How's the area around S Michigan and 40th? (Chicago, Union: crime, hotels)

[ETN612]

Hello Chicagoans!

I'm a Minneapolitan who will be in Chicago mid-July for a weekend music festival at Union Park (Pitchfork festival, to be precise, I can't allow myself to miss Slowdive's only reunion show in the United States). I've been looking for hotel deals and I found a great deal for rooms at the Amber Inn in Bronzeville. It's relatively close to public transportation and sooo much cheaper than any of the hotels in the Loop/downtown area that are closer to Union Park. However, seeing it's location made me realize why it might possibly be such a good price. A cursory glance at the area on Google streetview shows overgrown empty lots, a couple abandoned homes and storefronts, and many homes with bars on the doors and windows, but also obviously new construction taking place, so I don't really know what to think; seem like the area may be in transition. I know looks aren't everything though (parts of north Minneapolis are the reverse of this, many rough blocks there don't look all that run down) so I figured I'd come on here and ask you fine people. I know this is close to the infamous south State St. corridor, but how has the area changed since the projects along State were torn down? What can I expect to come across/deal with, if anything, if I choose to stay there? I'm okay with the presence of panhandlers and street corner dealers and don't plan on stumbling back to my hotel drunk at 2 am or anything stupid like that, I just don't want to be somewhere it's blatantly unsafe. This area doesn't seem blatantly unsafe, but I just wanted to ask before I commit to anything.

Thanks so much in advance!

[chet everett]

This would be a foolish place for anyone from out of town to stay. It is an area that formerly was much worse but even though the public housing projects have been torn down you'd still be nuts to stay there. Too inconvenient, too barren, too uncomfortable.

Crime alone is not the only consideration, it is just foolish to waste time in a beautiful fun filled city like Chicago staying an "Inn" that has nothing desirable / fun / attractive near by.

While I applaud the iniative if the "inn keeper" to try to draw visitors to a area of Chicago that has few redeeming qualities the fact is that if OP wants a safe clean spot in a part of Chicago that has far more to recommend it they should check a hostel. Reservations | HI-Chicago