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Old 07-28-2008, 08:26 PM
 
7 posts, read 25,568 times
Reputation: 11

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I'm hoping there's some one here who currently lives in San Francisco, and moved there from Chicago, or is at least familiar with Chicago neighborhoods.

I'm a student in Chicago thinking of moving to San Francisco when I graduate. However, I don't really know San Francisco neighborhoods well enough to easily decide where to live.

For example, downtown Chicago is really clean and very safe, even at night. I've heard that's not necessarily the case when it comes to San Francisco.

Is anyone here familiar enough with Chicago to compare some Chicago neighborhoods to similar ones in San Francisco?
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Old 07-28-2008, 11:21 PM
hsw
 
2,144 posts, read 7,133,086 times
Reputation: 1540
My sense is that, for many professionals, Chic is heavily Loop-based in terms of employment; some work up in N 'burbs at Moto/Accenture, etc, but finance industry tends to be Loop-centered....

SF is much more a bedroom suburb of SiliconValley....many younger tech guys live in SF and drive down to SV (a much easier drive than Chic to Northbrook/Schaumburg).....SF has more hedge funds/pvt equity shops/inv bankers than does Chic, but the wealthiest tech guys and VC's are based in SV offices, not SF....

SF's favored neighborhoods for many younger professionals are Marina and SOMA (nr 280 fwy).....Marina/CowHollow/PacHts have a more residential feel, but the housing/apt infrastruc is ancient, even lacking competent HVAC; relatively safe....very LincPk/UppESide-like....crime happens randomly at off-hrs, but relatively peaceful....

SOMA (nr 280 fwy) is like much of Chic nr Loop and Mag Mile area....many newer condo towers w/fairly priced rentals, pkg garages, etc....

Just like Chic, many affluent in SF easily drive around city (traffic is a non-issue; SF is just a big, hilly suburb)....well-guarded pkg garages exist at newer condo bldgs/houses, fin dt off bldgs....and valet pkg in front of relevant restaurants...so exposure to crime risk can be managed down to nr-zero....

Major downsides of SF vs Chic incl far higher inc taxes, more homeless, much dirtier streets/sidewalks, relatively inept police....City of SF has a socialist ethos, whereas Chic is one of most capitalist cities in world....
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Old 07-29-2008, 01:05 AM
 
66 posts, read 212,047 times
Reputation: 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilledByAnts View Post
I'm hoping there's some one here who currently lives in San Francisco, and moved there from Chicago, or is at least familiar with Chicago neighborhoods.

I'm a student in Chicago thinking of moving to San Francisco when I graduate. However, I don't really know San Francisco neighborhoods well enough to easily decide where to live.

For example, downtown Chicago is really clean and very safe, even at night. I've heard that's not necessarily the case when it comes to San Francisco.

Is anyone here familiar enough with Chicago to compare some Chicago neighborhoods to similar ones in San Francisco?
That's true. I just made the move about 9 months ago. Marina is somewhat similar to Lincoln Park and / or Chicago downtown.

Soma is like West Loop and Lincoln Park mashed together, except more inconsistent (there's still large pockets of bad bad people.)

The burbs, at least, are more happening than Chicago's burbs.
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Old 07-29-2008, 09:42 AM
rah
 
Location: Oakland
3,314 posts, read 9,200,762 times
Reputation: 2538
Since I'm not from Chicago, and have never been there, I can't help you with comparisons...but what are some things you're looking for in a neighborhood?


Quote:
Originally Posted by hsw View Post
(traffic is a non-issue; SF is just a big, hilly suburb)
I agree with pretty much everything you say except for this...now granted I've never been to Chicago, but I would never call traffic in SF a non-issue. Seriously, now..As for SF being a giant hilly suburb, what are you talking about? Maybe in regards to the tech industry it is, but for everyone else that's anything but the truth.
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Old 07-29-2008, 10:07 AM
 
Location: San Diego
110 posts, read 376,048 times
Reputation: 67
Quote:
Originally Posted by hsw View Post
SF is much more a bedroom suburb of SiliconValley....many younger tech guys live in SF and drive down to SV

Yeah, SF is populated mostly by young rich guys who work in Silicon Valley.
During the day there is hardly anyone here because they are all down in SV at their 7-figure jobs. Then at night, anticipating their arrival from SV, businesses start opening and it picks up again.
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Old 07-29-2008, 10:58 AM
 
7 posts, read 25,568 times
Reputation: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by rah View Post
Since I'm not from Chicago, and have never been there, I can't help you with comparisons...but what are some things you're looking for in a neighborhood?
Well, I'm mainly looking for:

1) Close to late night / all night public transportation
2) Affordability
3) Safety

...pretty much in that order. I don't have a problem living in a slightly undesirable neighborhood if it's easy to get around and less expensive, as long as it's generally safe.

For example, right now in Chicago, I live in a neighborhood that's about 15 minutes from downtown Chicago by train. It's in a primarily Mexican immigrant neighborhood though, and is amazingly inexpensive for its location. I'm enjoying a two bedroom apartment with a huge kitchen and living room all to myself for $600 dollars a month. I think most white people assume it's really dangerous here, so the rents are still low, but everyone here is really friendly, and the crime rate is actually lower than the city average.

In Chicago, I also wouldn't mind buying a condo downtown at some point when I'm more stable in my career. However, as I said, downtown Chicago is one of the nicest, safest, cleanist parts of the city. I'm not sure if this is the same for San Francisco or not.

I realize that there's probably no neighborhood like mine in San Francisco (and especially no $600 two bedroom apartments), but this should give you a general idea of what I'm looking for.

By the way: I'm a business student, majoring in marketing, how are advertising, marketing, or sales jobs in San Francisco right now?
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Old 07-29-2008, 11:21 AM
 
370 posts, read 859,492 times
Reputation: 231
Where exactly are you living? Bucktown/Wicker park? Humboldt Park?

You are correct in your assessment that you will have hard time finding a place here for $600/month. Even, if you live in the mission/inner mission or even the tenderloin.

I dont quite understand why you are moving, unless it's for a job. Otherwise you seem to like Chicago alot and it will be hard to replicate your needs with that price range. You will pay at least 2x that for 1br or studio, with no parking.
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Old 07-29-2008, 11:29 AM
 
Location: San Diego
110 posts, read 376,048 times
Reputation: 67
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilledByAnts View Post
Well, I'm mainly looking for:

1) Close to late night / all night public transportation
2) Affordability
3) Safety

...pretty much in that order. I don't have a problem living in a slightly undesirable neighborhood if it's easy to get around and less expensive, as long as it's generally safe.

For example, right now in Chicago, I live in a neighborhood that's about 15 minutes from downtown Chicago by train. It's in a primarily Mexican immigrant neighborhood though, and is amazingly inexpensive for its location. I'm enjoying a two bedroom apartment with a huge kitchen and living room all to myself for $600 dollars a month. I think most white people assume it's really dangerous here, so the rents are still low, but everyone here is really friendly, and the crime rate is actually lower than the city average.

In Chicago, I also wouldn't mind buying a condo downtown at some point when I'm more stable in my career. However, as I said, downtown Chicago is one of the nicest, safest, cleanist parts of the city. I'm not sure if this is the same for San Francisco or not.

I realize that there's probably no neighborhood like mine in San Francisco (and especially no $600 two bedroom apartments), but this should give you a general idea of what I'm looking for.

By the way: I'm a business student, majoring in marketing, how are advertising, marketing, or sales jobs in San Francisco right now?
The Mission District is less than 15 minutes by train to Downtown SF. It is very safe unless you are a real pussycat. Rent will be around 1800-2500 for a nice one bedroom. Ad, marketing/sales jobs are not so hot right now because of the economy.
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Old 07-29-2008, 12:02 PM
rah
 
Location: Oakland
3,314 posts, read 9,200,762 times
Reputation: 2538
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilledByAnts View Post
Well, I'm mainly looking for:

1) Close to late night / all night public transportation
2) Affordability
3) Safety

...pretty much in that order. I don't have a problem living in a slightly undesirable neighborhood if it's easy to get around and less expensive, as long as it's generally safe.

For example, right now in Chicago, I live in a neighborhood that's about 15 minutes from downtown Chicago by train. It's in a primarily Mexican immigrant neighborhood though, and is amazingly inexpensive for its location. I'm enjoying a two bedroom apartment with a huge kitchen and living room all to myself for $600 dollars a month. I think most white people assume it's really dangerous here, so the rents are still low, but everyone here is really friendly, and the crime rate is actually lower than the city average.

In Chicago, I also wouldn't mind buying a condo downtown at some point when I'm more stable in my career. However, as I said, downtown Chicago is one of the nicest, safest, cleanist parts of the city. I'm not sure if this is the same for San Francisco or not.

I realize that there's probably no neighborhood like mine in San Francisco (and especially no $600 two bedroom apartments), but this should give you a general idea of what I'm looking for.

By the way: I'm a business student, majoring in marketing, how are advertising, marketing, or sales jobs in San Francisco right now?
If you want something similar to your current neighborhood, you might like the Mission District, which is the primary Latin neighborhood in SF. It has lots of Mexican and Central American immigrants as well as a growing population of younger white people in certain parts (you know, yuppies, hipsters, etc). It's one of the cheaper parts of the city, though you're not going to find anywhere in the Bay Area with a a $600 2 Bedroom apartment. It's an extremely lively neighborhood, and has some good nightlife and tons of bars, as well as tons of public transportation, including BART and 24 hour bus lines (almost all bus lines in SF run until at least 12:00 am too). A trip downtown on BART will take maybe 5-10 minutes, and on a bus it'll take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, or an hour even (worst case scenario), depending on what bus you take, and the time of day/traffic, what part of the Mission you live in, etc.

It can be a pretty gritty neighborhood though, and as far as crime goes, the Mission can actually be dangerous too in certain parts, due to drugs and gangs (though if you're black or latino and under 30, your chances have having problems are much greater. The truth is, if you're white, especially an older white person, it's pretty safe, but don't fool yourself, because anyone can be robbed, assaulted etc. This is one of those neighborhoods that has no shortage of crazy, angry people, and those looking to make a buck by robbing or getting over on others). For example, SF as a whole had a murder rate of around 13/100,000 last year, whereas the mission District had a murder rate of around 23/100,000. In general though, the western part of the Mission is much more calm and safe as it's pretty much strictly residential, and is getting wealthier, as it's where most yuppies and such are moving in.

As for condos and such, there's no shortage of that in SF, as there's a currently a high-rise condo boom downtown. The job market for advertising, sales and marketing should be pretty good too I think...I'm by no means an expert on that though.
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Old 07-29-2008, 12:20 PM
 
Location: East Bay
332 posts, read 770,346 times
Reputation: 286
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilledByAnts View Post
Well, I'm mainly looking for:

1) Close to late night / all night public transportation
2) Affordability
3) Safety

...pretty much in that order. I don't have a problem living in a slightly undesirable neighborhood if it's easy to get around and less expensive, as long as it's generally safe.

For example, right now in Chicago, I live in a neighborhood that's about 15 minutes from downtown Chicago by train. It's in a primarily Mexican immigrant neighborhood though, and is amazingly inexpensive for its location. I'm enjoying a two bedroom apartment with a huge kitchen and living room all to myself for $600 dollars a month. I think most white people assume it's really dangerous here, so the rents are still low, but everyone here is really friendly, and the crime rate is actually lower than the city average.

In Chicago, I also wouldn't mind buying a condo downtown at some point when I'm more stable in my career. However, as I said, downtown Chicago is one of the nicest, safest, cleanist parts of the city. I'm not sure if this is the same for San Francisco or not.

I realize that there's probably no neighborhood like mine in San Francisco (and especially no $600 two bedroom apartments), but this should give you a general idea of what I'm looking for.

By the way: I'm a business student, majoring in marketing, how are advertising, marketing, or sales jobs in San Francisco right now?
Don't move somewhere you've never been to. Don't move unless you have a job lined up. And SF really doesn't have any neighborhoods like Pilsen (I assume that's where you live now).
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