What Is The Area Around The Wellington And Belmont Stops Like? (Chicago: neighborhood, living)

[Chicago87]

I know that area is still technically Lakeview, but what is it like around there?

Will a single and heterosexual male enjoy living around there? I know there is Boystown right there. It seems like that area is predominately white. My friend that is Asian American is thinking about moving there. Will he experience any problems or will he like it there?

[marothisu]

The areas are completely fine and nobody is going to care what race your friend is. Belmont still has an edgy/gritty side to it actually and as far as daytime traffic goes is pretty mixed. Whenever I've been there on a weekend night I've noticed a lot of different types of people there and to the east of it. In fact, right east a new Indian place, an Asian Tapas place, a Korean-American grill fusion type of place (like BopNGrill), and an Asian street food place. There's also an older sushi bar right there, a Korean-Mexican fusion place, and I think a Chinese restaurant still. Lakeview may be 80%+ white, but there are areas within it that offfer quite an array of world cuisines that people obviously keep in business. I believe there used to be both a Turkish and Ethiopian place there but they closed I think, as well as the legitimate Hookah bar that burned down recently (started in the bar next door). You'd also be surprised at how many African Americans hang out in the Belmont area on the weekend too.

I do find it weird that people assume that if an area is predominantly one race that they'll have problems with other races. Nobody really cares in these areas, especially around Belmont.

For the record, the census tracts that directly cover the Belmont and Wellington stops are 7% and 8% Asian, which amounts to about 500 people. All of the adjacent tracts are over 5% each, amounting to another 870 people, so over 1370 people at the census in that general area who claimed Asian race. Yeah, it's fairly white but he'll hardly be alone in the area and furthermore, people don't care.

[MichiVegas]

The neighborhood is fine and even quite nice in parts, but Belmont itself is gritty and can be sketchy at night.

I personally would live near Belmont, but not right on Belmont. Way to noisy and too much drama.

[Freefall18]

I also wouldn't recommend living right by the Belmont stop. It'll be way too noisy, and that has been a frequent problem area at night. By the Wellington stop is fine, but it also may be pretty noisy right by there because there's a busy hospital right there, so you might have to get used to a lot of sirens.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Chicago87

I know that area is still technically Lakeview, but what is it like around there?

Will a single and heterosexual male enjoy living around there? I know there is Boystown right there. It seems like that area is predominately white. My friend that is Asian American is thinking about moving there. Will he experience any problems or will he like it there?

I am proud to have grown up in a neighborhood tolerant enough to have evolved a Boystown, but I think people tend to overstate those demographic numbers in the area. Lake View is monstrous - 95,000 people in the community area. It's got something for everyone.

And yes, Lake View seems to have gotten whiter in the sense of affluence (the hillbillies are gone), even though I see a sizeable number of people of color every time I am at Belmont and Sheffield.

But basically, go a block south to Barry and onward and the Boystown feel dissipates pretty rapidly. Let's face it, Masonic is the big dog in town as far as Wellington goes, and go just south of Wellington and Agassiz is now a pretty might force to be reckoned with.

So in short, no, you all should be fine - I don't know which Asian country your friend is from, but although Lake View historically was German, there was a sizeable Japanese community still in evidence by Japanese Culture Center - Chicago Aikido Classes | Martial Arts: Bujinkan, Jujutsu, Karate, Kenpo, Kendo, Iaido, and Shorinji Kempo, Capoeira, Zen, Internal Breath and Meditation Training, and Yoga, Japanese Language Classes (Nihongo), Japanese Calli, where I train. If you have specific questions about it feel free to shoot me a private message.

[MichiVegas]

Yeah, for "gay feel", Lakeview only has an obvious concentration of "gayborhood activity" north of Belmont, for a few blocks. Lakeview as a whole is pretty big, and prime Lakeview (say south of Belmont, to Diversey) doesn't seem to be more or less gay than any other yuppie part of Chicago.

[Chicago60614]

I lived at Wellington and Sheffield for two years, and in that immediate area for many more years. I actually think it's a great location right around Wellington, very safe, tons to do, nice tree lined streets, access to a lot of rail/buses as well as the lakefront not too far away. I liked being able to walk down to Broadway very easily.

I would also agree that once you get south of Belmont the "gay" factor dies away fairly quickly, although you'll still have random gay people living there going about their lives, which is perfectly fine.

Also understand that Wrigleyville is basically just as far as Boystown, so you have a lot going on right to the north. I would stay away from right at the Belmont stop or living on Belmont between Sheffield and Halsted. It's fine during the day, and gets annoying at night.

As a gay person I've noticed that the gay population who does live in the area more actively spreads out to the north more than the south. I'm amazed at how "totally gay" Buena Park and Uptown are. I have a few gay friends who just moved in near Buena and they're floored at how many gay people have treked up north.

[chicagobear]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

And yes, Lake View seems to have gotten whiter in the sense of affluence (the hillbillies are gone), even though I see a sizeable number of people of color every time I am at Belmont and Sheffield.

"Hillbillies" are usually pretty white...

[MichiVegas]

Lakeview had hillbillies and Puerto Ricans back in the 60's 70's and 80's, to an extent. You still see a tiny hint of this past in the western reaches closer to the freeway, which are only semi-gentrified.

[Vlajos]

Lake View ends at Racine on the west, the whole community area is pretty well gentrified. North Center is to the west of Lake View which is almost completely gentrified as well.