Wanting to live some place cheaper.. help please? (Chicago, Lincoln: 2015, lease)

[Mirinjobra]

Hey guys, so a bit of a background on me - I'm a 29 year old single guy, make about $100k, have a car and commute daily for work out of the city towards Indiana (so I take lakeshore drive), have lived in the following places in Chicago:

2013 - Edgewater - Shared a highrise with an older guy right off of lakeshore/lawrence, paid $750/month, parking included. Didn't really like it up there, seemed like a poor area with less than reputable people.

2014/2015 - Lakeview - Had a studio to myself right off lakeshore/irving, paid $1300/month, parking included. It was nice living close to the lakefront trail (I was literally across the street), but I didn't like the long morning traffic coming out of lakeshore to get to Indiana. Also didn't like the demographics, seemed like a lot of people in the "underground/goth/lgbtq" scene. Seemed like a potentially dangerous area.

2016/2017 - Streeterville - Currently live here still, my lease expires next April. Paying $1850/month, parking/utilities included. I love the easy access to lakeshore (honestly I'm very glad I don't have to sit on lakeshore traffic all morning now). I love the easy access to michigan ave, whole foods, and upscale community here. Diversity is great. Also really like the place, it's a condo. However, I'm not that thrilled about the price, which is actually a great deal.


Bottom line, I'm an ethnic dude looking to find someone to settle down with, and looking to form a strong social circle. I'm also looking to cut down on my rent, but would like to avoid moving too far up north and don't want roommates. I really enjoy being in communities where there is wealth, and good people with lots of cultural diversity. Do I really have any options besides river north/gold coast/streeterville/old town? If I found a place close to I90/94 that would also be great because I can take that to Indiana instead of lakeshore/I55.

The bar/club scene is not important to me but everything else I mentioned is..

[chicagobear]

Any interest in Hyde Park or Pilsen?

[tribecavsbrowns]

Originally Posted by Mirinjobra

Hey guys, so a bit of a background on me - I'm a 29 year old single guy, make about $100k, have a car and commute daily for work out of the city towards Indiana (so I take lakeshore drive), have lived in the following places in Chicago:

2013 - Edgewater - Shared a highrise with an older guy right off of lakeshore/lawrence, paid $750/month, parking included. Didn't really like it up there, seemed like a poor area with less than reputable people.

2014/2015 - Lakeview - Had a studio to myself right off lakeshore/irving, paid $1300/month, parking included. It was nice living close to the lakefront trail (I was literally across the street), but I didn't like the long morning traffic coming out of lakeshore to get to Indiana. Also didn't like the demographics, seemed like a lot of people in the "underground/goth/lgbtq" scene. Seemed like a potentially dangerous area.

2016/2017 - Streeterville - Currently live here still, my lease expires next April. Paying $1850/month, parking/utilities included. I love the easy access to lakeshore (honestly I'm very glad I don't have to sit on lakeshore traffic all morning now). I love the easy access to michigan ave, whole foods, and upscale community here. Diversity is great. Also really like the place, it's a condo. However, I'm not that thrilled about the price, which is actually a great deal.


Bottom line, I'm an ethnic dude looking to find someone to settle down with, and looking to form a strong social circle. I'm also looking to cut down on my rent, but would like to avoid moving too far up north and don't want roommates. I really enjoy being in communities where there is wealth, and good people with lots of cultural diversity. Do I really have any options besides river north/gold coast/streeterville/old town? If I found a place close to I90/94 that would also be great because I can take that to Indiana instead of lakeshore/I55.

The bar/club scene is not important to me but everything else I mentioned is..

No, IMO. You said you like your area and have a great deal on rent. I would try to find other ways to save money.

[Mirinjobra]

Originally Posted by tribecavsbrowns

No, IMO. You said you like your area and have a great deal on rent. I would try to find other ways to save money.

Is it a stretch to cut my rent/parking down to about $1500/1600 all in, in the areas I mentioned?

[tribecavsbrowns]

With parking included? Yes, I think it's a stretch. I don't speak from personal experience there, though. The closest I lived to Streeterville was Lincoln Park, so I'll defer to others on that question.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by chicagobear

Any interest in Hyde Park or Pilsen?

if this guy finds Edgewater and Lakeview beneath him and whose main requirement seems to be living among wealthy people, hes not going to last a day in Pilsen

[BOBNCHI]

I'm stunned!

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by via chicago

if this guy finds Edgewater and Lakeview beneath him and whose main requirement seems to be living among wealthy people, hes not going to last a day in Pilsen

But Hyde Park-Kenwood might still work.

[ToriaT]

If he did not like Edgewater or Lakeview he's not going to like Hyde Park or Pilsen. Sounds like he is not a neighborhood guy. I'd say stay where you are or look into River North or maybe South Loop but whether it would be any cheaper is anyone's guess.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

If he did not like Edgewater or Lakeview he's not going to like Hyde Park or Pilsen. Sounds like he is not a neighborhood guy. I'd say stay where you are or look into River North or maybe South Loop but whether it would be any cheaper is anyone's guess.

Pilsen, sure, but Hyde Park? There's a sizable amount of middle and upper middle class income people there. It's among the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the city, a short drive to Indiana for the commute and a lakeshore neighborhood which all fall into what the OP asked for. It's even hit the little tidbit of having a Whole Foods.

It's not a perfect fit, but it's probably worth looking into.