Ideal Neighborhood in Downtown Chicago to commute to Oak Lawn (Country Club Hills: homes, established neighborhood)

[deechee]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I assume you are doing the counter-commute -- going to Oak Lawn in the morning and coming back to chicago in the evening?? In that case 30-45 minutes is realistic from the center of the city (depending on how far west in oak lawn -- probably closer to 45 though). If you aren't doing the counter-commute then forget it -- traffic south on the Dan Ryan during rush hour is awful, and the jog over on 95th (or a similar road) is equally hellish.

I avoid 95th if at possible. I prefer to crawl down 99th if going west. It's much better than the nonsense on 95th

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by jbasci

Hello!

I currently live in Houston, TX and I am pretty unfamiliar with the whole Chicago area. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I am a pharmaceutical sales rep and I am trying to relocate into the Chicago area....a position has opened up with my company in Oak Lawn. I am still young and would really prefer to live in the downtown-ish area of chicago (logan square, uptown, ukranian village, etc).

I need to be able to live like 30-45 mins (drive time) away from my territory..and from what i've seen on mapquest...oak lawn is only 20 or so miles away from some of the areas i would like to live in.

So...any suggestions on a good neighborhood that i will be able to accomplish both living in the city and be able to commute out to oak lawn for work? Is it possible? Will the drive be ridiculous?

Any thoughts on what is realistic and what to expect are greatly appreciated!!!

thanks so much!!!!!

My wife commutes to Oak Lawn every day, and it is reliably 30 minutes. Straightforward and quick.

South Loop, West Loop, and University Village are all good choices. Other neighborhoods to consider are Taylor Street (aka "Little Italy") and West Town. South Loop is high rise, West Loop is midrise, and UV, TS, and WT are neighborhoody/low density, so you've got a good range of options.

The North Side is NOT a good idea, and looking Northwest, anywhere much north of the Eisenhower via the Kennedy will add no less than 15 minutes (and a great deal of uncertainty) to your commute.

[ImaloneJill]

Originally Posted by deechee

I avoid 95th if at possible. I prefer to crawl down 99th if going west. It's much better than the nonsense on 95th

I used to work at Little Co. of Mary. I hated 95th Street. 30 mph speed limit and Oak Lawn cops stop you like crazy if you go any faster. Plus, train tracks. Ugh.

[ajolotl]

Best thing is to take the I-57 split and get off at 99th and halsted. Taking 99th west brings you through the heart of beverly and is a pretty relaxing drive. Tons of stop signs but at least there is very little traffic. From 99th and halsted to the center of oak lawn will be 15-20 minutes, less obviously to the east side.

I hate how ghetto 95th has become between western and california.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by ImaloneJill

I used to work at Little Co. of Mary. I hated 95th Street. 30 mph speed limit and Oak Lawn cops stop you like crazy if you go any faster. Plus, train tracks. Ugh.

Thank God I have never been stopped on 95th, and I usually go no faster than 5 mph over the limit anyhow. I'm a slow driver hehe I just don't like 95th street at all...lol. But some of my favorite businesses are there, so I must go.

Originally Posted by ajolotl

Best thing is to take the I-57 split and get off at 99th and halsted. Taking 99th west brings you through the heart of beverly and is a pretty relaxing drive. Tons of stop signs but at least there is very little traffic. From 99th and halsted to the center of oak lawn will be 15-20 minutes, less obviously to the east side.

I hate how ghetto 95th has become between western and california.

Yes, that's the way I usually go. I have noticed that 98th pl./99th street west of Lowe Ave. is nice and I enjoy driving in that area, especially early in autumn!

Yes, I would say that 99th is a much better way to get to Oak Lawn---when you exit 57 @ Halsted.

Yes, 95th street is pretty bleak back there. Not much I can really say, I'm not a resident of Evergreen Park, sooo....lol, I can just complain

[mudkip]

No matter what you do the drive will be ridiculous going south from downtown chicago. The only highway oak lawn has easy access to is I294. If you like the north side neighborhood feel, you should consider the suburb LaGrange. The drive to Oak Lawn will be much faster (LaGrange rd south to I294 aka the tristate) from that area. Also look at the condos on 95th near the Oak Lawn metra tain station, you might like them.

As for getting to oak lawn from the Dan Ryan, avoid 95th at all costs. I'd use 87th or 111th. 111th is the safest choice at night. 99th is a glorified side street not a thoroughfare, I'd avoid it.

[deechee]

This is an old thread, but ----

I agree with you on the condos in Oak Lawn, there are some good choices. It'd be an awesome commute.

Huh? I've driven south from downtown and I don't think it's ridiculous. Now going NORTH is where I get upset lol. What do you mean safest route is 111th?

What's wrong with driving down 95th or 99th? There isn't a problem unless the driver is going too fast. The speed limit on 95th is 30 most of the way from the Dan Ryan, and the fastest I'd go is 33-34mph. On 99th it's something like 25, but it's actually a rather nice ride, if you can get past the stop signs lol. Never really bothered me though

I've been driving and riding down these streets for years, all times of the day and night - never ever heard of any problems? If the OP wants to live in Oak Lawn that's actually a better idea...or Evergreen Park. Some of Morgan Park, Beverly and Mt. Greenwood are good choices too.

[kurama93]

Garfield Ridge or Clearing

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by deechee

This is an old thread, but ----

What's wrong with driving down 95th or 99th? There isn't a problem unless the driver is going too fast. The speed limit on 95th is 30 most of the way from the Dan Ryan, and the fastest I'd go is 33-34mph. On 99th it's something like 25, but it's actually a rather nice ride, if you can get past the stop signs lol. Never really bothered me though

This is the same old perception issue that always comes up. I assume that the author of this comment is white. For whites it is typical to think of poorer or working class black areas as dangerous to drive through, particularly at night.
(I didn't say ALL whites feel this way and that NO blacks do, just strong tendencies). Getting off at 111th leaves you farther west, and just on the other side of the high school it starts to get much whiter. 95th leaves a long stretch of poorer and then working class black areas. 99th is in the middle.

Being white I am somewhat inclined to think this way but am so accustomed to making these drives with no consequence that this image has almost totally faded over the years.

On the other hand seeing what happened on 76th and vincennes (my daily route taking kids to school) gives me some pause. I think the truth is something between "that can happen anywhere" and "you are putting yourself at significantly more risk driving through englewood".

[deechee]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I think the truth is something between "that can happen anywhere" and "you are putting yourself at significantly more risk driving through englewood".

Number One - 76th & Vincennes IS NOT ENGLEWOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number Two - Anything can happen anywhere.

Not mad or anything, just needed to say that