Congress Theatre safety (Chicago: low income, high crime, neighborhoods)

[sundance67]

Can anyone tell me what kind of neighborhood Congress Theatre is in? Is it safe for a group of teens to be out & about in? Thanks for any info

[chet everett]

Milwaukee Ave north of Armitage? Except for the volume of cars, safer than your average regional mall only less exciting. Not really much to do other than see the concert. If these kids are 16 or so they ought to be OK on a bus from the north or east -- from the west or south they'd be better off with less direct routes. If they have drivers licenses and are OK with following directions this is drivable, but I would NOT make it their first trip into the city, mostly because if they aren't used to dealing with angled intresections they could get in a fender bender.

If you are contemplating making the "minivan drop off" you are going to have a few hours to kill in a less than thrilling (for most normal grown-ups...) part of the City.

[sundance67]

Thanks so much...so it's not a high crime area, right?

[chet everett]

Milwaukee Ave is busy street that is pretty safe if not exactly a garden spot. There are large number of hard working low income immigrant types, both Hispanic and Eastern European, but that shouldn't be a safety concern.

[sundance67]

Thanks again, that's reassuring

[Lookout Kid]

Um, actually the neighborhood is a little dicey at that point. It's Logan Square, afterall, and this neighborhood is far from a good place to drop off teenagers unfamiliar with the city. It's not a terrible ghetto, but it's not great.

[aragx6]

I'd have some concerns too with kids unfamiliar with the area. Near there there will be plenty of foot traffic, but still worth keeping ones eyes open.

[chet everett]

So you think the trip to the concert is should be canceled?

I've walked and driven on the section of Milwaukee and agree it is not N. Michicgan Ave, I assume the kids are going to a youth oriented event. It is not going to have the police and private security of United Center, but I don't think that the kids will find much in that area that they'd even want to explore.

Do CVS and Walgreens generally invest in new stores in dicey sections of neighborhoods? I really have not found that to be that case...

Nothing out of the ordinary:
2100-2150 N. Milwaukee Ave. | EveryBlock Chicago (http://chicago.everyblock.com/streets/milwaukee-ave/2100-2150n/ - broken link)

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by chet everett

So you think the trip to the concert is should be canceled?

I've walked and driven on the section of Milwaukee and agree it is not N. Michicgan Ave, I assume the kids are going to a youth oriented event. It is not going to have the police and private security of United Center, but I don't think that the kids will find much in that area that they'd even want to explore.

Do CVS and Walgreens generally invest in new stores in dicey sections of neighborhoods? I really have not found that to be that case...

Nothing out of the ordinary:
2100-2150 N. Milwaukee Ave. | EveryBlock Chicago (http://chicago.everyblock.com/streets/milwaukee-ave/2100-2150n/ - broken link)

I wouldn't cancel it, just make sure the kids aren't wandering around and have them use common sense, as they would in any area of Chicago.

[sundance67]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Um, actually the neighborhood is a little dicey at that point. It's Logan Square, afterall, and this neighborhood is far from a good place to drop off teenagers unfamiliar with the city. It's not a terrible ghetto, but it's not great.

Hey, what are the primary concerns? Is there any gang activity, like drive bys, etc? Because we are totally unfamiliar with the area.
Thanks in advance.