Neighborhood near Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, Evanston: apartment, rent, crime)

[Old Surrender]

I'm checking out graduate schools and NEIU is on my list. How is the neighborhood near campus? (rent for a 1-bedroom, mass transit access, safety, amenities). I know this is pretty vague, but whatever you folks have to offer will be appreciated.

[chitown85]

The neighborhood is really safe. Rents for 1 bedrooms range from $800 up to $1100. Most are on the lower end. Street parking is not ususally a problem. On the south end of the neighborhood you have the Lawrence and Kimball Brown Line stop. If you go SE of campus, you will be inbetween Ravenswood and Lincoln Square which has a lot of restaurants/bars/etc.

[green_babuschka]

I live SW of NEIU. I think that it's a pretty safe area with minimal crime and some gang activity but it's worth checking out everyblock.com for more specific info.

I agree that rent for a one bedroom starts at around $800 for a courtyard-style building, or garden unit of a 2-flat. You've got the Brown Line about a mile south of campus.

Lots of great food options in the neighborhood. North of campus on Bryn Mawr there's a scattering of Korean, Japanese and some cafes/bars. On Kimball, there's Merla's for Filipinio. On Foster, you have Tre Kronor and now Smokey Bear's BBQ. Heading down towards AP, there's great Middle Eastern fare at Dawali and once you hit Lawrence, options for Korean, Mexican, Persian, etc., really open up.

You're close to the North Park Village Nature Center if you feel like a more peaceful, natural environment and if you go east, you'll connect with the North Shore Channel Trail, an 8-mile trail that runs to Evanston, my favorite bike trail in Chicago. Hope this helps!

[Old Surrender]

Korean. Perfect. I'm hooked on that stuff. Sounds like a decent hood. Look forward to checking it out.

[sunshine39n]

I'm looking at an apartment on this intersection. It's technically North Park, but it's really close to Albany Park, bordered by the river of course. Should i be worried? I'm a single girl, and I'll be coming home at 11pm sometimes and walking from my car. What is this area like? Pretty safe? Interesting?

Thoughts anyone??

Thank you all so much for the help!!

[MannheimMadman]

North of the river is technically North Park. That's right by the high school, I believe. There may be some rowdy high school kids hanging out after school, but Kimball is pretty empty that late at night. I used to walk from NEIU to the Kimball brown line stop at 10:30, and nobody ever bothered me.

[Alacran]

Its fine.
Just be cautious.

[tonythetuna]

"Is Kimball and Carmel in North Park or Albany Park?"

Do you mean Carmen? There is no Carmel. Kimball and Carmen is in North Park.

Are you going to be going to school at NEIU or North Park?

[sunshine39n]

Yes yes, I mean Carmen. No, I'm not going to school there, I just found an apartment I can afford for what appears to be an OK neighborhood. I'm just wondering how safe the area is. Also, if anyone has additional opinions/suggestions/thoughts about that area, I'm happy to hear it!

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by sunshine39n

Yes yes, I mean Carmen. No, I'm not going to school there, I just found an apartment I can afford for what appears to be an OK neighborhood. I'm just wondering how safe the area is. Also, if anyone has additional opinions/suggestions/thoughts about that area, I'm happy to hear it!

Is there anything in the area that drew you to it aside from cheap rent? I can think of a million other places I'd rather rent cheaply versus that intersection.