Safe areas for Young single female North of loop (Chicago: apartment, for rent)

[Cwood2008]

Would appreciate some advice. My daughter, a recent college graduate is moving to Chicago for a job in the loop.

She would like to be in an area with young professionals, a night life that she would be able to walk to, walk to grocery shopping, etc.

Her father & I want to supplement her income to put her in a safe, doorman building so someone sees her coming and going everyday.

She is thinking Lincoln Park. Is there any section there that is predominantly young professionals?

Since I am not seeing train access by the park, how reliable is the bus to the loop in the winter and on bad stormy days?

Looking at the map, Clark & Division seems to have grocery, train & shopping all walkable. How is the area by Clark & Division? Is it a young person's neighborhood? Is there a night life there?

Any buildings to avoid? I am reading some terrible reviews about most buildings but maybe it's sour grapes.

Thanks for any advice.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Clark & Division is the Gold Coast. It's a very affluent part of town. Plenty of young people live there. Nightlife is plentiful along Division and the area around Rush Street, which has a lot of high-end restaurants and bars. There is a Red Line stop at Clark and Division as well as reliable buses like the 22 and 36.

[scsm]

I was in the same boat exactly a year ago. I ended up in Lakeview around Belmont and Broadway. I thought Lakeview had cheaper rents, so I ended up in a studio here. Broadway is very lively with tons of hip restaurants and clothing stores, and it seems that everyone is fresh out of college.

If she is moving without a car its amazing how quick you get adjusted to walking further then you ever would before. My grocery store is about 5 blocks away and I hardly notice the walk anymore. It also helps that you see a ton of people walking with grocery bags too.

Also the buses are very reliable, over a million and a half people each day rely on the CTA to get around each day. Come hell or high water (or even NATO) she could get to the Loop.

As for safety Lincoln Park (or Lakeview) would be fine. It is a major city so you do have to be mindful of things. Although maybe other people can have more input since I do not have a doorman. But I have two female friends in two different apartment buildings, one in LP and one in LV, who have doormen and both are pretty worthless. One is constantly reading a magazine inside the building at a desk. Another one (who also sits in a desk inside the building) will let me in the building even though I don't live there - and even before he ever saw me with my friend.

[gomexico]

Generally, the entire North Side.

[i_am_hydrogen]

^Except for Rogers Park, West Rogers Park, and parts of Uptown. None of those area are high crime zones, but you may have some issues.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Cwood2008

Would appreciate some advice. My daughter, a recent college graduate is moving to Chicago for a job in the loop.

She would like to be in an area with young professionals, a night life that she would be able to walk to, walk to grocery shopping, etc.

Her father & I want to supplement her income to put her in a safe, doorman building so someone sees her coming and going everyday.

She is thinking Lincoln Park. Is there any section there that is predominantly young professionals?

Since I am not seeing train access by the park, how reliable is the bus to the loop in the winter and on bad stormy days?

Looking at the map, Clark & Division seems to have grocery, train & shopping all walkable. How is the area by Clark & Division? Is it a young person's neighborhood? Is there a night life there?

Any buildings to avoid? I am reading some terrible reviews about most buildings but maybe it's sour grapes.

Thanks for any advice.

If you want doorman service north of the loop, then either River North, Streeterville, Gold Coast, part of Lincoln Park, and maybe a few places in Lakeview. IN all honesty, I'd suggest either River North, parts of Gold Coast, or parts of Lincoln Park. It really depends on what the budget is. All those areas are semi expensive.

I live in the Gold Coast (southern Gold Coast) and I pay over $1300/month just for rent (which includes 24 hour door service, heat, water, sewage...I just pay for electric apart from that..and my own internet and satellite TV).

Now, far as Clark & Division goes, it's part of the GC but it's a microcosm. A few blocks away used to be one of the most ghetto areas in Chicago weirdly enough (Cabrini Green). Well, that doesn't exist as much anymore, but there's still a few...weird..people who hang out around there day by day. Not only that, but the bars on Division there attract newly legal people or a crowd from the burbs, and sometimes some semi "ghetto" people coming from wherever. Most people who actually live in the area and are about the ages of 23 actually avoid that street for night life and go north to Lincoln Park, Lakeview, or west to Wicker Park. Division is a big time college-esque atmosphere even though many bars are in the area. If you go south of Division, the bars get less college-esque (except for the club Proof on Rush maybe). Problem is that bars downtown are typically more expensive than in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, ETC.

Now, for areas with groceries, if you're looking downtown (i.e. GC or River North) there are a good number of options. There's Potash Brothers near State & Chestnut (this is where I mostly shop). There's another Jewel near Grand & State. There's a Whole Foods near Huron & State, a Trader Joe's near Ontario & Wabash, a Dominick's near Fairbanks & Grand, a Fox & Obel near Grand & Wabash, a Treasure Island near Elm & Clark, etc.

If you were looking at Lincoln Park, your best bet for doorman service would be a high rise along the lake/park (Lakeview would be a high rise along the lake too). Near there would be Lincoln Park Market near Clark & Roslyn. I think also Big Apple near Clark & Fullerton still exists too. If worse comes to worse, there's grocery delivery services (i.e. Peapod). There's also a million CVS and Walgreens around (some of which are 24/7), and some actually have a decent food selection. You might not get the produce (some Walgreens have a little produce though), but if you need milk, cereal, whatever..then you can get them there too.

As far as the makeup of neighborhoods, I'd say Lincoln Park is the younger crowd, but River North isn't bad either. Gold Coast is mixed. There's a lot of rich older people there mixed in with young professionals 22-35 there. I'd say that overall, River North has a more diverse night life scene than Gold Coast, but people come to Gold Coast from all over for the scene (especially the Viagra Triangle area and Division...if you want to know why it's called that, just ask ). For young professional night life, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and River North of these neighborhoods is probably best. The good thing about Chicago is the transit system. Even though I live in the GC, I can hop on a Red Line train easily and be in Lincoln Park within 10-12 minutes, or less. It would be the same as driving across town in a suburb to go to a bar really. Very, very easy and safe especially if you're with other people. The Red Line on a Friday and Saturday night is especially full of people going out to drink, and they're usually between 21-32 years old.



The funny thing about reviews is that most people don't review. Figure a building that's 40 stories downtown. That might have 400+ people living in it. Pretend they've been open for 10 years, and the place only has 40 reviews. It might seem like a lot of reviews, but for a 40 story building being open for 10+ years, it's actually a small percentage of the people who've lived there. It's really hard to tell what's good and what's not unless you find someone who's either lived in the building or someone who has experience with the property company you'ore looking at. You'll find a lot of people complain about the stupidest crap whether it's a bar, restaurant, or apartment complaex. It's unreal.

[ToriaT]

I would stay away from Clark and Division and try to move farther north. Lincoln Park is good or the area around de paul. Lots of young people there but maybe no doorman places. The places that have doormen are typically near the lakefront and high rises.

[Jandur]

The east side of Lincoln Park/Lakeview has highrises with doormen. Basically they are generally along Clark or just east of it.

As mentioned Gold Coast or River North have plenty as well but will be more expensive. between those two areas I would go with River North. Gold Coast has an average age of like 45.

[ChiGuy2.5]

I live in Lincoln Park and have plenty of friends in the city.

How old is she? The area of Lincoln Park tends to have a lot of 21-25 year olds. Where as the area around gold coast has a more diverse age group but predominantly 25-35 year olds. Gold Coast is BIG money. To live there you are looking at a minimum of $1,100 for a studio. She can find a better price in LP, but both are VERY safe. In fact, I would say that Gold Coast/River North/Lincoln Park are the safest of all neighborhoods. Followed by Lakeview.

I would stay away from anywhere near Wrigleyville(lakeview) since the drunk idiots during cubs games may give her a hard time if she is alone. Depending on her age, I would recommend either LP or River North. Both have great access to public trans, both are full of young people, and both have a really good night life.

Oh and avoid the area around division and halsted. Its close proximity to river north and downtown is a little deceiving. Its actually where Cabrini Green used to be, that area is still up and coming. So make sure its either Lincoln Park, or River North.

Here is a neighborhood map: http://lucidrealty.com/images/Chicago_Neighborhoods.jpg

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Cwood2008

Would appreciate some advice. My daughter, a recent college graduate is moving to Chicago for a job in the loop.

She would like to be in an area with young professionals, a night life that she would be able to walk to, walk to grocery shopping, etc.

Her father & I want to supplement her income to put her in a safe, doorman building so someone sees her coming and going everyday.

She is thinking Lincoln Park. Is there any section there that is predominantly young professionals?

Since I am not seeing train access by the park, how reliable is the bus to the loop in the winter and on bad stormy days?

Looking at the map, Clark & Division seems to have grocery, train & shopping all walkable. How is the area by Clark & Division? Is it a young person's neighborhood? Is there a night life there?

Any buildings to avoid? I am reading some terrible reviews about most buildings but maybe it's sour grapes.

Thanks for any advice.

Lincoln Park is great for what you are looking for. North of North Avenue up to Diversey along the lake area is all Lincoln Park.