Moving To Chicago In July From Jersey/nyc. Need Help With Neighborhood! (Berwyn: how much, homes)

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Why bring up this old thread again?

Apparently to tell the OP that we're all from Ohio and "half no clue how to dress". Since that's the issue and all.

[miserylovesco.]

Wicker Park is where you want to live.

[67 and Artesian]

people who are first to come to an area that is in a rebuilding phase
early gentrification

[pianogal34]

is a great area. if you get close to Lake Shore Dr, you'll have great bus access to downtown. Lots of great restaurants on Broadway, and cute lil shops. very friendly.

[maxwellimus]

actually I am now narrowing down my search to Wicker Park, West Loop, South Loop.

I have decided on these places b/c of the "loft" style apartments they have. I like the West Loop and South Loop b/c of the new construction they have there. But it seems to me that the South Loop is more dead than the West Loop as to nightlife and restaurants, but, I don't really know.

Wicker Park is still a choice I am considering, but the units there seems to be in low rise buildings.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

actually I am now narrowing down my search to Wicker Park, West Loop, South Loop.

I have decided on these places b/c of the "loft" style apartments they have. I like the West Loop and South Loop b/c of the new construction they have there. But it seems to me that the South Loop is more dead than the West Loop as to nightlife and restaurants, but, I don't really know.

Wicker Park is still a choice I am considering, but the units there seems to be in low rise buildings.

To be honest, both the West and South Loop feel largely dead to me. They're neat areas, and who doesn't love the idea of a big timber loft? However, there's a lot more life in areas like WP.

[maxwellimus]

does dead also equal unsafe?

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

does dead also equal unsafe?

No. Why would it?

[maxwellimus]

less street traffic, less pedestrian traffic, overall no visualness to deter crime from happening.

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

actually I am now narrowing down my search to Wicker Park, West Loop, South Loop.

I have decided on these places b/c of the "loft" style apartments they have. I like the West Loop and South Loop b/c of the new construction they have there. But it seems to me that the South Loop is more dead than the West Loop as to nightlife and restaurants, but, I don't really know.

Wicker Park is still a choice I am considering, but the units there seems to be in low rise buildings.

Wicker Park is so far removed from West Loop or South Loop that it seems unusual for all of them to have made the same short list.

As far as neighborhood amenities go, I think the WL has the SL beat at this point, simply because both Greektown and the Randolph market are so well-established. This project looks extremely promising and should have a major impact on the south end if it ever gets off the ground:

Homes, retail planned at former Fannie May site :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business (http://www.suntimes.com/business/907500,CST-FIN-fannie22.article - broken link)

The main advantage the South Loop has is that it has better lake access than both the West Loop (which is through the Loop) and Wicker Park (which has none).

Wicker Park's advantages? None that I can I state that haven't already been said a million times. It has far more amenities than WL or SL, but they are not what you would call style-neutral, so whether they are Cool or Cliche depends entirely on your point of view (and probably your age).

That is why, unless you 25 years old and/or never lived in a big city before, I highly recommend that you walk around there first. Sit in the Pontiac, see who wanders by, and then make up your mind if WP is really the place for you.

It may very well be, or you may find it to be one of those been-there done-that kind of things. But you really won't know unless you go check it out for yourself.