Green line (Chicago, Oak Park, Addison: apartment, condo, townhome)

[sarahdeanne]

What neighborhoods on the green line would you recommend? Any with a great walkscore that have two flats and SFH's instead of mostly larger condo buildings? How is the green line? Who here rides it everyday?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by sarahdeanne

What neighborhoods on the green line would you recommend? Any with a great walkscore that have two flats and SFH's instead of mostly larger condo buildings? How is the green line? Who here rides it everyday?

I'm going to guess not many people on here live off the Green Line except for maybe some Oak Parkers or IIT students. Much of the Green Line goes through neighborhoods that most people choose not to live in and have lost significant population over the past 40 years. It also goes through some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

That said, if you really want to live off the Green Line for some reason, there are a few places you could consider.

The suburbs of Oak Park is the western end of the Green Line, and has a decent walk score and is mostly single family homes or smaller apartment and condo buildings.

The area from the Ashland/Lake stop east to the Clinton stop is mostly larger condo buildings, although you could walk a few blocks north and find a few SFH or townhome type places. The Loop stops are obviously not what you want, housing-wise. The Roosevelt stop does have some (expensive) SFH, 2-flat and townhome options within walking distance in the Dearborn Village and DV 2 developments (north and south of Roosevelt Rd, respectively).

On the south branches, the area around the 35th Street station (the Illinois Institute of Technology campus surrounds it) is reasonably safe and has some 2- and 3-flats east of it. South of that, things get sketchier and, in my opinion, you'd have to be pretty adventurous to want to live in those areas. Some of them are slowly starting to gentrify, like around the Indiana station (but still pretty sketchy) but some of them are outright dangerous (like around 51st, and the west branch south of 55/Garfield).

The area around the 63rd/Cottage Grove station is gentrifying. North of 63rd, toward the University of Chicago, are some 2- and 3-flats and similar small-scale buildings. It's safer than it used to be, but I don't have enough data to comment on just how far it's come yet.

[BNboy07]

I'm a Chicago newbie, so I can't tell you a lot. However, I've been here long enough to know the Green Line as a whole gets a pretty bad rap. Heading south, there aren't a whole bunch of nice neighborhoods along the Line.

However, the Garfield stop in Washington Park is just west of Hyde Park, which is where I live. Hyde Park is a nice area but it's surrounded rougher areas, Washington Park included. I've taken the Green Line a few times to get from Hyde Park to downtown. If you hop on a bus and head west, it'll drop you off right at the Garfield Green stop, so I think that's relatively safe. However, I've only gone during the daytime hours.

Not sure about the line heading west. Good luck.

[sarahdeanne]

Originally Posted by emathias

I'm going to guess not many people on here live off the Green Line except for maybe some Oak Parkers or IIT students. Much of the Green Line goes through neighborhoods that most people choose not to live in and have lost significant population over the past 40 years. It also goes through some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

That said, if you really want to live off the Green Line for some reason, there are a few places you could consider.

The suburbs of Oak Park is the western end of the Green Line, and has a decent walk score and is mostly single family homes or smaller apartment and condo buildings.

The area from the Ashland/Lake stop east to the Clinton stop is mostly larger condo buildings, although you could walk a few blocks north and find a few SFH or townhome type places. The Loop stops are obviously not what you want, housing-wise. The Roosevelt stop does have some (expensive) SFH, 2-flat and townhome options within walking distance in the Dearborn Village and DV 2 developments (north and south of Roosevelt Rd, respectively).

On the south branches, the area around the 35th Street station (the Illinois Institute of Technology campus surrounds it) is reasonably safe and has some 2- and 3-flats east of it. South of that, things get sketchier and, in my opinion, you'd have to be pretty adventurous to want to live in those areas. Some of them are slowly starting to gentrify, like around the Indiana station (but still pretty sketchy) but some of them are outright dangerous (like around 51st, and the west branch south of 55/Garfield).

The area around the 63rd/Cottage Grove station is gentrifying. North of 63rd, toward the University of Chicago, are some 2- and 3-flats and similar small-scale buildings. It's safer than it used to be, but I don't have enough data to comment on just how far it's come yet.

Thanks. Most areas that I had heard of or been to along the green line were not so nice but I didn't think that the whole line could be all bad. It's the most convenient commute for us so I was just wondering if there were any nicer areas I will check out the areas you mentioned.

[jonnynonos]

If you are an even moderately attractive caucasian female you will be subject to harassment if you take it regularly even a stop or two west of the Loop.

[AmosBanks]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

If you are an even moderately attractive caucasian female you will be subject to harassment if you take it regularly even a stop or two west of the Loop.

There are 2-flats the entire stretch of the Green Line S of downtown. Some neighborhoods are better than others and you will have to weigh other factors like shopping and entertainment.

I live on Drexel just north of Garfield. I have a monthly CTA card and I frequently take the Green Line. I have lived in Hyde Park for seven years. Most non-Black people exit at 35th or at Garfield. I rarely see anybody White or Asian ride the Green Line south of Garfield. That being said, I have never seen any kind of harassment while on the train. Not even a "hey, baby".

The Green Line is not all yuppified like the Red Line N of the Loop or the Brown Line. Most of the people look like CTA is their main form of transportation. There are some people who don't like being around the type of people on the Green Line, regardless of whether or not they are criminals. My wife is a train snob and it's like pulling teeth to even take the train to Addison for a ballgame. You will have to ride the Green Line and make your own decision.

There are alternatives to the Green Line if you want to live in those neighborhoods without taking the train. The #2 Hyde Park Express, the #4 Cottage Grove and the #3 King Drive all go through Green Line neighborhoods.

[jonnynonos]

I'm not saying it to incite, harass, disparage or any other reason than that is has been the truth in my experience. My friend took it to commute and my girlfriend took it to commute getting off at Clinton and both had the exact same experience, not just once, but many times.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by AmosBanks

...
I live on Drexel just north of Garfield.
...
The Green Line is not all yuppified like the Red Line N of the Loop or the Brown Line. Most of the people look like CTA is their main form of transportation. There are some people who don't like being around the type of people on the Green Line, regardless of whether or not they are criminals. My wife is a train snob and it's like pulling teeth to even take the train to Addison for a ballgame. You will have to ride the Green Line and make your own decision.

There are alternatives to the Green Line if you want to live in those neighborhoods without taking the train. The #2 Hyde Park Express, the #4 Cottage Grove and the #3 King Drive all go through Green Line neighborhoods.

Amos is right - Hyde Park and Kenwood can be considered served by the Green Line, however I didn't mention it because most of it is over a 15 minute walk from an actual station. When I think of living near a train line, I usually consider anything over 10 minutes walking to be further than I'd want to recommend just from a convenience standpoint. Definitely the parts east of, let's say Cottage Grove, south of 47th and north of 59th are mostly safe and pleasant places to live. I just don't consider them to be close enough to the Green Line that I associate them.

[sarahdeanne]

The whole point in living there would be the train access. But we would only do it if we could find a neighborhood with a good feel. It doesn't need to be yuppified at all just things to walk to and not completely overwhelmed with poverty and addiction. I like a good "working class neighborhood" I am a white female but I usually have kids with me when I ride the train :-) My husband would be taking it daily. How is it for crowds and reliability?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by sarahdeanne

The whole point in living there would be the train access. But we would only do it if we could find a neighborhood with a good feel. It doesn't need to be yuppified at all just things to walk to and not completely overwhelmed with poverty and addiction. I like a good "working class neighborhood" I am a white female but I usually have kids with me when I ride the train :-) My husband would be taking it daily. How is it for crowds and reliability?

It's reliable. It runs less frequently than some other branches, though. Also be aware that the south part of the Green Line will also be temporarily hosting the Red Line for about 5 months starting next Spring when the CTA reconstructs the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line so it may be very crowded then.

Where is it you'll need to be commuting to?