Safe neighborhood near UIC or along the Blue Line (Naperville: buying, college)

[long101]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

And what "mixed reviews" have you ever read or heard about University Village or West Loop for a 30-something white couple? Sorry, but that premise is so ridiculous it does not warrant a straight answer.

The reality is that these people can't afford University Village or West Loop. Plain and simple.

What they CAN afford is East Pilsen, Bridgeport, Tri Taylor, and possibly East Taylor Street, all of which they already know about, but none of which is acceptable because they are not the kind of people to leave the Great White Homeland, as evidenced by the fact that the OP felt compelled to make a point of his/her whiteness.

So hold the "mixed reviews" hooey: what these people want is a place where the faces are white, the rents are cheap, as close to UIC as possible. In that order. What that criteria buys is a 45 minute commute. I hope they enjoy it.

I also hope they enjoy their time at college, although I suspect they will be giving UIC "mixed reviews" when they realize that white people are not a majority there.

ummm well I use to live in Pilsen (not even east Pilsen) and now I live in University Village. So some people do live there for choice, or to save money (not only poor gang bangers). No mixed reviews of UV? Dude there is low income housing by UV and that sht spills over. Your talking like UV is amazing or something, its alright.

[Chi-town Native]

call me a booster, but I love my neighborhood, which I define as the area surrounding the Belmont/Kimball blue line stop.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

What I said is East Pilsen is what the OP could AFFORD, not "Pilsen flipping wonderful".

And when exactly did YOU live directly south of UIC? Uhhhh - didn't think so.

If you did, you would know that Pilsen changes dramatically west of Morgan. Its a fact, and everyone who lives around here (and has anything besides shirt for brains) knows to stay east of Racine. Its not a perfect world, but it is the world we are living in.

so being hostile and condescending is helping the OP out how??? the OP made no mention about the West Loop or even what parts of Pilsen s/he researched. again, let's not pretend Pilsen is suitable for everyone and that there's no mixed reviews of East Pilsen or University Village. like I said, you seem to have some anger issues given your replies here and people are basically going to disregard anything you say if you come at them like that. you know what they say, if you can't say anything nice (or helpful), then keep your mouth shut

[long101]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

call me a booster, but I love my neighborhood, which I define as the area surrounding the Belmont/Kimball blue line stop.

booster

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by long101

ummm well I use to live in Pilsen (not even east Pilsen) and now I live in University Village. So some people do live there for choice, or to save money (not only poor gang bangers). No mixed reviews of UV? Dude there is low income housing by UV and that sht spills over. Your talking like UV is amazing or something, its alright.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!! Low Income Housing by UIC!!!!

Virtually the ENTIRETY of Pilsen, including East Pilsen, is LOW INCOME HOUSING. That is because most of the residents, including the white students, artists, and slackers that are now make up the majority of the residents of the Halsted corridor, have LOW INCOMES.

So when you say "sht spills over" from the low income housing, what exactly are you talking about? The pierced tatooed weirdos I see wandering under the bridge on occasion? The Pancho Villa goof who stumbles home past my building back to Pilsen drunk at 5:00 AM several times a week? Or are you talking about the black families who frequent Morgan's and Junior's from time to time?

UV is not a tough neighborhood in any sense of the word. The homes and condos are pricey, crime is low, but the rents are higher than what the OP wants to pay. Those are the facts.

If you think UV is some kind of gladiator neighborhood, or even that it is crime-ridden, you are utterly delusional. Its not tough AT ALL, its a wimpy neighborhood full of wimpy people, and crime issues, while not non-existent, are MINIMAL. Hopefully you'll actually live in a tough neighborhood someday, so you learn the difference.

[long101]

^^^^ uhhhhhh Im not sure where to start and dont have the time right now. Im going to drink some beer and I will be back.

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by eevee

so being hostile and condescending is helping the OP out how??? the OP made no mention about the West Loop or even what parts of Pilsen s/he researched. again, let's not pretend Pilsen is suitable for everyone and that there's no mixed reviews of East Pilsen or University Village. like I said, you seem to have some anger issues given your replies here and people are basically going to disregard anything you say if you come at them like that. you know what they say, if you can't say anything nice (or helpful), then keep your mouth shut

1. The OP said close to UIC, which according to my map would include the West Loop (right across the Ike) and East Pilsen (directly south of UIC).
2. Sticks and stones may break my bones......
3. I never said Pilsen was suitable for everyone. I said Pilsen is what the OP can afford by UIC. Pilsen certainly is not a good place for racist white people, nor is it a good place for people who are scared of their own shadows.

Now for you: for you to chime in, or to even offer an opinion on the area south of UIC based on your hijinks in Heart of Chicago is flat out disingenious. They are different neighborhoods, and, in fact, completely different worlds.

The fact is, you don't know if the part of Pilsen by UIC is good, bad, or ugly becasue YOU'VE NEVER LIVED THERE. So even to say "its not for everyone" is as meaningless as saying that some movie you've never seen is "not for everyone".
(Note that I did not say wrong - I said MEANINGLESS).

If you are unable to abstain from spouting meaningles drivel, I would suggest that YOU keep YOUR mouth shut.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

1. The OP said close to UIC, which according to my map would include the West Loop (right across the Ike) and East Pilsen (directly south of UIC).
2. Sticks and stones may break my bones......
3. I never said Pilsen was suitable for everyone. I said Pilsen is what the OP can afford by UIC. Pilsen certainly is not a good place for racist white people, nor is it a good place for people who are scared of their own shadows.

Now for you: for you to chime in, or to even offer an opinion on the area south of UIC based on your hijinks in Heart of Chicago is flat out disingenious. They are different neighborhoods, and, in fact, completely different worlds.
The fact is, you don't know if the part of Pilsen by UIC is good, bad, or ugly becasue YOU'VE NEVER LIVED THERE. So even to say "its not for everyone" is as meaningless as saying that some movie you've never seen is "not for everyone".
(Note that I did not say wrong - I said MEANINGLESS).

If you are unable to abstain from spouting meaningles drivel, I would suggest that YOU keep YOUR mouth shut.

and yet you STILL haven't offered anything even remotely helpful to the OP, despite all of your "knowledge" and just bashed them outright. I also didn't realize one had to reside in an area to have any sort of an opinion about it, even if that opinion is based on personal experience


again, get help for whatever anger issues you have then come back when you want to behave like a normal, intelligible, reasonable adult, mmmkay? then maybe, just maybe, people will take you somewhat more seriously and not just brush you off as another Gioobag/lilywhite/insert-Chicago-forum-irritant troll

[JoeyPants]

What you seek is what many people refer to as a unicorn. You want Yuppieville near the Southside. Aint gonna happen. As other posters stated, there are some areas nearby, such as West Loop, Taylor St. Medical District, but they are anything but the fratboy enclave that you are accustomed to.

Your best bet is staying put and commuting from Lakevew.

[MP614]

I put my demographic information in my original post because after reading other threads about neighborhood safety, that seemed to be information people wanted to know before recommending a neighborhood. I like the neighborhood where I am now; it's diverse, and that is one of the things I like about it.
I appreciate the helpful posts because I am very unfamiliar with most of the city.