I’m moving to Chicago in a month or two, so right now I’m apartment hunting. I think I want to live in the Old Town/Lincoln Park area, around Halsted and Armitage. Anybody have an opinion on the quality/safety of this area? I’m trying to figure out what neighborhoods are decent before I go to look at places, so that I don’t waste time. Any suggestions appreciated.
Also, anyone know what a “3-flat” is?
The neighborhood you’re talking about is just about as safe a neighborhood as you will find in the city, and has some gorgeous old architecture. Rents are correspondingly insane, as is parking (unless you live on a block with residents-only parking, and sometimes even then). On the bright side, it’s very convenient to public transportation and downtown.
A three-flat is generally an older building with three apartments above ground level, plus sometimes a basement apartment as well; the apartments are fairly large, with either 2 or 3 bedrooms, and sometimes you’ll have access to a backyard. They are usually of quite solid construction and have some nice architectural details. Most of the ones in the area you’re talking about have been rehabbed fairly recently and should have all the modern conveniences.
Let us ChiDopers know if you don’t find what you’re looking for (what are you looking for, anyway?) and we’ll be glad to provide other suggestions.
Eva’s got you dead-bang.
I should add, maybe, that this is a very established, mainstream area that is home to lots of high-end retail and a Depaul University campus. If you want a bit more of a funky or gritty urban environment you won’t get it there.
It is a great area for families, if you can afford it, and very safe, with several parks and a short bike ride from the lakefront.
I rented for about two years right where you’re describing and enjoyed it, although it was kind of blah.
Beaumont’s is right there, where I have spent an occasional night (including Sunday) in a drunken state. You’d also only be a few blocks from the Original Pancake House. Mmm.
Also, Old Town usually refers to Wells street between Division and North avenue and is also quite nice.
If you get a chance, the Lincoln Park something-or-other festival is happening in the next couple of weeks. It’s be a great way to see how all the idiots in the neighborhood act when they get to be idiots and no one will look at them funny.
Be sure to stop at Anthony’s Italian Ice which is, I believe, right at that intersection (perhaps a couple blocks east).
Three flats are houses that are 3 stories high, they tend to be “boxy”, long and narrow. I have seen some very nice three flats, so I’m not implying they are bad at all. The garden apartment is street level or below, I wouldn’t live in a garden apartment because of bugs, water problems, crime possibilities, etc.
Once you move there, you will see why many people don’t have a car in Chicago. The public transportation is very good, it’s very expensive to rent a space to park, and in the neighborhood you are moving to, everything you need will be within a couple blocks.
The neighborhood you describe is an excellent area. If I moved back to Chicago, that area would be at the top of my list.
It’s been almost twenty years, but I once lived in the area you’re looking at and went to school and later worked at the U. of Chicago. Despite the long commute, I never owned a car, and never missed having one.
Bicycling along the beach in the summer time was great.
Old Town is getting better. I’m talking about Wells St, between Division and North Avenue. Just try not to go too far west, near Sedgwick.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone!
I’m 22 (and I just got a job where they’re paying me WAY more money than I’ve ever seen), and living with a 22 year old student whose rich parents are paying for everything on his end. I originally thought Wrigleyville might be a fun place to live because of the nightlife, but I hate the Cubs (Sox fan), and I’ve heard it’s unbearably crowded during games.
Basically, we’re looking to pay about $1400/month for a 2 bedroom place, hopefully in a good neighborhood close to the El. Old Town seems to fit this description to a T, except that I haven’t heard great things about the nightlife in Lincoln Park. I figure we can always take the El to the good bar scenes in Wrigleyville and such. We’re more into a neighborhood-type grillpub anyway, as neither of us is into “clubs” or the like. Dancing is not for awkward white boys. 
The nightlife in Lincoln Park is fine. On Lincoln avenue beween Webster and Sheffield there are about 20 bars ranging from nightclub to hole-in-the-wall irish pub. There are also a bunch of college bars as Depaul is only a few blocks away.
You can also check out the the area around the Southport Ravenswoon trainstop. It’s just west of Wrigleyville and is quite nice. It has a number of nice restaurants and bars and will be more affordable than Lincoln Park and Old Town.
Lincoln Park and Old Town are great and safe, but can be loud and crowded. There many other options to consider. Bucktown/Wicker Park has been totally gentrified and is now safe. It is the last new artists area. The new new artist area is Pilsen if you want it funky. The South Loop/ Printers Row area has made great strides and is still more affordable then LP/OT. It looks to continue to become even a better place to live with lots of new restaurants opening. I personal like Hyde Park, farther away but an easy drive on LSD to down town. You may want some place with a little more action considering your age. The most important consideration may be car or no car. Our public transportation is great in many areas and parking can be a problem. The city is a city of neighborhoods and many are great. If you are working in the Loop, the West Loop Gate area is close and easy. Wherever you end up you will want to be close to the lake and the “L”. I suggest renting for year our two to find an area that you like then save and buy. Chicago is a world class city with so many great options.
After re-reading you last post. Old Town/Lincoln Park for frat boy/yuppie or Bucktown/Wicker Park for more artsy. Printers Row for in between.
I went by Anthony’s on Memorial Day, and it had been closed, IIRC by the Health Department (and it looked rather permanent). There is, however, another killer Italian ice place a couple of blocks west of the El on Armitage, but the name escapes me at the moment.
We live in Bucktown/Wicker Park, and love it. Lots of restaurants, bars, etc and close to the El. You could definitely get a two bedroom place for $1400/month. Could you in Lincoln Park? It’s not impossible but it really is an expensive area to live. I was there for about 2 years and was paying about $650 for a studio, and that was 5 years ago.
I second Ravenswood/Lincoln Square, too, if LP/Old Town don’t work out.
I was there a couple weeks ago. Didn’t know anything about the health department closing! For some reason, it seems to happen to all the restaurants I like!
You’re probably thinking of Tom & Wendy’s.
I have no head for names, so I could easily have them backwards. The one that was closed was the little window-in-the-wall type place, just east of the El. The open one was a couple of blocks west of the El, on the corner of Armitage and one of them-there residential streets. Which is which? Or is there a third one I haven’t discovered yet?
I just had a friend who moved to within a half block of Armitage and Halsted. Even though her apartment is not facing the street she still gets woken up on most Saturday nights when Beaumont’s lets out at 4am.
Best way to look for apartments is to use the Chicago Reader. Either pick up the hardcopy distributed city-wide on Thurday evening, or use the “Apartment finder” on their website www. chicagoreader.com.
If you change your mind about living in Wrigleyville, send me an email. We live in a two flat near Irving and Ashland and our current tenants are moving at the end of August…
It’s been years since I’ve been to T&W’s, but I believe it’s an actual restaurant. Anthony’s is a window in a wall, kitty-corner from Starbucks (since that’s the one thing you can count on for getting people to remember locations!).
I’ve actually had occasion to see Anthony himself (or whoever owns the place) and it’s quite a scene. I wish more shopkeepers were like that.
Is what I heard about Wrigleyville being unbearable crowd-wise correct? I don’t mind crowds all that much, but I’d prefer not to have drunk idiots urinating on my car after games and such. (I’m the only drunk idiot who urinates on my car!) 
I lived across from the Zoo in LP about . . .gasp. . .20 years ago, and you do not want to be downwind in the summer. Breeze blowing off the Lake can make a penthouse seem like a barnyard. Is there still an Old Town School of Folk Music on Armitage? Is Al and Jeff’s Laff Inn now a Starbucks?
Yep - however, they outgrew the facility, so the Armitage campus is now mostly kids’c lasses, the beginning levels of adult guitar and a few other things, and a small music store (the Different Strummer). The main campus is in a new building on Lincoln Ave., just south of Lincoln Square: great new conference halll and lots more classroom space. If you’ve never checked it out, you definitely should!
…and I especially recommend doing it this weekend, which is the Old Town School Folk & Roots Fest down the street in Welles Park, Lincoln & Montrose. Full schedule is on the school website.
Eva Luna, Old Town School member, occasional volunteer, and guitar student, 2001 - present