Chicago Dopers - Help me pick a Chicago Neighborhood

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

As some of you know, I’m working in the city now (west of the loop around Ashland and 290) and am planning on selling my condo on the NW 'burbs and finally moving into the city later this year. Given the type of work I’m doing now, even if I switch jobs in the forseeable future, I figure I can fairly easily get something in the loop, and take the El in.

I’m not sure where to move exactly, though. I need to keep my car, which means I can’t afford a place right in the loop. For right now I’ll be driving in to work most days, since cheap parking is available at work, but I’d like to be able to take the El in on occasion (I’m on the Blue Line). So I was thinking I’d like to be along the Blue Line (Wicker Park, Logan Square, somwhere NW of the Loop…), but I’m not married to the idea. I’d like to be within about 4 blocks of an El stop, though.

Note that my main reason for moving it to have a short drive to work. Right now it’s an hour each way on a good day. I’d like to have about a 15 minute drive, which is why I was thinking that NW of the Loop would be a good place. Maybe South Loop, though?

I need a dog friendly neighborhood. Right now I have one puppers, and I’m thinking about getting another (probably a retired racing greyhound) at some point down the road. I also have two cats. Yes, I’m insane.

I’d like to have some nice restaurants (especially fun ethnic restaurants) and a neighborhood bar (think impromptu ChiDopes) within walking distance. A neighborhood movie theater would be great.

As far as the condo itself: I’m looking for a 2 BR/2Bath with hardwood floors and an in-unit washer and dryer. A whirlpool bath would be nice. I want an elevator building; my dog acts like a puppy now, but he’ll get old, and I can’t carry a 40 lb dog. I absolutely want a condo, not a townhouse, and I want a controlled access building, recently rehabbed (within the last 3-5 years), with at least 20 buildings in the condo association. I’ve heard nightmares from friends who’ve had only 6 or so owners in the association, and nothing ever gets done because no one can ever agree on anything. Basically I’d like an association big enough to have a management company running things. I don’t want new construction - too many delays and too many problems.

Given current interest rates and what I think I can sell my current place for, I can probably spend between $200K and $250K, included deeded parking. Unfortunately that doesn’t buy that much in the city, but with the glut of new housing, it looks like prices are coming down on some of the newer rehabs and that will work to my advantage.

So what neighborhoods do you think I should I look at, and why? And even though I’m a native, I’m not great with neighborhood names, so if y’all could tell me streets, too, that’d be appreciated.

2

I can seriously recommend my neighborhood, St. Ben’s/west Lakeview. Lots of condos springing up around us (one development in particular is on the west side of the river and Irving Park, across from a terrific public park), lots of neighborhood bars, two convenient movie theatres, very dog friendly. Once you go west of the river, or really, west of Western, prices on everything drop dramatically, but you still get all the benefits of the neighborhood. We’re close to the Brown Line, which goes into downtown.

Whoo. That’s it for my PSA.

FWIW, I grew up in Logan Square, and I still love that area. It’s getting pricier these days as it gets cooler with the white folk though, so better to get in quickly if you found something you liked.

3

So long as you’re at it, The Big Move of me and Kyla is coming soon to a Chicago near you. We’re looking for a 2 bedroom apartment to rent for about $1000 a month, and we’ll neither of us have cars. Work is to be decided, but we’d need to be close to some El stop or another. Please help us! We’ve been told Wicker Park/Bucktown; are there other options?

4

I second what Gundy said. I’m slightly west and north of her (Ravenswood Manor), and while there aren’t large condo complexes in my neighborhood proper, they’re in the area. Essentially, we’re talking about the area west and south of the Grafton. Plenty of large parks popular with people with pups.

Two cautions about the brown line, though. It ain’t speedy, and major renovations are planned. Driving is surprisingly fast, though. California Ave. flies, even during rush hour. (Okay, “flies” might be overstating it, but my commute to the Grant Park garage takes about 30 minutes.

5

Thanks for the ideas so far. So if I move to your guys’ neighborhood, can I hang out with you, or will you avoid me? :wink:

6

You don’t know me, I don’t know you.

7

Hmmmpf. I see, as usual, she’s forgotten that I have to have somewhere nearby to park my car, too. But at least I’ll have my own bathroom - well, me and the cats.

8

I’d be more worried about you having your own bedroom
:wink:

9

Wicker Park/Bucktown can be a little pricey, depending on where you are. I know a girl who had a flat near Milwaukee and Western (the slightly less desirable arm of Wicker Park) and she was paying $700 for a one bedroom Squalor Special with back windows that overlook the Western train station. I assume you’ve been looking in the Reader for apartments; owners will fudge a little or a lot on neighborhood names (e.g., “West Wicker Park” is pretty much Humboldt Park, which, while gentrifying, is still a little gang-y in spots). Living in Wicker Park would mean you were near the Cold Comfort Deli, the best deli in the city in my estimation. If you’re a meat-eater and in the area, get the Who Is Che Guevara sandwich. It’s not Cuban but holy moly it’s good.

Again I’d recommend Logan Square – it’s still a slightly cheaper option than some places, and it’s right on the Blue Line. Beautiful, historic, multicultural neighborhood. My immediate area is a little overrun with kids so if you don’t like kids it might not be your bag, but I absolutely love my neighborhood. Ravenswood is great, Lakeview is great, Roscoe Village is great but can be expensive – these are all near the Brown Line. Uptown’s getting nice in spots and is near the lake; that’s off the Red Line. Further out on the Blue Line, you can get very nice places relatively cheap. Jefferson Park is a northwest side neighborhood that’s very nice (if you’re looking to be near cool bars and stuff it’s a little far out, though, and again is somewhat family-oriented) and since it’s not in the center of the city you can find pretty nice apartments there for cheap.

Porc, I should have recommended Jeff Park to you too, as well as North Park, around Northeastern University (Foster/Pulaski to Foster/California).

Seriously, I’ve spent more time looking for apartments (three moves in four years) than I’d care to admit, so if I can help at all just e-mail me. I have a definite north-side bias but I’ll do what I can.

10

One thing nice about Jeff Park (near my old stomping grounds) is that it is close to forest preserves for the dog(s). But I second Gundy’s observation that it ain’t exactly a wild area.

11

I would highly recommend: The Apartment People. Go to their office on a Sat. morning (get there EARLY to avoid the rush), they will plug in your requirements into their database, come up with 2 or 3 apartments, and drive you to look at them. And it’s free. Their website has a neighborhood map, too.

Basic rule of thumb, remember that the closer you are to downtown, the more expensive it gets. I live in North Park, which is a nice neighborhood and not too expensive, but it takes me an hour to commute to work in the Loop and there’s no local nightlife. It sucks royally. But you may have to live out that far if you’re looking to spend only $1000.

But, neighborhoods – Logan Square is closer in, still a somewhat funky/bohemian neighborhood, and rent hasn’t quite caught up to gentrification yet. North Park is a nice neighborhood and relatively inexpensive, but boring and far from everything exciting. Roger’s Park is up and coming – definitely LOOK at any apartments in this area first, since some parts are okay and some parts are still “ghetto lite.” It’s farther north but it has Loyola University so it has some of its own culture, and it’s on the Red Line which tends to be a faster shot to downtown. Andersonville/Uptown are south of RP, are a bit nicer and has a ton of bars/restaurants, but again here’s where rent starts creeping up.

I love the Lakeview/Boystown neighborhood, lots of stuff to do, half an hour to the Loop on the El, but I’m doubting you can find something in your price range. Check and see, though, you may get lucky, or if you can bump up to $1200-1300 a month you may have a decent shot. Wrigleyville is right next door, so pretty much the same in terms of price and neighborhood. The only major difference seems to be that Boystown is more bohemian/artsy, and Wrigleyville caters to yuppies. Might be just me though.

DePaul/Fullerton – same deal, nice area, close to El/downtown, but getting up there in price.

Those are the neighborhoods I know. Oh, and definitely try to get a place where heat is included in rent. It can make a HUGE difference during the winter.

12

Hey, bristlesage, is Logan Square the neighborhood the El guy told us we should live in?

13

Yes, I believe it is, Kyla. Logan Square, gettin’ mad props from the Chicagoans.

14

When I was a little boy, more than 30 years agoo, I lived in Logan Square. On Drake Avenue. I still remember the lovely architecture, like nowhere else.

What’s it like these days?

15

Massively gentrifying.