Moving to Chicago. (Lincoln, Bridgeport: homes, neighborhood, university)

[etinosa2001]

I got a job in NW Indiana area, but I would love to live in the city. Can any one recommend nice places with the neighborhood feel(walkable), with easy access to I 90/94 to Indiana. The areas should be fairly close to downtown,shopping, nightlife and restaurants. I am male single in mid 20's. I am not looking to live in super expensive places like gold coast or Lincoln park preferable looking to spend around 1300 for a two bed room or at least one bedroom with den. Thanks.

[Drover]

Hyde Park.

[Avengerfire]

South Loop.

[soulful]

If I worked in NW Indiana and wanted to live in a walkable neighborhood in Chicago. I would take a hard look at Hyde Park. I like the history and intellectual feel of the area. Restaurants/shops, etc. Stay close to the U of C. It is so easy to get to NW Indiana (often without traffic) from Hyde Park.

[mycrows]

Hyde Park is not a bad suggestion, but people who live there tend not to get out much. It's a bit isolated from the rest of the city; the loop, shopping, nightlife. It's a beautiful neighborhood but I wouldn't want to live there.

If you go a little closer to downtown, in South Loop, you'd still have access to the Dan Ryan and it would be easy to get to the north side via public trans to hang out. There's also Bridgeport (where I live). Less urban than South Loop, no high-rises, two and three story homes, quite affordable, very quiet for the most part but great access to the rest of the city via the orange or red line. This is the area just south of where the Dan Ryan and the 55 meet (north and west of US Cellular), so you'd still have highway access. The areas just north of here--University Village and Pilsen--should be on your map as well.

The commute would no doubt be better from Hyde Park, but I would consider South Loop and these lower west side areas as well.

[lincolnparker]

Bucktown or wicker park perhaps? Great highway access! Great for single young fab folks like urself

[Drover]

Unless it's done on off-hours, the commute from Bucktown/Wicker Park would suck.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Drover

Unless it's done on off-hours, the commute from Bucktown/Wicker Park would suck.

I totally agree. There is way too much traffic going around the west end of downtown on 90/94. It is a major bottle neck at many parts of the day almost any day of the year.

[etinosa2001]

Thanks everybody for the input. How is south loop and Hyde park compared to say Lakeview or Bucktown/Wicker park. I visited Lakeview and i really like the neighborhood.

[Avengerfire]

Lakeview,Bucktown, and Wicker Park are much more fun IMO with way more things to do and places to shop than Hyde Park. I really do not think that fact is up for debate.

Hyde Park has some things going on, but you will find yourself traveling miles from the neighborhood on a regular basis (certainly when you are off of work) to do things unless you are a hermit or content with living in a fishbowl. The faster commute to Indiana is a very strong plus though.

In S. Loop you are very close to downtown. Of course in downtown there are many things to do and places to shop. One downside is during football season and the occasional concert. But hey it is only a dozen or so days a year. When there is an event at Soldier Field the traffic is horrendous on L.S.D. ,Roosevelt, etc.

If you like Lakeview move to Lakeview. But there are many headaches (like parking,Cubs game traffic,etc.) and your commute to NW Indiana will be much more frustrating and time consuming compared to if you lived in S.Loop or Hyde Park. However, if you can hit L.S.D. at the right times-the commute to and from NW Indiana will only be like 20 minutes more.

You will have similar problems in Bucktown and Wicker Park that you would have in Lakeview, but not as bad. It still will suck with the commute though unless as Drover said you travel in off peak hours. You are also not close enough to L.S.D. to utilize it.