Opinions on East Humboldt Park (near Western & Augusta) (Chicago: condo, crime)

[RKelly30]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase a condo approximately one block west of Augusta and Western. I have lived in Chicago, first in West Bucktown\Logan Square then Ukrainian Village for 2 years, and have generally felt safe in these areas. The old rule of thumb was no place west of Western, but I don't really think that's so applicable anymore as the areas have improved. I took a walk around the neighborhood today and it seemed pretty decent, although walking along California I got a few hard looks, but maybe I was just being overly observant (I'd probably be considered a clean looking white male). Looking at crime data it seems to be about the same as where I live now (division & hoyne) and I've always felt safe there.

I realize where I'm thinking about buying is a little less affluent than where I am now; what are people's thoughts about the general safety/livability for a white male in this area? I suppose I'm living proof of gentrification!

[surlycue]

I have tons of friends that live in that area between Western and California without problems. I drink at the Clipper once in a blue moon and ride home along Augusta late at night and have never been harassed at all.

The types of crime that would affect you as a non-gang member/drug-user in that area would be property theft and car vandalism. If you have a secure parking spot with the place you should be absolutely fine. A cheap home alarm system can't hurt either and I'd recommend that in any city neighborhood.

FYI, if you have kids or a thinking of having any while owning a condo there; all of the neighborhood schools suck in Humboldt Park so you'll have to gamble with the magnet application process or send the kiddos to St Helens, which is a popular parochial school for middle class folks in HP.

[Avengerfire]

Here are some threads for you to read:

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...oldt-park.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...-location.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...n-village.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ce-wanted.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...oldt-park.html

[RKelly30]

Avengerfire and Surlycue, thanks for the responses. I had actually read most of those topic threads, and a few more. It seems like most of them are a year old or older, so I was looking to get more up to date opinions, if in fact anything has really changed.

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by surlycue

FYI, if you have kids or a thinking of having any while owning a condo there; all of the neighborhood schools suck in Humboldt Park so you'll have to gamble with the magnet application process or send the kiddos to St Helens, which is a popular parochial school for middle class folks in HP.

Anywhere with kids should be right up R. Kelly's alley....Hey Kells you're diversifying now huh??

[dustbag44]

I'm posting on this thread since it seems to be the most recent on the topic. I've read all the threads avengerfire linked to above. So, my wife and I are very interested in a condo at Chicago and California, right on California, we have a one year old and another on the way. We live at Grand and Ashland now, and both of us have lived in Wicker Park and Ukie Village in the past, we frequent Feed and have hung out at Rootstock, we have friends who live two blocks east and 6 blocks north of there and are both very happy. I'm really interested in the opinions of those who currently live in the area as to how they like it/feel safety wise. Like I said, we have visited, hung out night and day in this neighborhood many times, so we are fairly familiar with it, but have never lived there...thanks for any input.

[Humboldt1]

There is a blue light at the corner of augusta and california, by the Clipper. There are alot of gang bangers in that area along California. I have talked with a number of them while walking out of the Clipper (even hung out with a few, not smart). In my experience, their idea of a good time is driving around drunk with music blasting and smoking weed. Not people I would want as neighbors.

I think that area is better than west of the park (right next to Continental). It is okay for singles and even a married couple, not for kids. You should stay east of Western or move to the burbs south of North. 6 blocks north and 2 blocks east makes a huge difference in that area. Also, why would you want to raise kids around the filth that hangs out on California south of Division?

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by dustbag44

I'm posting on this thread since it seems to be the most recent on the topic. I've read all the threads avengerfire linked to above. So, my wife and I are very interested in a condo at Chicago and California, right on California, we have a one year old and another on the way. We live at Grand and Ashland now, and both of us have lived in Wicker Park and Ukie Village in the past, we frequent Feed and have hung out at Rootstock, we have friends who live two blocks east and 6 blocks north of there and are both very happy. I'm really interested in the opinions of those who currently live in the area as to how they like it/feel safety wise. Like I said, we have visited, hung out night and day in this neighborhood many times, so we are fairly familiar with it, but have never lived there...thanks for any input.

I live not too far from there and often go jogging around that area in the summer. Basically the California/Chicago intersection is kind of at the crossroads between a decent neighborhood and a sketchy one. Things get noticeably worse when you get north of Augusta or west of California. There will certainly be some shady characters (gang banger types) on California going north of Chicago Ave, but things are better going east or south of the intersection you are looking at.

The portion of neighborhood that is located south of Chicago Ave and east of California Ave is actually a pretty solid area. I see lots of families hanging out in Smith Park in the summer, many of which are Ukrainians. Many blue-collar Chicago natives also still live right around Smith Park. Go north of Chicago Ave things start to get shadier, and like I said before you don't really want to be north of Augusta or west of California.

[dustbag44]

I feel like the area six blocks north of there right by the park is worse, once you hit north of Augusta all the way up to Bloomingdale seems worse than Chicago/California. Unfortunately, we can't afford anything east of western as much as we'd like to.

Honestly I'd rather raise my kids in that neighborhood, than in Lakeview or the South Loop, or the burbs for that matter.

[latikeriii]

Off-point but my parents used to live on Augusta and California in the early 1970s, they said it was OK, but the housing stock was bad. Now, I would stay east of Western unless you have a tolerance for living around shady characters. You won't necessarily have any problems if you mind your business and act like you know where you're going but if you're not comfortable with an occasional gang member or shady character, I wouldn't recommend living over there. It appears that you are used to city living so this may not be an issue. As someone else stated, the schools are pretty bad still, the area is still in transistion.