Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, or Lakeview??? (Chicago, Waukegan: apartment, houses, find a job)

[jmedelman]

Hey all,

I'm moving to Chicago in January and need some advice.

I've accepted a job in Waukegan and have decided to live in the Northside of Chicago. I'm going to be taking the Union North Metra each morning and evening to and from work so I need to be relatively close to the brown line or a bus line that gets me to Ravenswood Metra at 6:45 am.

I have been told that Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville and Lakeview are all perfect for me. I'm a 22 year old graduating in Chicago. I am in school at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and would like to be able to go out on the weekends and enjoy a movie or dinner during the week. Also, I hope to be able to meet a girlfriend in the foreseeable future and would like to be in an area good for that.

Any and all advice is helpful!

Thanks,

Jake

[ARFeno1]

You're in luck! All of these areas are perfect for you. I just turned 24 and have been in Lakeview since I graduated, as well. Wrigleyville has a very good bar scene, so if you're there you will step from your front porch to the bars. Lakeview is just a little further south but has the same feel, and Lincoln Park is closest to downtown (the Loop) but is just like the two former. It's really where you find tghe apartment you like the most. Happy hunting, this city is a blast.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by ARFeno1

...Wrigleyville has a very good bar scene, so if you're there you will step from your front porch to the bars. Lakeview is just a little further south but has the same feel...

"Wrigleyville" is in Lake View.

[Lookout Kid]

I refuse to use the term "Wrigleyville" to describe anything that isn't part of that strip of bars and souveneir shops in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. Lakeview (or Lake View) is really the more proper name for the neighborhood that houses Wrigley Field, and Wrigleyville is definitely just a small part of Lakeview, in spite of what some realtors in the 90s thought sounded cool.

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by jmedelman

Hey all,

I'm moving to Chicago in January and need some advice.

I've accepted a job in Waukegan and have decided to live in the Northside of Chicago. I'm going to be taking the Union North Metra each morning and evening to and from work so I need to be relatively close to the brown line or a bus line that gets me to Ravenswood Metra at 6:45 am.

I have been told that Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville and Lakeview are all perfect for me. I'm a 22 year old graduating in Chicago. I am in school at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and would like to be able to go out on the weekends and enjoy a movie or dinner during the week. Also, I hope to be able to meet a girlfriend in the foreseeable future and would like to be in an area good for that.

Any and all advice is helpful!

Thanks,

Jake

Jake, you are going to hate yourself and your life before you know it. That is one HELL OF A COMMUTE KID!!! 2 hour minimum each way.

see if you can find a job in the city otherwise, live in the west loop where you'll be close by the metra station.

[Avengerfire]

If you live in Lincoln Park or in certain parts of Lake View you would be far better off taking the train from the Clybourn station.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

If you're going to be taking the Metra to Waukegan, you basically have 4 options in the city: Downtown near Ogilvie Transportation Center, Near the Clybourn stop (Clybourn and Ashland), Near the Ravenswood stop (Ravenswood and Lawrence) or near the Rogers Park stop (Ravenswood and Lunt).

My rankings of those would be as follows:
1) Ravenswood
2) Clybourn
3) Rogers Park
4) Downtown

Downtown near the trans center is boring. It clears out after working hours. That area is mostly office buildings. Plus it puts you the farthest from Waukegan.

Rogers Park is a spotty area. I've never lived there, but it really varies in terms of both stuff to do and crime.

Clybourn is just west of the areas you mentioned (technically Lincoln Park West, I think), but is a little bit remote-feeling. It's near the river and around old warehouses and factories. There are some good areas in there, but they're scattered around and generally at least a ten min walk from the Clybourn station.

Ravenswood's my top pick. I live near there. If you live West of the Ravenswood stop, especially, you're closer to Lincoln Square, which is darn nice. (East of Ravenswood, you're getting into Uptown, which is spottier...)

Of course, check the metra schedule. There are trains that can get you to Waukegan at 6:49, 7:56, 8:51, etc. They take anywhere from under an hour to 1:26 (from downtown, making all stops), and tend to run on time. Metra / Union Pacific North Monday - Friday Outbound

[jdiddy]

If you live in West Lakeview or Northcenter (anywhere w/in close walking distance to Ashland) it wouldn't be adding much time to take the Ashland bus up to the Ravenswood station.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

If you live in West Lakeview or Northcenter (anywhere w/in close walking distance to Ashland) it wouldn't be adding much time to take the Ashland bus up to the Ravenswood station.

Taking a bus is definitely the right idea, but I don't think the Ashland bus goes that far north. Damen would work though. You could also take the Armitage bus West to the Clybourn Metra stop if you lived in the South end of Lincoln Park.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

The extra bus trip wouldn't add much time in theory, but it would add an extra two bucks each way (or an additional soon-to-be 90 bucks a month for a CTA monthly), plus it'd rely on the buses to run on time, which would add a whole other element to the commute.

Just sayin.