rogers park - bad reputation? (Chicago, Irving: transplants, apartment, crime rates)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

and I like Edgewater, but where is the beach?
Oh yeah, they dont have one.

Uh, yes they do, at Foster Avenue.

[tjotie]

I am moving to Chicago from Minneapolis and I am moving into Rogers Park (1600 block of farwell). I will be working at loyola, so proximity to work is an issue for me, but I also thought about the safety issue.

I think people tend to want guarantees in life, but when it comes to neighborhoods in a city like chicago, there are no guarantees that you
will never get mugged, that your car will never get broken into or that
you'll never witness a drug deal. I looked up the index crimes figures by neighborhood, and rogers park is not doing that badly, considering its huge population. And the condo I was able to rent for 1400$ is fabulous. I looked in Andersonville as well, at places going for 1700$ that weren't nearly as nice as the one I rented now.

I like the community feeling rogers park, the new places that seem to be opening up. I walked in to a bar and it had a great authentic feeling to it, I also liked all the diversity that the neighborhood had to offer. Not diversity in terms of whether your shirt is from banana republic or J. Crew as in Andersonville, but real multiplicity of backgrounds and ethnicities. I realize that there are some safety and quality of life issues that rogers park is struggling with, but hey, plenty of people have lived there for years and had nothing happen to them. It seems as if the most negative comments about rogers park come from people who don't actually live there.

[cvatasoiu]

Originally Posted by tjotie

I am moving to Chicago from Minneapolis and I am moving into Rogers Park (1600 block of farwell). I will be working at loyola, so proximity to work is an issue for me, but I also thought about the safety issue.

I think people tend to want guarantees in life, but when it comes to neighborhoods in a city like chicago, there are no guarantees that you
will never get mugged, that your car will never get broken into or that
you'll never witness a drug deal. I looked up the index crimes figures by neighborhood, and rogers park is not doing that badly, considering its huge population. And the condo I was able to rent for 1400$ is fabulous. I looked in Andersonville as well, at places going for 1700$ that weren't nearly as nice as the one I rented now.

I like the community feeling rogers park, the new places that seem to be opening up. I walked in to a bar and it had a great authentic feeling to it, I also liked all the diversity that the neighborhood had to offer. Not diversity in terms of whether your shirt is from banana republic or J. Crew as in Andersonville, but real multiplicity of backgrounds and ethnicities. I realize that there are some safety and quality of life issues that rogers park is struggling with, but hey, plenty of people have lived there for years and had nothing happen to them. It seems as if the most negative comments about rogers park come from people who don't actually live there.

I always said the same thing: Rogers Park will give you the best bang for your buck in compare to LP, Andersonville, Lakeview etc... One of my clients bought a place in Rogers Park for $240k last year, and he just sold it for $260, a nice increase in one year.

Also, remember, Rogers Park has good and bad areas, so it depends what you live.

[ekg56]

We just sold my Mom's house in Rogers Park. They home had been in our family for 50 years. The people who bought it are both middle aged professionals.The block that our house is on and the ones surrounding it are all fine. I will miss visiting the neighborhood and walking to all the restaurants that we enjoyed.

[Milliano]

Originally Posted by cvatasoiu

One of my clients bought a place in Rogers Park for $240k last year, and he just sold it for $260, a nice increase in one year.

That's about average for citywide, and considering the numerous stagnant neighborhoods of Chicago, I doubt that 9% gain is much compared to the other northern neighborhoods. It costs what, 5-10% of a home value to sell it? Not to mention inflation. Can't say it's a great one year investment.

[mohammed wong]

Originally Posted by Drover

Uh, yes they do, at Foster Avenue.

Foster is the boundary street between edgewater and uptown,
most of the beach is in uptown territory,

i dont like the fact that edgewater broke away from uptown,
i think they broke away from uptown cuz uptown was doing much worse than edgewater, i cant blame them for that but....
IMHO it really it should be all uptown,
and it really gets confusing with the whole wrigleyvilleesque
andersonville, where part of it bleeds into uptown.

Does the beach that is in edgewater proper really hold a candle to
the beach in Rogers Park?
Also is it as easy to get to as the beach in Rogers Park is?

The answer would be no and no.

[cvatasoiu]

Originally Posted by Milliano

That's about average for citywide, and considering the numerous stagnant neighborhoods of Chicago, I doubt that 9% gain is much compared to the other northern neighborhoods. It costs what, 5-10% of a home value to sell it? Not to mention inflation. Can't say it's a great one year investment.

I would have to disagree with you. 9-10% increase in Rogers Park for 1 yr, it's not bad at all. And most of the norther neighborhoods, are not performing that well, maybe Bucktown being the exception. Trust me, I have clients that had to reduce their price numerous time just because they expected 15-20% increase in a year.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

Does the beach that is in edgewater proper really hold a candle to
the beach in Rogers Park?
Also is it as easy to get to as the beach in Rogers Park is?

The answer would be no and no.

That wasn't what you asked. You asked if Edgewater has a beach and then answered your own question "no." You may not like it as much. It may not be as easy to get to (though I don't see that it's particularly difficult to get to), but that does not mean Edgewater does not have a beach.

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

i dont like the fact that edgewater broke away from uptown,
i think they broke away from uptown cuz uptown was doing much worse than edgewater, i cant blame them for that but....

Huh? Edgewater has been known as Edgewater for well over 100 years.

[mohammed wong]

Originally Posted by Drover

That wasn't what you asked. You asked if Edgewater has a beach and then answered your own question "no." You may not like it as much. It may not be as easy to get to (though I don't see that it's particularly difficult to get to), but that does not mean Edgewater does not have a beach.

Huh? Edgewater has been known as Edgewater for well over 100 years.

I will go to the middle of edgewater on broadway and check out the walk,
Okay, I am man enough to admit a mistake on technicalities, but that is close to what this is, Edgewater does have a beach, just not much of one.
I pride myself on knowing Chicago accurately and truely, so I will investigate in person, though

You are a formidable opponent,
I think online discussions are great, because they bring out facts/truths,

anyways what I found on wiki.... under uptown

Uptown is a diverse neighborhood located north of Chicago's downtown. As one of Chicago’s 77 community areas, Uptown has officially defined boundaries. They are: Foster on the north; Lake Michigan on the east; Montrose (Ravenswood to Clark), and Irving Park (Clark to Lake Michigan) on the south; Ravenswood (Foster to Montrose), and Clark (Montrose to Irving Park) on the west. Uptown borders three community areas and Lake Michigan. To the north is Edgewater, to the west is Lincoln Square, and to the south is Lake View.

The historical, cultural, and commercial center of Uptown is Broadway, with Uptown Square at the center. In 1900, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad constructed its terminal near Montrose and Broadway (now part of the CTA Red Line). Uptown became a summer resort town for downtown dwellers, and derived its name from the Uptown Store, which was the commercial center for the community.1 For a time, all northbound trains from downtown ended in Uptown. From here Uptown became known as an entertainment destination. Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and other early film stars produced films at the Essanay Studio on Argyle Street. The Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theater, Uptown Theatre, and Green Mill Jazz Club are all located within a half block of Lawrence and Broadway. Uptown is also home to one of Chicago's most celebrated final resting spots, Graceland Cemetery.

The Uptown neighborhood boundary once extended farther to the North, to Hollywood Avenue. Beginning at the turn of the 19th Century, just after the World's Columbian Exposition, the entire area had experienced a housing construction boom. In the mid 1920's, construction of large and luxurious entertainment venues resulted in many of the ornate and historic Uptown Square buildings which exist today. The craftsmanship and artistry of those Uptown Square buildings reflects the ornate pavilions of the Exposition.

For over a Century, Uptown has been a popular Chicago Entertainment District, which played a significant role in ushering in the Gilded Age, the Lyceum Movement, the Jazz Age, the Silent Film Era, the Swing Era, the Big Band Era, the Rock & Roll Era, has been a Movie Filming Location for over 480 movies, has ties to significant Spectator sport athletes and organizations, including the Chicago Blackhawks and three Olympic figure skaters, as well as Theater, Comedy club, Dance performers who later became nationally-famous, and even "The People's Music School," a needs-bases, tuition-free music school for formal classical music training.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

anyways what I found on wiki.... under uptown

Uptown is a diverse neighborhood located north of Chicago's downtown. As one of Chicago’s 77 community areas, Uptown has officially defined boundaries. They are: Foster on the north; Lake Michigan on the east; Montrose (Ravenswood to Clark), and Irving Park (Clark to Lake Michigan) on the south; Ravenswood (Foster to Montrose), and Clark (Montrose to Irving Park) on the west. Uptown borders three community areas and Lake Michigan. To the north is Edgewater, to the west is Lincoln Square, and to the south is Lake View.

The historical, cultural, and commercial center of Uptown is Broadway, with Uptown Square at the center. In 1900, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad constructed its terminal near Montrose and Broadway (now part of the CTA Red Line). Uptown became a summer resort town for downtown dwellers, and derived its name from the Uptown Store, which was the commercial center for the community.1 For a time, all northbound trains from downtown ended in Uptown. From here Uptown became known as an entertainment destination. Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and other early film stars produced films at the Essanay Studio on Argyle Street. The Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theater, Uptown Theatre, and Green Mill Jazz Club are all located within a half block of Lawrence and Broadway. Uptown is also home to one of Chicago's most celebrated final resting spots, Graceland Cemetery.

The Uptown neighborhood boundary once extended farther to the North, to Hollywood Avenue. Beginning at the turn of the 19th Century, just after the World's Columbian Exposition, the entire area had experienced a housing construction boom. In the mid 1920's, construction of large and luxurious entertainment venues resulted in many of the ornate and historic Uptown Square buildings which exist today. The craftsmanship and artistry of those Uptown Square buildings reflects the ornate pavilions of the Exposition.

For over a Century, Uptown has been a popular Chicago Entertainment District, which played a significant role in ushering in the Gilded Age, the Lyceum Movement, the Jazz Age, the Silent Film Era, the Swing Era, the Big Band Era, the Rock & Roll Era, has been a Movie Filming Location for over 480 movies, has ties to significant Spectator sport athletes and organizations, including the Chicago Blackhawks and three Olympic figure skaters, as well as Theater, Comedy club, Dance performers who later became nationally-famous, and even "The People's Music School," a needs-bases, tuition-free music school for formal classical music training.

Well, that goes to show you how much you can trust Wikipedia. If your read their Edgewater entry, they tell you it was Uptown that broke away from Edgewater, not the other way around, and they give a radically different reason for the split than you do. Whatever the reason, the split happened long, long before urban decay started to afflict Uptown in particular, so I doubt the desire for Edgewater to disassociate itself from "struggling" Uptown was the motivation for the split -- especially since Edgewater, which can trace its existence as far back as the 1880s, appears to have come into being before Uptown did.