New job near Monroe Blue Line Stop. Where to Live?? (Chicago: apartment, safe neighborhoods)

[worried father]

Need your help. Son is taking new position in Chicago near the Monroe stop of the Blue Line. Any recommendations on where he should look for an apartment? The red line Monroe stop is also near by. Any recommendations on where NOT to live. Thanks. Can spend up to 1100 for an apartment.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by worried father

Need your help. Son is taking new position in Chicago near the Monroe stop of the Blue Line. Any recommendations on where he should look for an apartment? The red line Monroe stop is also near by. Any recommendations on where NOT to live. Thanks. Can spend up to 1100 for an apartment.

What is your son looking for in terms of neighborhood, besides safety?

[worried father]

Looking for safe 1 Bedroom apartment within walking distance to subway. Newer apartment. He will travel frequently so convenience to airport is also a consideration.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by worried father

Looking for safe 1 Bedroom apartment within walking distance to subway. Newer apartment. He will travel frequently so convenience to airport is also a consideration.

Your son can live in many nice and safe neighborhoods with that budget. Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Ukranian Village, even downtown possibly. No worries.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by worried father

Need your help. Son is taking new position in Chicago near the Monroe stop of the Blue Line. Any recommendations on where he should look for an apartment? The red line Monroe stop is also near by. Any recommendations on where NOT to live. Thanks. Can spend up to 1100 for an apartment.

Why are you on here asking, instead of your son?

[nikitakolata]

Originally Posted by worried father

Looking for safe 1 Bedroom apartment within walking distance to subway. Newer apartment. He will travel frequently so convenience to airport is also a consideration.

I would recommend looking in Bucktown/Wicker Park near the Damen Blue Line stop. He could also look near the Western and Division stops, but in my opinion, the area around the Damen stop is the nicest. He should be able to find something in his budget there. I recommend that area because it's very easy to get downtown to work, but it's also great if you need to get to O'Hare for travel (the blue line ends at O'Hare on one end).

[chirack]

Blue line itself goes to O'hare and Bucktown could be one place(there are lots of places). Sorta depends on what he is looking for in an area. Bucktown would give him easy access to 90/94 and be near downtown for a short commute. Irving park is closer to O'hare on the blue line but another area this area is quiter.

Lakeview and Lincoln park can work, only hassle will be getting to O'hare(if he travels once a month or less probably not a big problem, but if he needs to travel more than that he probably wants to be somewhere a little better located). Also this assumes he is going out O'hare most often and not Midway.

[long101]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

I would recommend looking in Bucktown/Wicker Park near the Damen Blue Line stop. He could also look near the Western and Division stops, but in my opinion, the area around the Damen stop is the nicest. He should be able to find something in his budget there. I recommend that area because it's very easy to get downtown to work, but it's also great if you need to get to O'Hare for travel (the blue line ends at O'Hare on one end).

I dont know how new of a 1br he can find near the Damen blue... If it were me I would try and find a place near the california Blue. Its not as nice as the area around the Damen blue, but is safe and a whole heck lot less expensive. Also the morning commute getting on at Damen sucks, somtimes you will have to wait for 2-3 trains to pass befoer your able to get on one.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by long101

I dont know how new of a 1br he can find near the Damen blue...

Not a problem, if you're looking at spending $1100 on a 1 bed you can find a nice one, even near the Damen blue line stop. Plenty of options.

Originally Posted by long101

...find a place near the california Blue. Its not as nice as the area around the Damen blue, but is safe and a whole heck lot less expensive.

Less expensive yes, not as nice, yes.

Originally Posted by long101

Also the morning commute getting on at Damen sucks, somtimes you will have to wait for 2-3 trains to pass befoer your able to get on one.

This is just wrong. I use the Blue Line every day at the height of rush hour (between 7:30 and 8am) and only rarely have to miss a train, I'd say maybe once every 2 weeks, and even then, the next train is always coming up in less than 5 minutes.

The Blue Line inbound to the Loop during weekday rush hour is very reliable, it comes every 5 minutes all morning.

That said, to the OP, don't forget about the Division Blue Line Stop area, it's the south end of Wicker Park and walkable to a lot of amenities.

[emathias]

It's amusing everyone is suggesting Wicker Park just because the OP mentioned the Blue Line.

The Monroe stop of the Blue Line is in the middle of the Loop. It's no more than a 5-7 minute walk from any of the lines. Sure, the Blue Line is right there, but for an extra five minutes of walking, you can live anywhere in the city near an "L" station.

He could live in Lincoln Park and Lakeview just as easily. He could also live in Printers' Row and walk to work. He could even live in University Village or the Taylor Street area if he wanted to. I've known recent UIC grads who liked that area and wanted to stick around in that area, so it's not a totally insane idea.