What do you think of Grand/Halstead/Milwaukee intersection? (Peoria: leasing, low crime)

[hindukid]

There is a place we are thinking of leasing on Peoria right near that intersection. My wife loves the area and I like it too.

We like that its close to the loop, river north and also bars restaurants in Wicker park and West loop. Place is 1 block from Blue Line at Grand. There seem to be plenty of cute bars, restaurants, coffee within two or three blocks. Greektown is also only 6 blocks. Everyblock has pretty low crime numbers. New Jewel is only a couple blocks away. I can't really see a downside to the location.

Am I missing anything. How much do you think 1500 W. Grand is? There is a place I like there but the neighborhood seems significantly worse as you go west of Racine.

[Avengerfire]

The downside of the location is the horrendous traffic that occurs pretty often on Halsted.

[surlycue]

Depending on your block there also isn't much of a neighborhood feel compared to the other West Town neighborhoods nearby. It is a very commercial/warehouse area for the most part but it is well located with 10 minutes of very many things.

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by hindukid

There is a place we are thinking of leasing on Peoria right near that intersection. My wife loves the area and I like it too.

We like that its close to the loop, river north and also bars restaurants in Wicker park and West loop. Place is 1 block from Blue Line at Grand. There seem to be plenty of cute bars, restaurants, coffee within two or three blocks. Greektown is also only 6 blocks. Everyblock has pretty low crime numbers. New Jewel is only a couple blocks away. I can't really see a downside to the location.

Am I missing anything. How much do you think 1500 W. Grand is? There is a place I like there but the neighborhood seems significantly worse as you go west of Racine.

I think it is a really good location, and I personally like the fact that it is not all spit-polished swank.

The strip just west of the expressway is most of what remains of the old Italian neighborhood, and you still see some signs of it, even today.

Overall, I really don't see much not to like about that area.

On a sidenote, I am VERY curious if the "Salernos" on Grand is any relation to the one (was it 16th street?) in Berwyn. If anyone knows, chime in.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

On a sidenote, I am VERY curious if the "Salernos" on Grand is any relation to the one (was it 16th street?) in Berwyn. If anyone knows, chime in.

That Salernos is related to the ones in Oak Park, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, and Glenview.
http://www.salernospizza.com/

The way I understand it is another member of the Salernos family operates the location on Grove in Berwyn (which is called "The Original Arnie Salernos"). I think he also runs a location in St. Charles, and I had heard he also might have one in AZ somewhere

Its all kind of confusing but yea, I think they're all in the family. If you go to the Grand location the menu refers to itself being a descendant of the original 16th street joint.

[via chicago]

BTW, whats the deal with the large, decaying wooden building at this intersection? What used to be there, and are there any plans for it?

it would be nice to see it restored, but it looks to be in pretty bad shape.

[Attrill]

Yeah - the area seems a bit bleak, but is a great location close to a lot of great areas.

For a long time the building(s) at the corner was a warehouse for a restaurant supply company, not sure if it still is. There was a fire there about 6 or 7 years ago, the building may be empty now.

[synapse]

It's fine, there's just not much there. If I remember right, there used to a be a terrific restaurant there called Timo, but it closed. But the area is safe, it's just a little empty, oddly.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

On a sidenote, I am VERY curious if the "Salernos" on Grand is any relation to the one (was it 16th street?) in Berwyn. If anyone knows, chime in.

I think it's the same people as the 16th St. Salernos. When I was in the one on Grand I was chatting with the owner or manager, a woman about my age, she was from Resurrection in Austin (like me) and we talked about the old Salerno's in Berwyn, I got the impression it's the same people.

The pizza is the same.

[hindukid]

I meant to say " How much worse do you think 1500 W. Grand is?". I am thinking that I would want at least a 10% discount versus 900 W. grand.