A specific question to help me concentrate apt hunting (Chicago: apartments, rentals)

[heartchicago]

My wife and I may be coming to Chicago for my grad school. We checked out apts in the city and hated them. We checked out apts in suburbs of Naperville and Lisle and liked them. So what we want is an apartment built within the last 20-30 years (no very old buildings please) and that is close to a metra stop along the BNSF, SWS, MD-W, MD-N, NCS, or HC (all lines that go into Union Station). Also, a stop that is no more than 30 minutes (non-express) and has frequent trains in the morning and evening. Additionally, I need for a grocery store (Jewel Osco, Meijer, etc.) to be within walking distance in case we are without a car for the first few months.

Alternatively, I am looking for apartments that are reasonable and not so old along the cta lines. The commute time is irrelevant in this case. I have one place on my list for Oakpark, but I still think it is going to be too old. My problem with old is the mold in the walls (even in renovated ones) and the lack of controlling the thermostat.

I know I am being very picky, and please feel free to make suggestions even if they don't meet all the criteria

thanks!

[chet everett]

I have no idea why you would rule out towns with train servive to Ogilvie transportation center, it is no more than two blocks from Union Station.

On that line Park Ridge fits your list to a T.
Elmhurst would also be great fit, slowest train is 39 minutes -- I think you'd be hard pressed to beat that with CTA service from more than a handful of places...

[heartchicago]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I have no idea why you would rule out towns with train servive to Ogilvie transportation center, it is no more than two blocks from Union Station.

On that line Park Ridge fits your list to a T.
Elmhurst would also be great fit, slowest train is 39 minutes -- I think you'd be hard pressed to beat that with CTA service from more than a handful of places...

I thought it was farther away then that. I had been taking BNSF into Union while visiting and thought a 20-30 min commute by train would be just fine as long as it goes into Union. But I would also consider OTC. Any suggestions for towns that have recently developed suburbs (kind of like Naperville/Aurora around Rt. 59)

[chet everett]

As I said, both Park Ridge and Elmhurst , as well as La Grange and Des Plaines have pretty much BRAND SPANKIN' NEW condos & rentals available WALKING DISTANCE from their train stations. Even Downers Grove has some, though I think the options for a single or couple with out kids are better in the other towns. Resturants seem to die in DG at a disappointing rate...

The extra 25 minutes or so that Naperville is during off peak is not too bad, if you are school you can use the time to work on reading and papers. Even if you get stuck on an "all stop" it is generally a quiet and timely ride. With a wireless internet card and a laptop it woudl not be all that different that working in a campus study area, though of course not as quiet as the campus library...