Help! Moving into the city! (Chicago, Evanston: rent, neighborhoods, construction)

[tulalola]

Hi!
My boyfriend and I are moving into the "city" for the first time and we would like any and all suggestions.
We need to be close to either the metra, the L or both so he can get to Evanston (for work), Licoln Park (for school) and the Loop (for school). We were thinking about Lincoln Square because the Brown line and the Metra are both there.
Does anyone have anyother suggestions?
We are looking to spend $900-$1100 and would like either a 2 bedroom or a one bedroom with a dinning room and living room.
Is this too much to ask?
Any information is appreciated!
Thanks!

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Yep. Lincoln Square or Ravenswood. Ravenswood is a little cheaper, closer to the Metra stop, and one stop closer to Lincoln Park on the Brown Line.

[Lookout Kid]

The big problem you'll have in Ravenswood is that it's the wrong El and the wrong Metra to get you to Evanston. It's quite convenient to the Loop and Lincoln Park, though. Lakeview is probably a better option, or any of the neighborhoods on the North Side along the Red and Purple Line trains (Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Buena Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park). In that rent range, a 2BR in Edgewater may be possible, but you could definitely find a 1BR with a dining room in Lakeview, which is quite desirable and safe.

By the way, Lincoln Square is part of the larger neighborhood called Ravenswood, which is part of the larger official recognized "Communitiy Area" known as Lincoln Square. It's confusing, I know!

[reppin_the_847]

Ravenswood has the correct Metra stop (to reach Evanston), but it's Brown Line stops won't get you straight to Evanston. So you were correct about the CTA part, but incorrect about the Metra. The Union Pacific North Metra train from Chicago stops in Ravenswood, and continues north into Evanston. It's a speedy ride too.

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The big problem you'll have in Ravenswood is that it's the wrong El and the wrong Metra to get you to Evanston. It's quite convenient to the Loop and Lincoln Park, though. Lakeview is probably a better option, or any of the neighborhoods on the North Side along the Red and Purple Line trains (Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Buena Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park). In that rent range, a 2BR in Edgewater may be possible, but you could definitely find a 1BR with a dining room in Lakeview, which is quite desirable and safe.

By the way, Lincoln Square is part of the larger neighborhood called Ravenswood, which is part of the larger official recognized "Communitiy Area" known as Lincoln Square. It's confusing, I know!

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

Ravenswood has the correct Metra stop (to reach Evanston), but it's Brown Line stops won't get you straight to Evanston. So you were correct about the CTA part, but incorrect about the Metra. The Union Pacific North Metra train from Chicago stops in Ravenswood, and continues north into Evanston. It's a speedy ride too.

Yeah, there's no reason to ride the el to Evanston. If you needed to, you could go down to the Lawrence Red Line, which isn't far at all, and take that North to Howard and switch to Purple.

I have some friends who live in Ravenswood. They both work downtown and one is in a grad program at the Evanston campus of Northwestern. They live a few blocks from the Ravenswood stop and it works really well for them.

[Avengerfire]

Lincoln Square and Ravenswood are good but if you move to certain parts of (some areas you have to watch out for however) Edgewater ,Uptown ,eastern Irving Park or eastern Albany Park your rent will be much cheaper and you still have a good location.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Lincoln Square and Ravenswood are good but if you move to certain parts of (some areas you have to watch out for however) Edgewater ,Uptown ,eastern Irving Park or eastern Albany Park your rent will be much cheaper and you still have a good location.

Again, your drawback here would be not being as close to the Metra stop. That train does wonders for your commutes if you need to go to Evanston AND the Loop.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Again, your drawback here would be not being as close to the Metra stop. That train does wonders for your commutes if you need to go to Evanston AND the Loop.

You can get ride the Red line to the Loop or to Howard and switch to the Purple line to Evanston if you live in Edgewater or Uptown. The Red line runs right through them. There are many ways to get downtown and to Evanston from both those areas.

In Albany Park you can take the Brown Line downtown and in Irving Park the Blue Line. It is a little trickier getting to Evanston from Irving Park via the Cta. But if you drive to Evanston up Western or certain other streets its not too bad. There is a bus called the 93California/Dodge also that goes to Davis and Chicago in Evanston. It can be caught near North Park University and by the Kimball stop of the Brown Line also. Although its status is up in the air with the threatened service "cuts".

You could always move to east parts Lake View and take the Red or Brown Line with relative ease downtown or the Purple to Evanston from the Belmont stop. Even with the construction it is still relatively quick.

With the CTA up in the air with things the only choice that is safe is living near the Red Line. Many buses that go through Lincoln Square are in danger of being cut. Its all a personal choice. If you want to go with Metra live in "Ravenswood".

Its not that hard to get to Evanston or The Loop without the Metra.
If the poster does not want to ride anything but the Metra you would be correct;-)

[Lookout Kid]

Oops, sorry about that Metra comment! I don't ride it.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

You can get ride the Red line to the Loop or to Howard and switch to the Purple line to Evanston if you live in Edgewater or Uptown. The Red line runs right through them. There are many ways to get downtown and to Evanston from both those areas.

In Albany Park you can take the Brown Line downtown and in Irving Park the Blue Line. It is a little trickier getting to Evanston from Irving Park via the Cta. But if you drive to Evanston up Western or certain other streets its not too bad. There is a bus called the 93California/Dodge also that goes to Davis and Chicago in Evanston. It can be caught near North Park University and by the Kimball stop of the Brown Line also. Although its status is up in the air with the threatened service "cuts".

You could always move to east parts Lake View and take the Red or Brown Line with relative ease downtown or the Purple to Evanston from the Belmont stop. Even with the construction it is still relatively quick.

With the CTA up in the air with things the only choice that is safe is living near the Red Line. Many buses that go through Lincoln Square are in danger of being cut. Its all a personal choice. If you want to go with Metra live in "Ravenswood".

Its not that hard to get to Evanston or The Loop without the Metra.
If the poster does not want to ride anything but the Metra you would be correct;-)

Avengerfire, you're certainly correct. These are all options, and I hope the OP never got from my comments that they weren't. One thing these options can't offer you, however, is the opportunity to be in the loop in LITERALLY 15 minutes or in Evanston in 6-12 minutes depending on which stop you're trying for. Living near the Ravenswood metra can do that. In addition, you'd be minutes from the Brown Line or Red Line if you do decided to go for the CTA.