Traffic from city to Napervillle

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

In this case, chet has a point.

Evening rush hour traffic heading inbound on the Eisenhower is not fun. Naperville is really far west. If you're unfamiliar with the area, and are moving here with a young family, I'm not sure fighting an hour plus of traffic every evening is worth it - particularly when the West Loop, while growing, isn't bustling with young families (particularly in comparison to other neighborhoods).

Now, outside of a small and pricey downtown area, Naperville is not 'walkable' by any stretch of the imagination. It's the epitome of upper middle-class American Suburbia, in all its blandness.

I would at least look into some of the towns between 294 and Harlem. Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Berwyn, Brookfield, LaGrange all all options worth looking into - suburbs with easy access into the city, and old enough to still have buildings and houses that look nice.

Or, if you do want to be in the city, the West Loop, and a handful of other neighborhoods are also options.

Or, if you don't mind being an hour plus train from the city on the weekends, and love strip malls and large, ugly houses, Naperville is also an option, as well its siblings east along I-88.

Naperville is boring and bland blah blah blah, I'm so hip and cool because I reside in the city.

Dont' get me wrong living in the city is more exciting but for some reason Naperville always gets picked on for being the poster child for sterile boring suburbia.

Guess what, pretty much every other suburb is the exact same way but doesn't get labled as so. Unless your takling about a handful of burbs that are unique, older houses, etc that's what a suburb is.

At least Naperville has a downtown with a pretty decent nightlife, no CHicago but pretty much better than any other burb around. You can actually barhop, there's a lot of decent restaurants.

With the OP's situation I personally would rather live in Naperville nad enjoy what the city has to offer on the weekends. Great he lives in the city but when he has a 1.5 hour commute home everyday after work not sure how much he'll be around the city to enjoy it. Also if a kid is going into school expect to pay another 5k-10k for private school being a transfer student with the issues osmeone edlse broght up about trying to get into a good school.

[Vlajos]

Not cool because I live in the City, just smart.

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Not cool because I live in the City, just smart.

Maybe smart for your situation, since were talking about the OP however what's important to them will determine what is smart, however with a kid that's going to be starting school ilving where you "have" to send your kid to private school for another 5-10k a year may not be smart.

Living where you won't be able to make it home for dinner with your family may not be smart.

Also, sounds like the OP may prefer a cooler neighorhood as opposed to UIC area but this thread seems to be pushing them to UIC because of traffic issues and closeness to 290. So if they aren't really looking for an area like UIC but are going to live in an area they don't really like just to be in Chicago again maybe not smart.

Another area to consider may be downtown Aurora. Yes its really far west but not far from Naperville nad your walking distance to the train to take the train into the city on weekends and to work during the week.

It definately doesn't have a bland suburban feel, some newer lofts and cool apartments popping up plus they hav some neat older historical buildings that are being turned into apartments nad lofts nad some apts above retail spaces. Some great restaurants and bars popping up, upscale american cuisine, great bbq place, ballydoyles has some good live music. I think a blues/jazz place just opened up.

Some cool bars, a neighorhood feel, you got the river there. Very walkable. Casino not walkable if you like to gamble. I think there's some artists who have littel stuidos in that area. You can be in the burbs, but have more interesting scenery, close drive to work ni Naperville and eays train access to the city.

Anyone suggesting leavnig a car in the burbs are you taking into account there's no overnight parking at the train station and a 7 year wait to get a spot in Naperville? Not sure how its possible unless they rent a spot in a private driveway. Even if you get a train pass can't leave your car overnight.

[rfr69]

Don't get me wrong living in the city is awesome, totally diff energy more stuff to do. It's also not the same living in the burbs and going into the city on weeknds or at night.

It's nice to be able to go out and see a free concert, stop by the art museum for free nights on a tuesday or whatever day it is, have cool local ethnic restaurants, etc.

My point being it totally depends on the situation and if spending 2.5 hours commuting everyday is worth that do it but it doesn't always make sense. I was doing the long commute for a while but after a whie it takes its toll. Seemed as if it always had to be my train someone decided to commit suicide in front of turning my hour commute into a 4 hour commute after the train tells us get off and find a ride home from downers grove or hinsdale.

Its not fun in the snow or even rain when people drive 15mph and that hour commute turns into a 2.5 horu commute each way.

Also, again love the city and loved living there but areas in Lincoln Park is basically Naperville with a 606 zip code. I have to laugh when friends hwo live there talk about the great ethnic restaurants nad then mention a place like Ja Grill. We have some really great ethnic places out in the burbs too have you heard of panda express, chipolte this great authentic mexican joint.

Kidding of course, surprisingly the burbs are getting some pretty good restaurants. Mediteranian/lebanese etc seems to be really popular lots of places popping up. Try Naf Naf Grill if your in the area. A pretty authentic place called Tanaka just opened up on ogden, pretyy good korean food.