it sound like I'm taking a swipe at the South Side (and believe you me, I'm not; I get down there on a fairly regular basis to patronize its commercial establishments), but Hyde Park doesn't have amenities in the number or the variety that one would expect of a fancy urban neighborhood. Until the lack of a proper commercial pulse is sorted out, I'd stay away, especially as there isn't much of interest in the surrounding areas.

Driving around the South Side can be depressing, really. By rights, what should be one of the nicest parts of the city is a patchwork quilt of a few solid neighborhoods hanging on in the midst of some awful bombed out places.

[miss Am]

looking to move to Chicago this summer (2010) need help with finding an apartment looking for 2bed/2bath low-incoming housing re-development in nice area, ex: Hyde-Park, Lincoln Park, West Loop, etc Do anyone have any suggestions?

[ParkerP]

Originally Posted by maclock

I don't mean to make it sound like I'm taking a swipe at the South Side (and believe you me, I'm not; I get down there on a fairly regular basis to patronize its commercial establishments), but Hyde Park doesn't have amenities in the number or the variety that one would expect of a fancy urban neighborhood. Until the lack of a proper commercial pulse is sorted out, I'd stay away, especially as there isn't much of interest in the surrounding areas.

Driving around the South Side can be depressing, really. By rights, what should be one of the nicest parts of the city is a patchwork quilt of a few solid neighborhoods hanging on in the midst of some awful bombed out places.

I think most Hyde Park residents don't necessarily WANT a huge number of commercial establishments and I can't blame them. The traffic and parking is horrible with the small number that they already have.

[maclock]

Originally Posted by ParkerP

I think most Hyde Park residents don't necessarily WANT a huge number of commercial establishments and I can't blame them. The traffic and parking is horrible with the small number that they already have.

Which would be fine if the immediately adjoining neighborhoods offered the fancy-schmancy places preferred by people in that income bracket. That doesn't seem to be the case, though, so Hyde Park/Kenwood -- an island in the midst of urban decay -- needs to offer those shops and services. It doesn't seem to do so and that makes it a little less attractive to new urbanists.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by ParkerP

I think most Hyde Park residents don't necessarily WANT a huge number of commercial establishments and I can't blame them. The traffic and parking is horrible with the small number that they already have.

There don't necessarily have to be a huge number, but higher quality and later hours (more in tune with urban lifestyle) would be very welcome.

[MollyAnnC]

I'm considering moving to Hyde Park this summer. Right now I live in the south loop, which I love, but I need to get some money saved and I can't do that with south loop rents. If I go to HP, and can easily save three to five hundred bucks a month.

My one hesitation is the isolation. You can't walk from Hyde Park to other neighborhoods like you can on the north side.

And no, the north side isn't an option for me. I live car-free and need to take the Metra Electric line to work in the south 'burbs. That leaves me with a choice between South Loop and Hyde Park. South Loop for life or Hyde Park to save some cash.

For the OP: hope you've found your place by now. I'll try to be cool when I see your hubby walking by