Bridgeport/Bridgeview (Chicago, Roberts: apartments, crime, loans)

[rw2006]

Statistically, Bridgeview and Bridgeport seem to be very nice, clean, safe, diverse areas. In reality, is that true?

[Lookout Kid]

These areas are really different from one another. Bridgeport is a city neighborhood somewhat close to the Loop (well if you can call 35th Street close), and Bridgeview is an older suburb.

Bridgeport is the old South Side Irish neighborhood that spawned the mayors Daley, but it's now much more diverse. There are still older Irish residents, but there are also a lot of Latinos, IIT Students, and eve a few African Americans. It's much more diverse than it used to be. There is more crime than in many of the popular North Side neighborhoods, but it's generally a safe area. And there has actually been some development of coffee shops and art galleries there, as surprising as that might be. Nearby Pilsen is sort of spilling over in both its Latino influence and its art scene. And there has actually been a lot of new home construction there in the past few years.

I don't know nearly as much about Bridgeview, but I do know that it's an older working class suburb that has had some Mafia activity in the past (Bridgeview Bank got in trouble for making loans to mobsters). People I've talked to in the past think it's a bit of a dump, but that's second-hand information.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

These areas are really different from one another. Bridgeport is a city neighborhood somewhat close to the Loop (well if you can call 35th Street close), and Bridgeview is an older suburb.

Bridgeport is the old South Side Irish neighborhood that spawned the mayors Daley, but it's now much more diverse. There are still older Irish residents, but there are also a lot of Latinos, IIT Students, and eve a few African Americans. It's much more diverse than it used to be.

Don't forget it's also about 1/4 Chinese what with Chinatown being directly North.

[AptHuntSteph]

I am looking for an apartment without a roommate, and am a woman in my late 20's. At this point I want to find a neighborhood/apartment that I can be comfortable living in for at least a few years, with a location close to the El since I work downtown. Bridgeport has come up a few times with what looks like some pretty good deals. The most recent being on
May Street, about a block south of 31st St. I have looked up a few crime stats, but would like to also hear from people that have lived in that neighborhood. I heard there is an area just north of the apartment I am interested in that is kind of shady... is it still pretty safe around there if you avoid walking through that part of Bridgeport? Any comments/advise would be greatly appreciated!

[lincolnparker]

east of halsted is better than west

[dmr37]

there is a strip club near 100th and Roberts rd. in Bridgeview

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by dmr37

there is a strip club near 100th and Roberts rd. in Bridgeview

which is primarily an industrial park.

I used to live in Bridgeview but moved out of Illinois in 2003...Bridgeview is a nice city to live in. You will probably find that property taxes are higher vs Chicago. Bridgeview has older and newer home stock and some apartments to choose from. Bridgeview has a great park district and I would advise you to find a home in that area if having access to a pool is important to you.

[snoylekim]

Bridgeview also has a high concentration of Middle Eastern First and Second Generation residents ..

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Bridgeport is the old South Side Irish neighborhood that spawned the mayors Daley, but it's now much more diverse. There are still older Irish residents, but there are also a lot of Latinos, IIT Students, and eve a few African Americans. It's much more diverse than it used to be. There is more crime than in many of the popular North Side neighborhoods, but it's generally a safe area. And there has actually been some development of coffee shops and art galleries there, as surprising as that might be.

Yeah, I was down there recently and was pleasantly surprised at all the new activity/storefronts/streetscaping going in along Halsted there. That stretch used to look pretty grim, but it's really coming up now.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Yeah, I was down there recently and was pleasantly surprised at all the new activity/storefronts/streetscaping going in along Halsted there. That stretch used to look pretty grim, but it's really coming up now.

Yeah, they have one of those cutesy overpriced, underperforming breakfast places down there now. I won't be back.

I got a MINT West Side Story soundtrack LP at Let's Boogie records at 33rd and Halsted the other day for only a sawbuck.

Andrew, are you Gravy Davy from Bridgeport?