Dickens and Sawyer (Palmer square) (Downers Grove, Lincoln: crime, home, neighborhood)

[Espain17]

I am looking at a place close to these cross streets as a mid- twenties single female and need some insight. I love the place but haven't spent much time in the area and would like some feedback. I know armitage and south of there can be a bit dicey but there seem to be some decent food joints and bars nearby. It's a small hike to the train but I'm fine with that. Is this area as good and just under the radar as it seems? I use to lived in buena park for many years so I feel use to the " just don't cross this line and no problems" mentality. However, I do want to make sure that the area around dickens and Sawyer is safe/similar because no one seems to know much about it. You guys are the expects so what knowledge can you drop on me?

[dbgunn]

I used to live right there. It's fine. Perfectly safe...my husband and I used to jog around Palmer Square park every morning in the summer. Every now and then you see gang graffiti, and our bikes did get stolen (but then again, we didn't have them locked up inside of our bike room). As long as you're not walking home by yourself at 4am, I wouldn't worry. It's a nice part of Logan Square.

[chet everett]

I wonder how many broken windows one can spot?

Broken Windows - Magazine - The Atlantic

Originally Posted by dbgunn

I used to live right there. It's fine. Perfectly safe...my husband and I used to jog around Palmer Square park every morning in the summer. Every now and then you see gang graffiti, and our bikes did get stolen (but then again, we didn't have them locked up inside of our bike room). As long as you're not walking home by yourself at 4am, I wouldn't worry. It's a nice part of Logan Square.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I wonder how many broken windows one can spot?

Broken Windows - Magazine - The Atlantic

An article from 1982 is definitely helpful.

[chet everett]

Has there been a shift in human nature such that minor crime is now other than indicative of more serious issues to come?

Frankly I do get out toward that part Logan Square only rarely and the last time was probably toward August or Septemeber of 2011 and I did not see any obvious signs of lawlessness -- I was literally inquiring if that has changed...

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Has there been a shift in human nature such that minor crime is now other than indicative of more serious issues to come?

Frankly I do get out toward that part Logan Square only rarely and the last time was probably toward August or Septemeber of 2011 and I did not see any obvious signs of lawlessness -- I was literally inquiring if that has changed...

There has been a shift in the neighborhood since 1982. I do understand that is difficult for some minds to comprehend.

[Mister Mappy]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

There has been a shift in the neighborhood since 1982. I do understand that is difficult for some minds to comprehend.

Why even bother? Of course, Chet with his anti-city bias is going to post a 30 year old article trying to bash the city, or so it seems cities in general. As you once advised me, maybe you need to get out more. Actually, that neighborhood has gotten better in the last 10 years, and I knew somebody who lived on that very block back in the 90's, and that block was already very nice back then.

Maybe if you took time when you're in the city to look around instead of thinking it's all some warzone, maybe you'd realize this. I guess it would take away too much time from picking up your dry-cleaning or patronizing the one east Asian grocery store in Downers Grove. (BTW, the most aptly named suburb for being in the middle of suburban hell.)

[Attrill]

I'm not very familiar with that specific intersection, but I have a friend who has lived at Kedzie and Dickens for 7 years, and I walk over to his place all the time without even the slightest incident. He has a friend who was a single woman living alone at that intersection for 3 years and she never had any problems that I heard of. She moved to a SFH in Avondale awhile back to get more space, but didn't move for any safety reasons.

The weather's warm, your best bet would be go by the area at night and see how safe you feel in the area. My sense is it's mostly a mix of immigrant families and white professionals.

[Larry Siegel]

I like this area - it's very pretty - but I would use the normal urban precautions. It's not Lincoln Park. (Wait 20 years and it might be.)

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

I like this area - it's very pretty - but I would use the normal urban precautions. It's not Lincoln Park. (Wait 20 years and it might be.)

let's not forget Lincoln Park is regularly in the news for muggings and the usual drunk 20-something shenanigans in the bars.

I love LP, but you're on the mark just going with the "urban precautions" concept IMO.