Comprehensive newcomer's guide? (Chicago, Lincoln, Calumet Park: apartment, condo, how much)

[Thepreacherswife]

We'll be moving to Chicago from MO sometime in February and we're trying to make a list of all the things we have to do to get settled in, like:

- utilities: who to contact, how to set up accounts
- car: getting registration, plates, title etc
- pets: do they need to be licensed?
- income taxes: local (if any) & state
- property taxes: how to register for homestead exemption, declarations, payment due dates
- garbage collection days
- recycling options
- schools: how to register your child

I would have thought the official city site would have something like this, but I can only find some bits and pieces. Is there something out there like this? If anyone can point me to a link, it would be much appreciated.

And if anyone can think of other things to add to list, maybe it would make a good sticky...

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

We'll be moving to Chicago from MO sometime in February and we're trying to make a list of all the things we have to do to get settled in, like:

- utilities: who to contact, how to set up accounts
- car: getting registration, plates, title etc
- pets: do they need to be licensed?
- income taxes: local (if any) & state
- property taxes: how to register for homestead exemption, declarations, payment due dates
- garbage collection days
- recycling options
- schools: how to register your child

I would have thought the official city site would have something like this, but I can only find some bits and pieces. Is there something out there like this? If anyone can point me to a link, it would be much appreciated.

And if anyone can think of other things to add to list, maybe it would make a good sticky...

First, if you are buying, your realtor should be able to help you out, as could your apartment company in terms of utilities, etc. Gas is generally people's gas, energy is comed, cable is comcast or rcn (can check more out at City of Chicago). I can't speak to taxes. You can go to the DMV for most of your car needs. You need to get a city sticker for your car through the city of chicago webpage (https://webapps.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/), and may need to get a parking permit through your neighborhood depending on where you live (you can check with your alderman). Pets do need to be licensed and this is also through the city (City Clerk of Chicago - Available Services). Also, if you have a dog and you plan on using a dog park, you need a tag which you can get through any vet (with proof of rabies). For recycling, you use the blue bag system. You buy blue bags at any grocery store, but the recycling in it and throw it in with regular garbage. What school district is your child in? Also, check out this link (City of Chicago) it should help

[jessiegirl_98]

Also, here is where you can find school registration info Chicago Public Schools

[Avengerfire]

The Blue Bag program is a waste of time.It does not work and is being phased out. If you want to recycle, the city has new blue carts in some areas that are next to your regular garbage cans. If not, they have collection points as well and some non-profits have collection points that I use in addition to the city sources. If you do not mind packing up the car and bringing your stuff up to one of those, it is perferable to the blue bag or even the blue cart system. You know if you drop this stuff off, it will be recycled. With the residential city collection, I do not know how much that can be trusted to be actually recycled, especially the blue bag program; which is a failure. I do not know where you are moving around or if you will have a car,but here is a collection site list for you:

City sites:
Pershing Road 1424 W. 39th Street
Near South 1758 S. Clark
Calumet Park Beach 9801 S. Avenue G
Auburn Gresham 7811 S. Racine
Household Products & Electronics Collection & Training Center 1150 N. North Branch
Chicago Center for Green Technology 445 N. Sacramento
North Lawndale 1817 S. Pulaski
West Pullman 11615 S. Indiana
Pasteur Park 5825 S. Kostner
Marquette Park 6734 S. Kedzie
Riis Park 6110 W. Fullerton
Portage Park Neighborhood 4243 N. Neenah
Kosciuszko Park 2732 N. Avers
Rainbow Park 3111 E. 77th Street
Far North Side 6441 N. Ravenswood

City/non profit partnership:
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive

Non-profits:

North Park Village
5801 North Pulaski Road
Chicago, Illinois 60646
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Accepts: aluminum and steel cans; brown, clear, and green bottles and jars; newspaper.

Uptown Recycling Station
4716 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, Illinois 60640
(773) 821-1351
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Closed Wednesday, Sunday, and holidays.
Accepts: aluminum and steel cans; brown, clear, and green bottles and jars; newspaper.

Wrightwood Neighbors Recycling
2600 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60614
(773) 821-1351
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.
Accepts: aluminum and steel cans; brown, clear, and green glass bottles and jars; newspaper.

[eevee]

SORRY! slightly OT question: does IL do bottle/can redemption for recycling? I've always meant to ask this question, and never understood the recycling system here (I miss the days where every single supermarket had machines to recycle and redeem your cans/bottles for cash)

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by eevee

SORRY! slightly OT question: does IL do bottle/can redemption for recycling? I've always meant to ask this question, and never understood the recycling system here (I miss the days where every single supermarket had machines to recycle and redeem your cans/bottles for cash)

No redemption at the moment. We should have it though. It is possible it will happen within a year or two.

There are places to redeem cans for the going rate of aluminium per pound of course.

[Chicago Condos]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

- utilities: who to contact, how to set up accounts
- car: getting registration, plates, title etc (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/title_registration/home.html - broken link)
- pets: do they need to be licensed? Note: pet excrement feeds the rats! Be sure to remove what gets 'left behind'
- income taxes: local 1-0(if any) & state Note: The State website is pretty easy to surf. Just follow the links on the left menu
- property taxes: how to register for homestead exemption (broken link) (updated info: 1-18-08) (add'l info), declarations, payment due dates
- garbage collection days Varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and building to building (condo associations can have their own private service, independent of all other schedules)
- recycling options
- schools: how to register your child (public school registration in Chicago) Note: Private schools may have their own guidelines and procedures (Private schools in Chicago)

I hope this helps you. Some other things you might want to use:

Learn about Chicago's Info-line: 311

Chicago Maps (This one is my own personal project, still very much in the building stage, but over 50% done!)

As I'm sure Drover will agree, go to your Alderman when in doubt for anything government related. (Wish I knew this when I first moved here)

Getting around the city

And, of course, do web searches of:
Buckingham Fountain
"The Bean" @ Cloud Gate
Navy Pier
and Chicago Museums

Enjoy and welcome to Chicago!

[Avengerfire]

Also remember you can recycle household batteries at all Chicago Public Libraries and Walgreens stores.

City of Chicago