I had posted a question a month or so ago concerning tips/tricks for moving to Seattle and now I find that I'll be moving to Chicago! I have a job offer at DePaul University and I was wondering if any of the readers have ever lived in Chicago. Anything out of the ordinary to comment upon? Good places to live? Scary places to avoid living? Any former/current Chicagoans here with helpful advice? Thanks, everyone!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Answers

Erin, I'm originally from Chicago, though I live in the Dallas area now.

Perhaps I'm a little biased, but Chicago is a GREAT city!

Lincoln Park is a great place to live, and near DePaul, I believe, though I don't know for sure if that is their main campus. It's a wonderful neighborhood, though the housing is pretty pricey. There are a lot of great blues clubs in the neighborhood, if you like blues, which is almost a prerequisite for living in Chicago. Good restaraunts, close to transportation, the lake, and downtown. It's one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city - lots of energy, and lots of bright, creative people live there.

The apartments in that neighborhood are mostly in 2 or 3 flats, and are very spacious and light. One thing you'll want to find out when getting a place in Chicago is if heat is included, or if you have to pay your own heating bill in the winter.

I personally never had a bad experience in the city. I used to go to the Southside a lot, because my favorite blues club is there, but a lot of people don't go south of the Loop. Also, west of the Loop isn't so great.

If you want to, please feel free to email me. I can give you the skinny on fun things to do, good restaraunts and the like.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

I moved to Chicago a little over a year ago and I couldn't be happier.

I live on the North side, in Ravenswood which is a) not yet overcome by yuppies and b) fairly inexpensive and c) on the Brown Line which you can easily take to Fullerton (the DePaul stop). There are two grocery stores (Jewel and Butera) within 15 minutes walking distance and Whole Foods is a short ride to the Paulina stop.

Best piece of advice I can offer is sell your car. You do not need a car in Chicago because it will drain you of every red cent - between the parking and heinous price of gas (currently the highest in the nation). Everyone I know who has moved here has sold their car within a couple of months.

As for not so great places to live: Uptown. It's the most racially and economically mixed neighborhood in the city but has a high crime rate. Unless you know someone, living on the South side is an iffy proposition. Chicago is divided by North and South, although it's getting a little better due to increasing gentrification.

You'll find life easier if you live on the Brown Line, which gives you Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village and Lincoln Park as neighborhoods to choose from. The Red line takes you further north into Rogers Park and the edges of Evanston, but it's a bit rougher around the edges.

Drop me a line if you have questions.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Erin, I don't really have much up-to-date info for you. I moved to Chicago from Boston in 1964 as a young woman. I thought the city folk in Chicago much friendlier than Bostonians. The men were noticeably better looking too!! The things I remember! I lived on Ontario Street just east of Michigan ave. and that was a fun area to live in and still would be. Up until a few years ago, my brother lived over on Erie Street about 3 blocks west of State St. and that whole north side (called River North) seems like a cool place to live now. It was really run down when I lived in Chicago. He lives now in a condo in Sandburg Terrace S. of Lincoln Park. I enjoy visiting him as one can walk to the lakefront and Lincoln Park and also walk around some really ritzy neighborhoods east of him. In fact, I am going there tomorrow for a library conference and will stay in his condo while he is out of town. Transportation is good on Clark and LaSalle streets....really all over Chicago. I didn't own a car there and didn't need one. Now, you can even get to the airport on the subway/elevated system. Take your bike though. I really loved the bike trails all along the lakefront. You can ride for miles and miles. The lake front is beautiful with its parks and trails and boat harbors and beaches. (too cold to swim though for me) Later I also lived a half block off Marine Drive near Foster Ave. Beach. However, I know that area is greatly changed. We had a lot of hillbillies back then to the west of us.....now I think it has become a kind of northside China town. I'm not really sure about that area at all anymore as I haven't visited it for a long time. Anyway, I'm sure you will love Chicago....it's my favorite big city although I am now rather fond of San Francisco since my daug. (Heather of The Nid) moved there. But San Francisco is more crowded I think and more expensive. Chicago is a great city. Oh, yes, it is usually 10 degrees cooler along the lakefront in the summer and 10 degrees warmer along the lakefront in the winter. This pertains only to a 1/4 or 1/2 mile wide strip. Not sure exactly.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

You can have a car in Chicago, if you're willing to park it on the street and not drive it too often ...

Paying for parking only happens if you go downtown, live in Wrigleyville, gold coast, Lincoln Park, and parts of Bucktown and Wicker Park.

A lot of people I know have cars and have kept them. My personal commute to work is three miles on terrible roads and through industrial areas, under the expressway, etc., and so I drive. However, I use public transportation for nearly everything else I do in the city.

Wicker Park/Bucktown is a poseur's paradise, but it's very hip and cool. (It where High Fidelity was set) - but you're going to see a lot of artists and musicians there, a lot of great eateries.

Yes yes yes to all the things people have said above - I've lived in this city and lived next to this city all of my life. I've lived in the Ukrainian Village for the past two and a half years and enjoy it a lot.

If you live near DePaul, where you'll be working, yeah, getting rid of the car might be a good idea.

If you're apartment hunting, go to Apartment People - they don't always have the up-to-the-second updates on their listings (because the renters aren't obligated to notify them of changes), but it's FREE to search with them, since they get a commission from the people who are renting out the place to you.

West Town is getting better, in terms of safety, but yes, west of Loop is still a little whacked. I adore Uk. Village, as well as Wicker Park, Bucktown, and even Andersonville. Rogers Park is opening up to blood - some good rents there, crime is not so bad ...

Wrigleyville and Lakeview are very very congested and hosts a big party atmosphere. There are some beautiful buildings there, though - brownstones with excellent woodwork and big front windows. Lots of Cub game noise and El train noise...

Feel free to email me, Erin, if you have any more questions. :)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Er, opening up to NEW blood, rather.

Eeesh.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I moved to Chicago last summer and love it! I even attend DePaul University at the Lincoln Park Campus! Like everyone else has said, the Lincoln park area is very nice, but pricey. I lived in Lakeview which is just a short red line ride to DePaul (2 stops), next to the lake and not quite as pricey as Lincoln Park. I know that down in the south part of the city it's not the greatest neighborhoods. I currently live in Logan Square which has some nice buildings, though not always well kept but are pretty cheap. I pay 750 for a nice 3 bedroom which is 25 less than I paid for a one bedroom in Lakeview. The neighborhood around here is a little iffy, though. Rumors of gang bangers abound, though I've never ever had any trouble at all and haven't known anyone who has. It's getting even better though.

Chicago is really a great place with tons of things to do. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions about Chicago or DePaul!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

I live in Chicago, too, and you should also feel free to email me if you have questions or need any other advice! I live in the Andersonville neighborhood, on the north side of Chicago, and I like it a lot -- I've lived there for two years and plan to stay at least a while longer. For five years before that, I lived in Rogers Park, four years on the west side of Rogers Park, one year by the lake. By the lake, parking was insanely horrible. In west Rogers Park, parking was so-so. Where I am now, I park on the street and I'm pretty happy about it. I also not only keep a car, but I made the choice to get a new car after graduating law school and getting a real job. So...for the past (almost) two years, I've worked downtown, lived in Andersonville, and driven (almost) every day to work. My job is a few blocks west of the Loop, so parking is a bit cheaper, especially if I walk two extra blocks - I pay $7 a day, which has gone up from $5 (as opposed to $15 in the lot right next to the building or over $20 if you go into the loop).

I grew up in central Indiana, then in eastern Kentucky, then went to college in Lexington, Kentucky. I came straight from there to Chicago, and I love it here. I also love lots of the other neighborhoods people have mentioned - I'm staying in Andersonville for now because it has more shopping/restaurants/entertainment than Rogers Park, a fairly artsy educated but not wealthy population,feels safer than Rogers Park, is only about a 20 minute drive (pre or post rush hour) to downtown, but has lots of large apartments in old buildings (lots of 2 flats and 3 flats built between 1910 to 1930 or so) for not too much money (I have a roommate, a 2 BR, and we pay $595 each for about 1500 square feet of space). On the other hand, there's not nearly as MUCH to do (in terms of night life, in particular) as if you're in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park or Bucktown, or Wrigleyville area.

Feel free to email if you'd be interested in further ramblings. Everybody likes to talk about what they know, I guess - or at least I do!

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000

Hi my name is Nicole I have lived in Chicago now all od my life. Right now I attend National Louis University and hopefully in the full will be tranfering to Depaul University. I think that it really doesn't matter where you live in Chicago where ever youlive there is going to be violence its all around us we can't run from it. I think that you should accept the job offer it probably would be a great experience for you. Hopefully I would get to meet you in the fall what subject would you be teaching? My major is Pschylogy. I'll be looking for you.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001