Thinking of a move from L.A. to Chicago... (Evanston: middle-class, apartments)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by mel2000

Keep in mind that some older homes are drafty and will have high heating bills unless there has been updated insulation.

I personally take that for granted, but I guess someone from California might not take that into consideration! I live in a brick building with no insulation, however, and our heating bills aren't too bad.

[jessiegirl_98]

OK, regarding the private schools comment, I do agree with Drover. You will find more diversity and culture in the private schools in the city of Chicago than you will in the public schools of Wilmette. So basically, when you are describing what you are looking for, you are definitly describing Chicago private schools more than Wilmette Public, and when you are talking about what you hated about your private school.... well, New Trier is a great school but think exactly what you HATED about high school and there you go! Now, New Trier is a good public school, but really doesn't meet your description...

I also agree that you really need to think more about what you are looking for. There is a HUGE difference between Wilmette and Chicago. Wilmette isn't bad, but think suburban USA. Also, Lincoln Park HS is one of the best in the country! Lincoln Park High School

[Lookout Kid]

I've never met a New Trier student that I liked. They always seem to be spoiled kids with huge senses of entitlement. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I keep meeting the worst ones. Afterall, Tina Fey based the movie "Mean Girls" on New Trier--even though it was filmed at Evanston Township High School. That should tell you something.

[310man]

Originally Posted by laviachi

I'm getting confused by what you are really looking for -- Manhattan Beach, West Hollywood, Santa Monica. Old Town Pasadena. I am familiar with all the areas you mention here and know Chicago. It is very hard to compare LA to Chicago -- they are like night & day. West Hollywood is somewhat similar to certain city neighborhoods with diversity -- gay, straight, urban professionals, etc. Also, Old Town Pasadena is somewhat similar -- older architecture with retail and walkable. Manhattan Beach & Santa Monica are on the ocean and very pricey, in general less diverse -- were small beach towns that became more populated, higher income, given the Pacific Ocean/year around 70 degree beach living and are also tourist magnets. What Chicago still offers is a sense of neighborhood, more of a vibrant street life and connected as an area including good public transit vs LA. Wilmette, parts of Evanston and the North Shore are wealthy enclaves right near the lake -- more somewhat like Beverly Hills/Hanchock Park but nicer, less crazy and good schools. It seems like Wilmette may be what you really are looking for?

Well, i was just giving examples of neighborhoods I like in LA. They are all walkable and upscale.

Well, it seems like I have narrowed it down to Wilmette, Evanston, and Lincoln Park. Oak Park looks nice, but I think it might be too far from the lake. Wilmette is boring according to everyone here. Evanston's schools are not so great. What's the main downside of Lincoln Park?

[310man]

Oh and about public schools, if it will benefit my kids, I will send them there if we move to Evanston.

Not sure if I mentioned this, but we are Jewish. I don't need to live around lots of Jews, but being within 20 minutes of a temple would be nice. I assume all these areas have some kind of Jewish presence since they are wealthy and Chicago is liberal. Am I right?

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by 310man

Oh and about public schools, if it will benefit my kids, I will send them there if we move to Evanston.

Not sure if I mentioned this, but we are Jewish. I don't need to live around lots of Jews, but being within 20 minutes of a temple would be nice. I assume all these areas have some kind of Jewish presence since they are wealthy and Chicago is liberal. Am I right?

Lakeview has a really nice temple (which would be about 10 minutes or less from Lincoln Park- Lakeview is the next neighborhood up). My friends go there and really enjoy it (she's actually on the home page, she's a cantor now).


Temple Sholom of Chicago


Honestly, with your choices, I would do Lincoln Park and just purchase within Lakeview High School district. It's urban, walkable, even has good public schools, is on the lake, has the zoo, shopping, restaurants, etc, and there is a temple very close.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Do you really want to be in the suburbs? Wilmette is a boring North Shore suburb. It's suburban in every sense of the word. The schools are awesome, however. I personally think you'd like Evanston better, though the schools are a little bit worse there because there are actually kids in poverty in a couple of pockets of Evanston. Oak Park has better schools than Evanston and slightly lower crime, but is further from the lake and right next to a huge ghetto. I mention Oak Park and Evanston because they are walkable and have urban characteristics like walkable commercial districts, nice restaurants, and shopping. Most people in Wilmette will go to Evanston to go out for dinner or to go to a movie.

In terms of the city, there are some really progressive and interesting private schools in Chicago. Francis Parker, the British School, or the Lycee de Francais for instance. However, many of these schools cost more than $20,000/year. Also, the Bell School (North Center) and Nettlehorst School (East Lakeview) are good neighborhood public schools in the city (if you live in the attendance boundaries, you are guaranteed a spot). Lincoln Park also has some decent public elemetary schools.

The problem is Lake View H.S. (and it is the neighborhood school for the Greenview address at least) is pretty sketchy. LV H.S. is diverse but overly diverse. White kids there are a very small minority. It is not one of the best H.S. in the city either, but of course it is far from the worst.

LP H.S. (and it does cover the Magnolia address- I checked )is better than most but I think there are many problems there that would be better off avoided.

He would have to get his older child into one of the magnets (and that is not easy) like Northside,Lane,Whitney Young etc...

Just in case the OP chooses LP this link contains the school boundaries for L.P.H.S...
Lincoln Park High School

"Beginning at Damen and Diversey, go east on Diversey to Paulina, north to Wolfram, east to Lakewood, north to Barry, east to Racine, north to Belmont, east to Halsted, south to Clark, southeast to Diversey, east to Lake Michigan.
Then go south on Lake Shore Drive to Oak Street, west on Oak to Larrabee, south to Chicago Avenue, west to the Chicago River.
Follow the River northwest to Damen, then Damen north to Diversey"

[310man]

So I should be looking in zip codes 60610 and 60614 correct? I'll be going with Lincoln Park then. Evanston seems nice, but being able to send my kids to nice public schools is a definite plus and the reason for me moving so close to the city of Chicago and the lake was to be in a lively neighborhood so Wilmette is out. Lincoln Park seems like the perfect combination of both.

Good areas for my needs?
Single Family Home - 2713 N MAGNOLIA AVE, CHICAGO, IL, 60614 - Realtor.com
Single Family Home - 2248 N KENMORE, CHICAGO, IL, 60614 - Realtor.com
Single Family Home - 2666 N Orchard ST, Chicago, IL, 60614 - Realtor.com
Single Family Home - 2747 N SEMINARY, CHICAGO, IL, 60614 - Realtor.com

[Avengerfire]

I think Evanstons High School is much better than Lincoln Park H.S. but thats just my opinion although I am sure many others would agree. But it is your choice of course.


In terms of looks and construction alone from what I can see-
Personally, I think the Kenmore is the best one.
2)Orchard
3)Magnolia

Not all of 60614 is in LP but all LP addresses are in 60614. Does that make any sense?
Gold Coast is one of the areas in 60610 but not all of 60610 is in the Gold Coast.There is not much wrong with the Gold Coast really of course.
:-)

[Lookout Kid]

In terms of being Jewish and Liberal, you will have no problems on the North Side or North Suburbs! In fact, the northwest part of Evanston (often called Skevanston), Skokie, Lincolnwood, Wilmette have really really large Jewish populations and active temples.

There is a really good large Jewish school in the northeastern corner of Lakeview too. I've had Jewish friends jokingly call this area "the ghetto" before, but I think it's more gay and yuppie than anything else at this point in time.