Looking for that Neighborhood that fits me (village, clean)

[It'sAutomatic]

OP: you may like Pilsen or Little Village. Pilsen is considered to be gentrifying, but it's hard to tell, especially in the western part of the neighborhood. It's mostly Mexican with some white yuppies/hipsters and some Italians and blacks. Little Village is West of Pilsen and is not really gentrified at all, and is thus more Mexican. Pilsen is probably my favorite neighborhood as far as the built environment is concerned. There are older areas with frame houses and parts that are as red-bricked as St. Louis.

Bridgeport is to the south of Pilsen and is the only inner-city neighborhood with a large number of working class white people, but unlike South City, black people still aren't too welcome, but there are many Mexican and Chinese people.

These neighborhoods are on the opposite side of the city as the ones other people have mentioned, and gentrification is spreading much more slowly in these parts because they aren't as well-connected to the hipster and yuppy areas already established on the North side.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by Aleking

You have 4 slam dunk options, Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park and Albany Park.

All 4 are in a league of their own in the city diversity wise, have plenty of dive bars and have plenty of good ethnic eats.

Albany Park probably has the most limited transit options, only because the brown line isn't 24 hrs and because it doesn't have the same express bus service.

Edgewater is probably the most gentrified.

Budget would help.

I agree. this cluster of neighborhoods in Chicago are the super diverse melting pot of Chicago. Everywhere else in Chicago outside the Lincoln Park to South Loop/museum campus downtown/core corridor, and intellectual/ivy league Hyde Park-Kenwood, is either

Black, White Catholic, first gen. Mexican, and Big Ten graduate young professionals.

[trailblazer33]

Lots of great responses, thank you all. Definitely lots of food for thought.

[linicx]

The Chicago area is approaching a population of 10M, with 6.000 restaurants and at least 1000 neighborhoods. Some of it is very trendy and very expensive while others are not so expensive and dangerous. It isn't any different in NYC, LA, SF, NOLA, Miami, etc..

The Village of Oak Park is the nearest Western inner ring suburb. It shares a border with the City of Chicago. It is the original diverse community that also happens to have the world largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. If you like the latter 19th century structures you should enjoy OP. And yes, you can here by train, bus, taxi, limo and zip car. With these types of services in Chicago you don't generally need a car, but if you do, you can rent one for a hour or two.

[themag62]

"You generally don't need a car"

-when you are single and no kids. Believe me, this changes when you are a working parent. Short on time, lugging groceries for the week, aftercare pick up before 6 and fitting in working 8 hours plus lunch and commute time-it's difficult to pull off without a car. People that do have my admiration.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by themag62

"You generally don't need a car"

-when you are single and no kids. Believe me, this changes when you are a working parent. Short on time, lugging groceries for the week, aftercare pick up before 6 and fitting in working 8 hours plus lunch and commute time-it's difficult to pull off without a car. People that do have my admiration.

hence the word generally

[drifter11]

hello, I'm looking to move to chicago after summer, planning to get a studio apartment or a 1 bedroom, around little village. My question is, will a young white guy be alright if he lives there and keeps to himself? Looking forward to the move. Please reply

[drifter11]

any help or other advice on living in the city would be apreciated

[It'sAutomatic]

Originally Posted by drifter11

hello, I'm looking to move to chicago after summer, planning to get a studio apartment or a 1 bedroom, around little village. My question is, will a young white guy be alright if he lives there and keeps to himself? Looking forward to the move. Please reply

Yes. There's gang activity there, and being mistaken for someone else can be hazardous, but this can be remedied by not dressing like a thug. Overall, it's a decent area for a single person who likes to save money and doesn't mind being a little "out there".

[drifter11]

thank you for the reply, should be alright then since I dress in a clean cut way