Southwest Minneapolis Comp (Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park: apartment, movers, hotel)

[3three3]

First: yes, I have read through all the information on neighborhoods in the thread for potential movers. I've spent a wealth of time on there, actually (it needs some organizing...but thank you for having a localized spot for all the info).

Second: I know there is some competition between Chicago and Minneapolis at times. I'm hoping responses (if any) will stick to the requested information and avoid turning this into a battle-of-the-cities thread.

Now: I'm currently applying to grad school programs throughout the country. However, on a recent visit, I was greatly impressed by the Chicago program on my list. One of the professors, and a couple of the kind gentlemen at the hotel I stayed at, suggested I consider Logan Square for a potential move. I visited it (I think) before flying out and was not impressed. Perhaps I was in the wrong spot, but I don't think I was. The coffee shop I stopped at was hipster-ville and suggested I was in the area catering to young professionals.

A move to Chicago seems likely (in August). I currently live in a lovely Southwest Minneapolis apartment (5 blocks from Lake Harriet, close to Lyndale/Uptown/etc) and I have a 50# dog. I'm a bit of a late-bloomer for grad school and in my mid30s. I'd like to find a spot in Chicago that is akin to the area I currently live. Super safe, tree-lined streets, grassy boulevards, and nearby parks for my lab-mix to play fetch. I would prefer to be near similarly aged persons, even if they have families. Everyone keeps steering me toward the Chicago hot-spots and I really don't care about that since I'll be studying my butt off. My days of needing to be around loud bars and noisy youngsters are long, long gone. I want the green space that I love in Minneapolis, the beautiful (and affordable) vintage apartment, pet-friendly, safe and close to the train/bus (I don't intend on bringing my car)...and, if possible, bike-friendly and providing easy access to necessities like a Whole Foods/Trader Joes, etc.

I'm willing to spend a little longer on the commute for the right neighborhood. I'm hoping someone out there is familiar with Minneapolis and can help point me in the right direction. Are there any Chicago neighborhoods that are similar to where I'm at now? Lincoln Park and Lakeview (where my hotel was) were too much concrete and not enough green space for me, if that offers any clues. A little more info would greatly help me plan for my next trip to Chicago.

I appreciate any and all information. Thanks for your time.

[Avengerfire]

I hate to keep bringing them up, but look into Lincoln Square, Ravenswood,and North Center. You may also want to look into the eastern portion of Irving Park as well as Ravenswood Gardens and Ravenswood Manor. They all are close to Wells Park and Horner Park. They all (except Irving Park which is close to the Blue Line) have close access to the Brown Line (CTA) train.

I have never been to the area in Minneapolis you speak of, but judging by the pics on Google maps, I think you might enjoy Norwood Park and Edison Park. If you live in those areas and go to school downtown-the best option is to take Metra (commuter rail.)

[chet everett]

I love Minneapolis -- they have more greenspace than Chicago, have far better ways of dealing with the reality of harsh winter weather and has way less corruption.

Unfortunately they don't have a broad a range of well respected Universities / colleges, so you are going to have compromise. If parks are a priority you are probably going to have to go west to at least Oak Park, though I don't know if they have any dog friendly parks -- the "broad lawns and narrow minds" jibe has been erradicted in most areas other than pet poop... Heck even dog loving DuPage Co requires "dog park licenses" for its off leash areas. Such madness has not spread to Lake, Will or Kane Co , yet, but those are going to be too far for a commute... Compromise is the order of the day.

Good Luck!

[Drover]

Where you end up in grad school would substantially influence my recommendation. I'd hate to suggest Hyde Park only to learn you'll be attending school at Northwestern's Evanston campus. Where are you applying, and which programs?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I love Minneapolis -- they have more greenspace than Chicago, have far better ways of dealing with the reality of harsh winter weather and has way less corruption.

Of course you do--because I hate Minneapolis (somehow Chet and I always seem to see things a bit differently, but diversity of opinion is good on a board like this, and I respect Chet's views and contributions). Well, hate is definitely too strong a word, but a city with supposedly "progressive" attitudes, an educated populace, and strong business leadership should be doing so much more to keep the city vibrant, including some real, useful rail transit (no, the "light rail" that goes to Mall of America and the Airport doesn't fit that bill).

[chet everett]

Minnesotans need their cars -- little bubbles of air that they keep warm from heated garage at home, during short commute to workplace / shopping / school that have heated garages so they don't turn into popsicles...

But seriously LK and I see some coins from opposite sides, and that's OK. I suspect MN will get more efficient buses and such a lot quicker than any rail (light or heavy) gets added to in the Chicago region.

Fortunately BOTH light rail (CTA) and traditional (Metra) link Oak Park to pretty much all Chicago based colleges...

[3three3]

First, a reminder that I did not want this to become a Minneapolis vs. Chicago thread. Please stay on point so I can get the information that I really, really need.

Drover: I plan on attending UIC, so no need to worry about Northwestern or Loyola. The department spoiled me when I visited and has already offered me financial awards, even though my application hasn't arrived. Grad school is often about who offers the most money and wants you the most, and right now that's looking like UIC. Please shoot off your neighborhood suggestions.

LK: The light rail you speak of is no longer the only line. There is now also a line from St. Cloud to downtown and construction for the connection from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul will begin shortly. Community meetings have already begun for discussion/decision on the next metro area connection. For such gigantic and expensive projects, I'd say we're moving at a rather rapid rate (especially considering that we're doing all of this during a recession).

Now...back on point. Based off of the mentions thus far, am I being steered toward the suburbs?

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far!

[chet everett]

A 50 lbs dog is fairly large. You might find an acceptable place somewhere in Chicago that is not too far from UIC, but to my way of thinking you'd do much better in the suburbarn area -- Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, would put you closer to the more "trees less concrete" feel of home and still be a pretty acceptable commute...

[Drover]

OK, if you're looking at UIC, I think a commute from Hyde Park would be reasonable. Rents are relatively cheap for the quality of the neighborhood, certainly cheaper than any other lakefront neighborhood of its quality. And while it's a "college" neighborhood (University of Chicago is down there), they are by and large quiet, studious, dare I say slightly boring college kids, so you won't be dealing with drunken revelry on Friday and Saturday nights -- or football crowds for that matter. Last but not least, the neighborhood is practically surrounded on 3 sides by open spaces varying in sizes from pretty big to huge: Washington Park to the west, Midway Plaisance to the south, and Jackson Park to the east. The one downside I can think of is that while there's big open spaces around it, the residential streets themselves might be a little denser than you're looking for. There are areas with nice wide lawns -- that happen to to have 2 million dollar houses sitting on them, so you're probably priced out of those sections of the neighborhood. But the streets are lined with trees, and there's all that open green space nearby...

[Avengerfire]

This thread may help you out a bit as well:

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...s-suburbs.html