Neighborhood w/ a good commute to Oak Lawn? (Chicago, Cicero: apartment, rentals)

[turkeyjerky]

I'm considering taking a job at Advocate Christ Medical Center and am wondering whether there are any good neighborhoods to live in w/ a decent (ie <30 min) commute to Oak Lawn. I'm in my mid-20s w/ a girlfriend (who would be moving with me). By good neighborhood, I mean a nice, walkable area w/ stuff going on and some decent areas to run. Budget would be about 1000 dollars per month for rent.

Thanks a lot!

[OakBrookMom]

Assuming you want suggestions outside the Oak Lawn/Evergreen Park area. I'd suggest an area with access to 294 like LaGrange or a straight shot down Harlem from Oak Park or Forest Park. If you are thinking of living in the trendy northside I'd stay close to the expressway and as far south while still being north as possible. I have a friend who just moved from the NW side(Addison/Cicero) to the west burbs (rte83/I-55) who works in Oak Lawn and she said she cut her commute from an hour to 30 minutes. I also know a few people that lived in Bucktown/Wicker Park that commuted to Bridgeview and while their commute varied they wanted to live near their other 20-something friends who lived on the northside. They didn't work a normal 9-5 much like most medical professionals so the commute wasn't as bad. The more desirable the area the smaller the apartment. I'd suggest you do a few test drives during what will be your normal commute before making a decision on any place.

[myrc60]

Why not look in Oak Lawn? Is a nice community with a good amount of rentals that should be available and you can't beat the commute. Of course, the closer you are to the hospital the more you will hear the sirens. Christ is a very busy Trauma center. If the gf is looking for work in the Chicago Loop there is also a train station in Oak Lawn.

[SJaye]

Depends on what your expectations of "stuff going on" entails? The most "stuff going on" for people in their 20s would be in the trendy north and northwest side neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, etc.). They are definitely not within a 30 minute commute. Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, and some of the adjacent suburbs and city neighborhoods like Mount Greenwood are walkable and safe, but there is not that much stuff going on. LaGrange offers a 20-30 min. commute along I-294 and a suburban downtown type of feel. By that, I mean that if you live in downtown LaGrange, there will be a lot to do right there within walking distance, but once you go outside the downtown area, it is pretty suburban. Also, there won't be that much nightlife. Finally, there is Forrest Park, Oak Park. Those areas offer you access to downtown via CTA, definitely safe and walkable. More going on than anywhere near Oak Lawn, and more nightlife than LaGrange. The downside is that the commute might extend a little beyond 30 minutes as there is no straight shot along the highway.