Moving back, Logan Square vs Rogers Park (Chicago, Oak Park: condo, home)

[EMC217]

I'm looking for any feedback you think would be relevant...

My husband and I are moving back to Chicago in a couple months after being gone for almost 3 years (We've been in Nashville and currently, Minneapolis). We're looking to buy in either Logan Square or Rogers Park.

Here are a few things we're taking into consideration:
-We'll have one car, mainly for my husband's use to get into work
-He'll be working in Oakbrook Terrace, but will only have to be in the office 2-3 days a week (but that'd be a bad commute from RP)
-He also travels frequently, so easy access to ORD & MDW is also desirable
-I will be involved in the theater scene (which means late nights, odd hours), and have a part-time job, restaurant/retail/temping, etc. (The majority of theaters are located on the north side, so access to the redline would be nice for me)
-We're 28, and have no kids, although we may want to have one in the next 5 years
-We want to be close to an L stop (within 5 blocks, tops)
-It would be nice to be able to walk to a restaurant or bar or cafe from our home
-I'd like to feel a sense of community where ever we end up.

My thoughts...
*On the surface, RP seems more convenient for me, and LS for my husband (but he'll have a car, and I'll be traveling CTA at night)
*RP has the Lake (and I hear a great beach), is between two universities, isn't far from Wrigley. BUT it's really far from the Loop.
*LS is closer to the Loop, and seems to have more things to do in the immediate area.
*I'm not really crazy about any of the places in our price range in LS, it seems a little overpriced. But, it's much more in our range than other areas.
*I AM crazy about a condo I found in RP. It's absolutely perfect... except I'm not sure about the area (on Greenleaf, between Paulina & Ashland)

Also, I think I've read every thread on here thats relevant to me (and lots on other sites, too!), and it generally seems like more people are saying nicer things about LS than RP... but that could be related to the higher prices in LS.

[oakparkdude]

What's your price range? Will schools be an issue for you (in the future)?

Given the geographic constraints for your husband, you may also want to consider Oak Park.

[EMC217]

We'd like to keep it under $280k.

If we have kids, school would certainly be an issue. We were both privately schooled, so may do that, unless there was a very good public school in the area. Of course, it would probably be about 7-10 years before the theoretical child entered the school system, so it wouldn't be out of the question to move neighborhoods at that time.


Oak Park would probably be good for him. But I think it would be a pretty bad location for me. I imagine coming home from rehearsals late at night from North Chicago would be pretty rough.

Plus, we really don't want to go to the suburbs...

[aragx6]

Whatcha hoping to get for that 280? 1 bedroom condo? 3 bedroom SFH?

[EMC217]

Ideally, a 2 bed + den or 3 bed. (we could go just over 300K for the perfect place, but we'd prefer not to.) I'm coming into town next week to look at several places. I'm hoping that a unit (or area) really stands out.

When I was in Chicago 3 years ago, I really never went into LS or RP, so I'm just not that familiar with the areas. We rented in the goldcoast and near old town, and mostly hung out in those areas up through Wrigley.

I was in town a month ago and walked around Logan Square a bit (day & night). Walked down the street of one of the units I was interested in. Popped into a cafe. Used the LS blue line. It all seemed fine to me. Since that last visit, we've been considering Rogers Park as well, so I'll be visiting it next week when I'm in town.

How would you compare Rogers Park and Logan Square?

[Peter Fugiel]

Lots of younger people are moving to Logan Square because it is close to super-expensive Bucktown. Definitely a young scene in Bucktown. sort of like the Village was in New York when living in a big city was a new idea.

I grew up near Logan Square and I love that area, but we live in Rogers Park now because it is both very urbane and very low key. No yuppie hype and NO wannabes. So you can figure things out here and then get creative, once you find a neighborhood you really like.

Rogers Park has a couple of neighborhood beaches with no public parking, and those are really nice. The red line is great for everything. Going to O'Hare is hard, but if you keep off the expressway, it not horrible, just far Or, you can transfer from the red line and take the train to Midway. Also a long trek, but dont' need a car and is it dependable, whenever.

[BucktownDale]

Here are a few things we're taking into consideration:
-We'll have one car, mainly for my husband's use to get into work
-He'll be working in Oakbrook Terrace, but will only have to be in the office 2-3 days a week (but that'd be a bad commute from RP)
-He also travels frequently, so easy access to ORD & MDW is also desirable
-I will be involved in the theater scene (which means late nights, odd hours), and have a part-time job, restaurant/retail/temping, etc. (The majority of theaters are located on the north side, so access to the redline would be nice for me)

It sounds like transportation will be pretty important for you guys, so I would take a look at the area around Damen/North in Wicker Park/Bucktown. It's generally expensive, but you may be able to get a vintage rehab there in your price range, and with the market the way it is now, you have a good chance of getting a bargain.

[lenniel]

[quote=Peter Fugiel;3213699]No yuppie hype and NO wannabes. quote]

What's this mean? Just curious.

[Humboldt1]

Leniel,

In Logan, you have a lot of aspiring yuppies who desire to be like their neighbors to the east in bucktown and wicker park and even lincoln park and lakeview.

Most are puerto ricans. Some are white. They grew up with modest means, graduated high school, some college or university and now are working their way up the socio-economic ladder. Many go to hang out with other yuppie hispanics at places like national and green dolphin (still some ghetto on saturdays but not as much on fridays).

They often look down on other hispanics, particularly mexicans and other puerto ricans who are less educated and don't have well paying jobs. It is almost as if they would rather forget where they came from. I know this well as I go to church with a number of puerto ricans in logan.

My german ancestors may have seen the irish in the same light when they first arrived in this country, taking jobs, etc.

And by hype people in logan often will tell you things are more yuppified than they reaaly are, especially in the western portion. Gangs are still out in force, though it is certainly better than say 10 years ago.

[EMC217]

thanks everyone, for all the input! We've decided on Logan Square. The commute from RP to Oakbrook Terrace was just too much to deal with, and I ended up finding a great condo in Logan Square.