Information on Bucktown (Chicago, Lincoln: loft, townhouses, neighborhood)

[ChicagoNewbie]

Hi All,

I moved to Chicago last month, currently living in short term accom in Hyde Park as I work at the University of Chicago. I'm looking to move North of the city long term, and was mostly looking at Wrigley/Lincoln Park, without any luck, so have widened my search to Bucktown/Wicker Park, and am looking at a place on Moffat and Western. I dont know Bucktown all that well but read good things about it on this forum. I'd like to know a little about the specific location in question though - is Moffat/Western really considered Bucktown? Is it a reasonable and safe walk to the main bars restaurants and shops around Damon? I will be living with my girlfriend, who will be working in the University of Illinois, so I'm also concerned about safety walking to and from the blue line at unsociable hours, if anyone has any thoughts on these questions it would be great.

Thanks a lot.

[Chicago76]

Moffat east of Western is in Bucktown proper. Realtors/landlords/a certain neighborhood association try to play the faux neighborhood game by naming the area west of western "West Bucktown", which is complete BS.

Is it safe? Generally, yes. The walk from Western to the main areas around Damen is a safe walk, if a little desolate in certain stretches thanks to the empty lots along the el.

Is the area west of Western safe? It depends upon the block. I've had a lot of friends live off Campbell and Artesian and the like. Some had great experiences, and some had awful experiences. Your safety/experience often correlates to the shadiest house on the block. Some blocks have people loitering and people coming and going into a certain house on the block at all hours to conduct "commerce", if you know what I mean, and others are fine.

The problem I'd have living in the 2300 block of Moffatt is that it's kind of on its own little triangular island, surrounded by the el on one side, the old freight line on another, and western on the third.

There is a bit of riff raff that sometimes hangs out at the Western stop, but many of my female friends live in the area and have no issues with getting off the train there late and taking the trek home.

Personally, on fairly similar places in terms of quality/amenities for similar rent, I'd live elsewhere in Bucktown/Wicker Park/East Village.

[ChicagoNewbie]

much appreciated, thats a fair assessment.

[paytonc]

The part of Bucktown between Western (W), North or Wabansia (S), Milwaukee (N), and Leavitt (E) is sometimes called Bucktown Triangle. It's mostly loft factory conversions or new townhouses, quite a contrast to the cottages that characterize most of historic Bucktown. I used to live just southeast, along Leavitt, and biked down Moffat frequently.

There are some sketchy/empty stretches of Western and Milwaukee, but it's negligible as the vacant lots have gradually disappeared. It's a lot better than it was a few years ago. There are also unique local businesses around -- Belly Shack, Green Eye, Margie's Candies, Odd Obsession, Irazu, the circus gym on Campbell with the fruit stand out front. It's not a long walk east to the Damen/Milwaukee hub of WPB, particularly now that there are more shops on North Ave, but it's a bit boring.

Search around in the forums for an earlier thread I posted in about commuting to UChicago from WPB.