Get by in Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Lake View without a car? (Chicago: for rent)

[Tor_Nado]

I'm a 29 year old professional currently residing in NYC and have been contemplating a move to Chicago at some point because it's less crowded, cleaner and less expensive. However, I don't have a car.

The neighborhoods I'm thinking about are Lincoln Park and Gold Coast. I haven't visited Chicago yet but after browsing these neighborhoods through the "street view" feature on Google Maps, it seems there are a lot less shops, grocery stores and laundromats compared to NY. How far would I need to walk to find those conveniences? I'm used to walking out my front door and having everything I need within a 2 block radius.

Are the El train and buses nearby, and are they crowded?

Thanks in advance!

[Link N. Parker]

Yes, you absolutely can get by without a car, 100%, and there are many, many people who do.

The flip side though, is that you might have to go further for things than in NYC. For example, if you want to go to Whole Foods, you might have to take a bus or two to get to the closest one.

But generally, most things you will need to do on a daily basis, can be done within walking distance.

[chicagobear]

If you work in the Loop, it is quite easy to live without a car in those neighborhoods. I live on the near north side and work in the Loop and haven't had one for many years, and know quite a lot of people who don't as well.

[TBideon]

You will not need a car in those neighborhoods. Lincoln Park is more a conventional, albeit often expensive, neighborhood with everything you need within a stone's throw in most spots. The most desirable, walkable and transist-able street would be on Diversey (northern border) if you can find a place, especially by the Broadway/Clark/Diversey intersection. Kind of a hub of restaurants, sports bars, transit, lake and harbor access. Lots of familes, gays, singles in the 20s-30s, transplant-types.

The Gold Coast is quite a bit more expensive, more high rises along the lake, beter beach access, and converted mansions/old homes, high end restaurants in Viagra Triangle, douchebag bars and clubs on Division. Plenty of bus access there too (though the 151 can be a f'ing pain in the a$$ during the day) and the Clark/Division red line (which is a little ghetto and you'll have to be on your guard there). Fewer other neighborhood necessities than LP too.

[emathias]

For nearly all of the north lakefront neighborhoods, having a car is a convenience but not a necessity. South of about Irving Park Road, if cost is an issue having a car may even become very inconvenient. I've lived in Chicago without a car for 14 years. I do make use of Zipcar and taxis sometimes, and I even own a parking space, but I don't need to use a car for any of my daily or even weekly needs. I've lived in Lakeview, the Gold Coast and now in River North.

[marothisu]

I live in Gold Coast and have many friends in Lakeview and Lincoln Park. I myself have never owned a car here and hardly know anybody with a car, and the ones I do know with one barely ever use it. They only use it if they go to visit their families every month in Michigan or Ohio or something, but not for daily life.

There are multiple train lines that run through Lincoln Park and Lakeview (though they share the same stops a few times) and multiple train stops. Gold Coast has one train line but it's close by two others. Many bus routes go through each too. Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Gold Coast are some of the densest areas of the city (Lincoln Park is the least dense technically speaking, overall...but in some areas it's about even with Lakeview). The density of these areas isn't like most of NYC, although for short areas in the Gold Coast and Lakeview it can be 50,000+ per sq mile like in NYC, but it's not large areas

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by TBideon

You will not need a car in those neighborhoods. Lincoln Park is more a conventional, albeit often expensive, neighborhood with everything you need within a stone's throw in most spots. The most desirable, walkable and transist-able street would be on Diversey (northern border) if you can find a place, especially by the Broadway/Clark/Diversey intersection. Kind of a hub of restaurants, sports bars, transit, lake and harbor access. Lots of familes, gays, singles in the 20s-30s, transplant-types.

Diversey is one of the major streets, but I wouldn't call it the absolute major one. Broadway/Clark has a lot more than it (especially Clark and then when it splits into Broadway), as well as Lincoln, parts of Addison, Belmont, etc.

The Gold Coast is quite a bit more expensive, more high rises along the lake, beter beach access, and converted mansions/old homes, high end restaurants in Viagra Triangle, douchebag bars and clubs on Division. Plenty of bus access there too (though the 151 can be a f'ing pain in the a$$ during the day) and the Clark/Division red line (which is a little ghetto and you'll have to be on your guard there). Fewer other neighborhood necessities than LP too.

Gold Coast for renting is not that much more expensive than Lincoln Park on average believe it or not. I pay just under $1400/month for my one bedroom and the average for one bedrooms in the area normally run between about $1250 and $1600 a month. There are some exceptions of course with a few buildings above $2000/month and one even at $3000/month for it. On average Lincoln Park IS cheaper, but it's not by a lot. Lakeview is cheaper than both for sure.

[ChicagoMeO]

yeah, you can do without it - I did varioius times, but then i got sick of just being cooped up in my own environment, and wanted to go out to the suburbs, or to Michigan, and renting a car can be done but it was a bit of a hassle, but thats another story.

Sometimes you want to go visit friends in the suburbs and taking the train is not convenient, and sometimes you want to cart items home and its real nice to have your car sitting there waiting for you.

so a person can do it, but it sure does feel good to have a car when needed, even if you dont use it every day of the week, but when you need it, its there. and sometimes I really want to go to Ikea in Schaumburg, and i really want to see what im buying rather than just buy online all the time. different experiences... i just like having a car now.

So do what you want, you can get by with a rent a car, taxis, bus, trains, yeah, but it depends how much energy you have, how much you want to trudge thru the snow and rain, etc.

[SalingerBananafish]

Lincoln Park and Lakeview would depend on the area. Closer to the lake along Clark or Broadway, the streets are lined with shops. But it gets more residential when you get inland and you have to start taking the bus. The train system here is nowhere near as comprehensive as NYC's. Most areas are catered by the buses, not the trains.