Hyde Park dangerous??? (Chicago, Woodlawn, Golden: apartments, rentals, crime rate)

[happilyloved]

Hi,
I will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall and I wanted to get some perceptions of locals about the Hyde Park area. Is it safe? I've heard mixed opinions so far. Also, are there certain areas in Hyde Park I should avoid when looking for housing?

[bigjersey]

Yes, Hyde Park is safe. I lived there for four years in college and never had a problem. But since it is surrounded by some sketchy hoods, the police force is out in full force 24 hours a day. This makes Hyde Park one of the safest, albeit overly policed neighborhoods in the city. It's also one of the most incredibly diverse neighborhoods in the world. You will become very familiar with the unknown "other", whether you're white, black, asian, arab, or whatever. If you're patient with Hyde Park, the neighborhood will reward you with some incredible times. It's NOT Chicago, It's Hyde Park... a totally different reality. Enjoy.

[Manigault]

You have to understand that Hyde Park is a repository for college kids, which means there are loads of people with transferable possessions in a mixed community. Plus, I have seen male and female students traipsing around at 2 or 3 in the morning in Hyde Park in various degrees of chemical influence. Both factors influence the crime rate and people's war stories about a neighborhood's dangerousness.

[ParkerP]

Hyde Park is relatively safe but don't think that nothing could ever happen in that area. You still need to be aware of your surroundings. A few weeks ago, former senator Carol Moseley Braun almost got mugged outside of her home in Hyde Park.

[snap203]

Parts of Hyde Park are sketchy. As a rule of thumb, stay as close to the U of C campus as possible. Better option: live up north.

[Chi2NYC?]

Originally Posted by happilyloved

Hi,
I will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall and I wanted to get some perceptions of locals about the Hyde Park area. Is it safe? I've heard mixed opinions so far. Also, are there certain areas in Hyde Park I should avoid when looking for housing?

things have been getting better for some time, so be careful about how old the opinions are that you've been hearing. it's not like the 1970s.

http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/070301/crimestats.shtml

[ChicChick]

Guys,

Thank you for a useful forum. I am moving to the UoC to study next year from the UK with a young baby. Safety and security for me is a big issue. Are there any streets in Hyde Park which would be complete "No-nos" (e.g. lots of kids hanging around, badly lit etc) and some which you could recommend as really pleasant, safe and child friendly streets which I should be looking for apartment rentals.

Thanks!

[Manigault]

The avenues in Hyde Park are pretty fungible -- the are just about the same. I could tell you about the only curved one but it really makes no difference.

For your conserns, just try to rent between 60th and 47th streets, where the majority of students live. Some student live in the area south of downtown Chicago, but that is a little far from the campus. Most students rent apartments in east Hyde Park, that is, east of Lake Park between 47th and 57th streets. There are other school-owned residential facilties throughout Hyde Park.

As to safety and security, there are campus buses until 1 am, a campus police force and call boxes on the corners. No place within the boundaries of Hyde Park is a complete no-no. There's also at least three day care centers for early child care.

[paytonc]

FWIW, the "Golden Rectangle," generally known as the choicest part of Hyde Park, is just east of campus: between Woodlawn, 55th, 59th, and the Metra tracks. Due to the curve in the tracks, it really should be a "Golden Trapezoid." East Hyde Park has better transportation choices than West Hyde Park, and technically anything beyond either 51st or 60th streets is outside Hyde Park.

[ChicChick]

thanks guys, thats really useful. so east is probably better than west.

what about the area east towards and around the metra - i.e. near jackson park and the museum? seems a good compromise looking at the map - near to public transportation, and close enough for the uni? are there any special issues here that i should be aware of?
thanks again