Working in Deerfield but want to live in the city (Chicago: sales, apartment)

[minadeo23]

I just got a job in Deerfield but I definately want to live in the city. I 27 am coming to Chicago from Ohio and am trying to find a place in three weeks!! I like Lincoln park, lakeview, wrigleyville bucktown but I need to find a reasonably priced place and possibley close to 90/94 since I will be commuting to Deerfield. Of course I am just like everyone else who would love a large studio or 1 brm for 800-900, not sure if that is unrealistic. Right now I am just overwelmed and not sure how to go about finding a place. I have been using craiglist and might set up an appt with apartment finders but i still can't really tell how far the areas are. Any suggestions on a good place to live in so I can still expericence the city life but not too far since I will be driving to work everyday!

[M TYPE X]

This is gonna be a real fun commute while they are working on the Edens.

[Lookout Kid]

Is your Deerfield office near a Metra station? If so, I would try to live near that Metra line in the city and use that in lieu of driving. I would do anything to avoid that hell every day! Of course you could always use the Deerfield job to get acclimated in Chicago, and then find something in the Loop.

In terms of appartments in that price range, rents are going up now that condo sales have slowed... You could definitely find a studio in that range, but for a 1BR you'd probably have to look further north in Ravenswood, or even Rogers Park and Edgewater... Just be careful in those last two, because there are still some rougher blocks. But in Edgewater or Buena Park you could find a nice place in a Lakefront high-rise. Buena Park is just north of Lakeview, and things along the lake are pretty nice until you get to Montrose.

[Lookout Kid]

Re-reading your post, I figured I could list some of the neighborhoods along I-90/94, starting downtown.

River North: Just west of the Mag Mile--and quite expensive.

Bucktown/Wicker Park: Becoming quite upscale and expensive, but still a bit more gritty and hipper than Lincoln Park

Logan Square: A gentrifying Latino neighborhood with beautiful housing and wide green boulevards. Still close to the action in Bucktown, and well served by the Blue Line.

Old Irving/Portage Park: The highway runs sort of between these northwest side neighborhoods. Most of the housing is single-family bunglaows and foursquares. Probalby a bit borning for someone who is still in their 20s, but definitely affordable and safe. Ravenswood and North Center are great family-centered yet still urban neighborhoods directly to the east--and they have much more in the way of shopping and restaurants.

Jefferson Park: Almost out to O'Hare, and firmly in the "Bungalow Belt" along with Portage Park. It's almost all single-family bungalows, and has been a haven for cops and firefighters for years--though they are gettin a bit more yuppie-fied each year. Once again, probably pretty boring for someone your age, but the Blue Line provides access to the rest of the city.

[minadeo23]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

This is gonna be a real fun commute while they are working on the Edens.

I definatly heard construction is chicagos 5th season, is there another route to drive to deerfield... maybe down Sheridan Rd

[minadeo23]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Re-reading your post, I figured I could list some of the neighborhoods along I-90/94, starting downtown.

River North: Just west of the Mag Mile--and quite expensive.

Bucktown/Wicker Park: Becoming quite upscale and expensive, but still a bit more gritty and hipper than Lincoln Park

Logan Square: A gentrifying Latino neighborhood with beautiful housing and wide green boulevards. Still close to the action in Bucktown, and well served by the Blue Line.

Old Irving/Portage Park: The highway runs sort of between these northwest side neighborhoods. Most of the housing is single-family bunglaows and foursquares. Probalby a bit borning for someone who is still in their 20s, but definitely affordable and safe. Ravenswood and North Center are great family-centered yet still urban neighborhoods directly to the east--and they have much more in the way of shopping and restaurants.

Jefferson Park: Almost out to O'Hare, and firmly in the "Bungalow Belt" along with Portage Park. It's almost all single-family bungalows, and has been a haven for cops and firefighters for years--though they are gettin a bit more yuppie-fied each year. Once again, probably pretty boring for someone your age, but the Blue Line provides access to the rest of the city.

Thanks for the info. My job is located off Lake Cook Rd. and not sure about the metro stations and how they run... it is the same exit as the Chicago Botanical Gardens. I am very nervous about the commute but I think I am willing to do that to live in the city... at least try it!

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by minadeo23

I just got a job in Deerfield but I definately want to live in the city. I 27 am coming to Chicago from Ohio and am trying to find a place in three weeks!! I like Lincoln park, lakeview, wrigleyville bucktown but I need to find a reasonably priced place and possibley close to 90/94 since I will be commuting to Deerfield. Of course I am just like everyone else who would love a large studio or 1 brm for 800-900, not sure if that is unrealistic. Right now I am just overwelmed and not sure how to go about finding a place. I have been using craiglist and might set up an appt with apartment finders but i still can't really tell how far the areas are. Any suggestions on a good place to live in so I can still expericence the city life but not too far since I will be driving to work everyday!

Of those, only bucktown (or west lakeview) are close to 90/94. You can also try wicker park, but you will find your commute to be better if you live further north than that on 90/94. Are you definitly driving or is the metra an option? Regarding a studio/1 bedroom for 900, you would be fine in most of those neighborhoods (but lincoln park may be a stretch for a 1 bedroom).

[minadeo23]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

Of those, only bucktown (or west lakeview) are close to 90/94. You can also try wicker park, but you will find your commute to be better if you live further north than that on 90/94. Are you definitly driving or is the metra an option? Regarding a studio/1 bedroom for 900, you would be fine in most of those neighborhoods (but lincoln park may be a stretch for a 1 bedroom).

Not sure about the metra option... where can I look that up? Iplan on driving but if the metra would be easier I would like more info! Thanks!

[Lookout Kid]

Here's a map of the Deerfield Metra station... If your office is anywhere near this, I'd try to live near one of the stops in the city.

Metra / Deerfield Station Information

[Lookout Kid]

Actually, never mind. You'd have to live downtown or on the far Northwest side to be on the Milwaukee District North line of the Metra. If you could swing the West Loop, that would be ideal for your commute on the train, since the train stations downtown are all a bit west. And I could see the West Loop being a fun place to live if you were 27 and single.