Moving to downtown Chicago in June (real estate, lease, crime)

[Manigault]

Well, since I was there today, I can state, with all due respect, that you are just wrong. When's the last time you have walked those streets? Since there is a major HMO, two hospitals, a clinic, the police HQ and three high schools (Phillips, Dunbar and DeLaSalle) in that area many people go there daily for business or residential reasons.

Talk more of what you've observed.

[maxwellimus]

wow this poor girl, she's probably like what did i get myself into.

[sahihe]

[SIZE=2]
Thanks so much, all of you, for taking the time to provide the wonderful input, I greatly appreciate it.

From what I am reading, and from what I had heard earlier, the area definitely has safety issue. However, declining that offer is not a viable option for me. During my interview, a couple of people had mentioned that I could stay at Prarie Shore apartments. From a location point of view it is ultra convenient - I can just walk to work and back. I was also told that I could have someone from hospital security walk me to the apartment or the car if I was getting done with work at an odd time. But its reviews on apartmentratings, are very iffy, so I leaning away from it.

While researching for a family friendly neighborhood on these boards, I narrowed it down to Gold coast, Lincoln park, Wrigliville, and Roscoe village. Do these neighborhoods have good preschool/daycare options? Are some of them better than others in that respect? I will most likely drive from there to Mercy (hospital will provide parking). If you folks could provide some idea on how long of a commute I should expect from these neighborhoods (mornings between 5am-6am, evenings 6-8pm), that will be awesome.

Presidential Towers, in west loop, also looks like a decent option. It is only 5 miles from Mercy. Is it in a kid friendly neighborhood? The reviews for this also are only 50% positive, even though it is about $2000 for a 2B. I am wondering if we can find something better (and maybe slightly cheaper) in the above mentioned neighborhoods, without significantly adding to the commute.

Thanks again.

[/SIZE]

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Manigault

Well, since I was there today, I can state, with all due respect, that you are just wrong. When's the last time you have walked those streets? Since there is a major HMO, two hospitals, a clinic, the police HQ and three high schools (Phillips, Dunbar and DeLaSalle) in that area many people go there daily for business or residential reasons.

I wonder how much of the crime rate there is attributable to the high schools. Many (maybe all?) city high schools have police liaison offices and every incident from a fistfight to a bag of dope found in a locker ends up on a police blotter.

[Drover]

sahihe:

A lot of the neighborhoods you mention are far more young-singles and DINK-friendly than family-friendly. Roscoe Village is the one exception. The neighborhood around Presidential Towers is not particularly friendly, mostly because it's not really much of a residential area. It's pretty desolate at night. I had a friend who lived in PT once; basically he said you're paying for convenience more than amenities. If you're looking for kid-friendly, PT would be about the last place I'd look.

[july]

I'm not familiar with the school situation, but I live in Roscoe Village, and it's very family friendly and safe. Good luck with your search.

[sahihe]

Thanks for the input Drover. I didn't realize that PT wasn't in a residential area - will pass on it. Btw, what is DINK-friendly? Could you guys recommend other family friendly neighborhoods - is Wrigleyville/Lakeview good from that point of view?

July: Any idea how much of a commute it is from Roscoe Village to Mercy around 6am and 7pm. Thanks!

[Drover]

DINK = Double Income, No Kids -- in other words, typically young professional childless couples or maybe empty-nesters. Wrigleyville is definitely a 20s and early 30s party zone. West Lakeview would be better; it's adjacent to Roscoe Village. I'd say the best kid-friendly area with the easiest commute to Mercy would be Bridgeport.

[WhiteSandsYucca]

I can't answer your questions, but I hope for you well with your new life and job! Congrats! Chicago is such a great city. Downtown has such exciting, sharp architecture, and so much going on. Standing along the lake, looking at the city is amazing, as it stands abrupt and sturdy along shores of Lake Michigan. With all the skyscrapers, setbacks, needles, spires, and antennas, it really is such a sight!

[wdhawk]

I would look into living in the South Loop if I was you. That area is just as nice as any of the other areas that you mentioned. Just look at the number of new high rises that are going up on nearly every block. Plus you have the convenience of only being a couple minutes from Mercy. I think anything north of Cermak is quite safe (possible exception being Cermak & Wabash intersection).

For all of the negative reviews of the area, I think people have formed opinions from the past and have not spent much time in that area recently. I'm not saying there is no crime there, but it is night and day from what it was 10-20 years ago.