Where to move in Chi town (Chicago, Marshall: rent, condos, crime)

[COOLIDGE AVE]

My Girl Friend is from Harlem and Im from north NJ i want a place thats very diverse in Chicago with a lot of public transoprtation not 2 much crime a little is ok i dont want 2 have to go 2 work with a gun of my lap high dense we arent looking for a house more like a high rise condo an ok public school and a park somewhere near by and keep in mind we are in our twenties keep some style in it can somebody help me please please pretty please

[unexplained bacon]

Rent or buy? How much are you looking to spend? What else is important to you - easy parking, a big place, a shopping, a city feel?

[heavyweight]

First, I'm single and can't tell you much about the school systems.
Second, this is just my opinion and personal preference.
Third, I don't know your price range.

I can think of two areas where you get a neighborhood feel, where you can walk sidewalks safely, wait for public transportation, have access to nearby parks, revitalization projects, the lakefront, restaurants, and museums.

I would suggest Bronzeville if you want an affordable brownstone or town home and want room for your home to appreciate. The area is in Chicago's south side (south of downtown but North of Hyde Park) and is still considered by some as up and coming. There are new developments such as Park Boulevard (http://www.parkboulevardchicago.com/home.asp) (broken link), but if you want a better deal you'll need to purchase a older brownstone and pay a contractor a few thousand to fix it up, or do it yourself.

Also, see "Community Development Partnership" at the Bronzeville homepage
http://www.bronzevilleonline.com/ (broken link)

I lived and still own in Near South, which is just north of Bronzeville yet not quite in downtown's Loop, and you can find older 2 bedroom condos for less than $200k.

As in most cities, space is at a premium downtown and it will cost you to live there.

I hope this helps a bit. Best of luck!

[COOLIDGE AVE]

ok im trying to go back to school part and work full time i get paid 50 thousand now i im expecting that same amount in the midwest and my girlfriend makes a little over 50 thoudsand so i dont think price will be a problem but im looking for a law shcool in there area and lots of libraries in the area and a park for my dog and easy parking and lots of shopping city feel and we are looking for a place to really settle and its either here or brookyln but she doesnt like bk to much and i want a lot of mass transit around

[Drover]

Almost all of the Chicago law schools are in or near downtown. John Marshall and DePaul are across the street from each other in legal/financial district. They are both about half a block from the main branch of the Chicago Public Library. John Marshall's law library also holds the Chicago Bar Association library. I'm not sure but I believe any Illinois law school student is able to use the John Marshall library, as is any member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois Bar Association. Another benefit to these schools is they are right across the street from the Dirksen Federal Building, where you can watch oral arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th District.

Chicago-Kent College of Law sits on the border between downtown and the West Loop area; Loyola and Northwestern law schools are both in the Magnificent Mile area north of the Loop.

The lone exception is the University of Chicago law school, which is on the school's Hyde Park campus.