26th and Ridgeland In Berwyn (condo, new home, to move)

[oakparkdude]

Congrats on your new home. I live not too far from there on the other side of North Ave. If you don't know, OP and Chicago are collaborating to spruce up North Ave with median planters and newer sidewalks and greenery. They're currently working on the road from Harlem to Oak Park and have plans to do the entire stretch up to Austin Ave in a year or two. Should look nice when finished. Hopefully the project will be a catalyst for more and better retail on North Ave.

[mendelman]

Yeah, congrats on the place. I live in central Oak Park (next the Green Line) and really love this area. The location at North/Narragansett is nice and you get the added advantage of being able to say you live in Chicago (just barely though ).

The Galewood neighborhood is very nice and I would certainly be willing to live there if other aspects of a life weren't pulling me in other directions.

[SamA]

Welcome to Galewood! I have lived here a little over 10 years and enjoy it immensely. It was our first home purchase, too! Good luck to you and your wife!

[Duper]

Thanks for the kind words!
We just moved in and my girlfriend didn't want any of our old crappy furniture in the new joint, so as of now we have a bed, two chairs and a tv tray.
We love the condo life, a big step up from the crap appartment we were renting and I don't have to worry about mowing lawn.

We tried staying in Oak Park but couldn't find anything in our budget and found most of the properties to be old and run down.

I didn't know about the plans for North avenue. I've seen them working on it but was wondering if they were going to get to our street. Thats great!

Galewood is a nice neighborhood, not much action but I like it that way.
We have a nice distant view of the Chicago skyline. I never knew you could even see the skyline from this area but now I see it even when I'm driving about.

My girlfriend really took your advise about 26th and Ridgeland and I'm really glad we didn't move there!
Its was a great condo but I don't like the non-english factor.

I'm in the music industry, so having a city address is kind of a cool thing.
And talk about BARLEY being in the city, I can throw a stone into Oak Park from my balcony.
I will keep you posted on our progess. I never knew how much decorating a house needs because I never took the time to do anything to my appartment.

Thanks again!
Matt

[chet everett]

I wish you well. You seem like a decent guy, I've watched this thread since it started. You made the right choice on passing for the first place. It ain't about race, it is LOCATION. That area has some old 'tap room' bars that are never going to be hip. The big boost that Bucktown had was related to the "its the next stop on the blueline" effect. That will NEVER happen in Berwyn.

You are too young to remember the first "BOOM" in northwest condos back in the 70's but believe me there were a TON of folks who overpaid back then and it took 'em 20 years to get back what they into their places.

Keep an eye on your place. If the older folks move out and renters come in you have to make sure the place doesn't shift the wrong way. Be a busy body and know your neighbors and THEIR BUSINESS.

Keep you cash invested in something OTHER THAN over expensive upgrades to your place, don't pay for furniture on credit and NEVER assume that the condo board is not corrupt and/or incompetent. They'll always come crying to you about leaky something or other...

Keep your place clean, neat and UP TO DATE -- if you ever NEED to sell you want to have someplace that looks READY TO MOVE IN!!!

[prinsessa]

Congrats on your new place. I live right by the other place you were thinking of buying. I don't think this neighborhood is scary at all but it is a little boring. I'm used to the city and there is nothing to do except go to taquerias (I love tacos but it gets a little boring after a while). I am counting down the days until we can move some place with a little variety. It isn't a bad area but not the most exciting.

[mia220]

Its was a great condo but I don't like the non-english factor.

I'm glad you found a new condo you like, but please don't buy a condo based on the language that is spoken in the building. It's obvious what you're getting at, but this has nothing to do with language.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by mia220

Its was a great condo but I don't like the non-english factor.

I'm glad you found a new condo you like, but please don't buy a condo based on the language that is spoken in the building. It's obvious what you're getting at, but this has nothing to do with language.

Exactly what I was thinking. Best of luck to you.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I wish you well. You seem like a decent guy, I've watched this thread since it started. You made the right choice on passing for the first place. It ain't about race, it is LOCATION. That area has some old 'tap room' bars that are never going to be hip. The big boost that Bucktown had was related to the "its the next stop on the blueline" effect. That will NEVER happen in Berwyn.

The word "hip" makes me want to puke. And frankly, I'm glad that the people who choose Berwyn aren't concerned about empty vanity.

Wicker Park is a huge clusterf*ck now, and thats the last thing I'd want to see Berwyn turn into.

And you're right, it IS about location. I commute daily via Metra to the Loop in 20 minutes after a 2 block walk from my house. Thats faster than my friends who live on the Northside and take the EL. I can also be on the Eisenhower in 10 minutes, or the Stevenson within 5. Oh yea, and you can actually afford a Chicago bungalow with all the trimmings that would cost you upwards of a million in some "hip" neighborhood. So honestly, I could care less if there are a couple old man bars that arent populated by a bunch of trust fund kids trying to be ironic.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by via chicago

The word "hip" makes me want to puke. And frankly, I'm glad that the people who choose Berwyn aren't concerned about empty vanity.

Wicker Park is a huge clusterf*ck now, and thats the last thing I'd want to see Berwyn turn into.

And you're right, it IS about location. I commute daily via Metra to the Loop in 20 minutes after a 2 block walk from my house. Thats faster than my friends who live on the Northside and take the EL. I can also be on the Eisenhower in 10 minutes, or the Stevenson within 5. Oh yea, and you can actually afford a Chicago bungalow with all the trimmings that would cost you upwards of a million in some "hip" neighborhood. So honestly, I could care less if there are a couple old man bars that arent populated by a bunch of trust fund kids trying to be ironic.

Exactly what I was thinking. But you're already are seeing a large number of former City residents -- many from Wicker Park/Bucktown -- moving here for their first house because it is affordable and hip in its own way. You can get a cool house and keep your urban hipster card, which would be instantly revoked if you moved to Boilingbrook. But, hey, if that means more boutiques and restaurants and bars, I'm all for it! Hopefully the forces of stylish irony won't completely take us over in the process but I have no issue with this kind of change. Bring 'em on.

Agree with you on location being key. But even the area the OP avoided due to, ahem, linguistic issues is pretty accessable to public transit.