How far north is still 'in the city'? (Chicago, Evanston: to rent, condo) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

randomguymike · 05-06-2008, 06:21 AM

I'm looking for a place to rent, without having a full feel of the entire city. What I really want to get a feel for at the moment is how far north can I go and still have all the amenities of the city (train to downtown, walkable neghborhoods with nightlife, outer-urban/near suburban landscape, etc).
Does uptown still fit this? Rogers Park? If so, how much further out still works?

Mainly I'm just looking for a place under $1100, but over 700 sq ft, allows my dog, and with as much of the feel of Chicago as possible. It seems the further out I go, the closer I can get on the price.

aragx6 · 05-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Both Uptown and Rogers Park will still have that city feel, but for $1100 you can get a place in Wicker Park/Bucktown that's far closer to the loop and is very dog friendly. You might check that area out on Craigslist and see what you can find.

Chicago60614 · 05-06-2008, 10:47 AM

Check out Evanston

jessiegirl_98 · 05-06-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Check out Evanston

Well, that goes against the desire to be in the city. Read the other threads on RP, but yes, that is the city. Are you looking for a 1 or 2 bedroom?

tuber7948 · 05-06-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomguymike

Mainly I'm just looking for a place under $1100, but over 700 sq ft, allows my dog, and with as much of the feel of Chicago as possible. It seems the further out I go, the closer I can get on the price.

I live in a 750sq ft one bedroom in Lincoln Park for $1070 w/ utilities included. If you look around you can live in an area that isn't so far north. Although, there might be things about neighborhoods farther north or west where you could get something like my place for cheaper. I dunno, thought I'd mention it.

randomguymike · 05-06-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

. Read the other threads on RP, but yes, that is the city. Are you looking for a 1 or 2 bedroom?

1Bd or even studio. Only requirement is sq footage.

jessiegirl_98 · 05-06-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomguymike

1Bd or even studio. Only requirement is sq footage.

For $1100? Look in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown, Wickerpark, Buena Park....

There are dog parks in Lakeview, West Lakeview, and Wicker Park, so looking around them may help. When I lived in West Lakeview (close to Paulina brown line), it was easy to find dog friendly places, there were still a lot of bars, etc, and there was the dog park. It was also reasonably priced. More urban would be towards Wicker Park

bluejaye · 05-06-2008, 06:57 PM

I would not live north of Irving Park rd if you still want to get downtown easily. Although if you can live between North and Diversey that would be a bit better. Lakeview would be good area cause you can walk your dog to the lake area easily.

Lookout Kid · 05-07-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluejaye

I would not live north of Irving Park rd if you still want to get downtown easily. Although if you can live between North and Diversey that would be a bit better. Lakeview would be good area cause you can walk your dog to the lake area easily.

I have to say you're totally wrong about this. I live a few blocks north of Irving Park Road now, and have better access to downtown than most of Lakeview. There are three Express Buses that go express all the way from Irving Park Road to Downtown (136, 144, 148), and I'm often there in less than 15 minutes. I also have the Sheridan Red Line stop, which is only two stops from Belmont and hardly takes any extra time at all.

However, I do have to say that much of Lincoln Park and Lakeview is nicer than what's North of Irving Park Road! But it's also more expensive. My condo would have cost $70,000 more if it were three blocks south. The housing stock in Buena Park is incredible and the neighborhood is safe. We're just missing a great walkable commercial strip (though I can walk to Lakeview in just a few minutes).

Lookout Kid · 05-10-2008, 03:07 PM

And to answer the question in the OP headline, Chicago is pretty urban all the way up to the very tip of Rogers Park (check out Eastlake Terrace for some true lakefront property). The city doesn't start to have a suburban feel until you get further west, and even then the houses are mostly on small lots, with the exception of places like Sauganash, Edgebrook, and a few others.