Should I live in Lincoln Park? (Roscoe, Norwood: lawyer, house, neighborhoods)

[S2H]

Done lurking, finally made an account...

Little background... Grew up in West Ridge, and after law school I bought a house on the edge of the City (Norwood Park) with my fiance. I am a lawyer for the City, so I have to live within the actual City. I chose Norwood because it would.have been a great place to raise a family.

Long story short, I am now single and am going to put the house on the market shortly. I've spent my entire life living on the very edge of the City, and I'd like to live somewhere a little more hip now that I'm looking to date again.

I'm almost 30, so I'm not looking to hang out with college kids, but I do want some close nightlife.

I would like to spend $1400 max, and that would have to include an indoor parking space. I will not park on the street.

I work in the Loop, and while I would like to walk to work, that price range in River North puts me in a tiny studio.

So I thought of Lincoln Park. Can't walk downtown but the L ride is short enpugh... I'm not sure about the age group, though. Obviously there are a lot of DePaul students, but are there late 20s/early 30s also? Is it older or younger than River North? It also feels less touristy, maybe.

Based on my situation and price range, where should I be looking? Are there parts of LP that are more or less crowded/expensive/yuppie?

Scott

[Aleking]

Sounds like a good plan, i wouldn't rule out the Roscoe Village and Lincoln Square areas either.

[S2H]

Originally Posted by Aleking

Sounds like a good plan, i wouldn't rule out the Roscoe Village and Lincoln Square areas either.

Isn't that an older crowd? I want to be by some good nightlife/food.

[chet everett]

Good luck finding a place with parking for $1400/mo in Lincoln Park...

[S2H]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Good luck finding a place with parking for $1400/mo in Lincoln Park...

Can't be done?

[3Series]

Try the old town area. I'm not sure on pricing, but the area around North and Wells, its and older crowd, and it's walkable to the loop on nice days when you have time.

Roscoe Village and Lincoln Square are ok, much further to downtown by train, your commute will be more than double, and the area isn't as 'trendy' as River North/Gold Coast/Magmile.

It all depends on how you roll and what you want out of a nabe.


You'll need to be more specific about the type of place (finishes) you are interested in.

[ERS-One]

Originally Posted by S2H

Isn't that an older crowd? I want to be by some good nightlife/food.

A little older, but more important to you, I think, is that they're both smaller and more family-oriented. They both have good night-life options relative to their size IMO. Lincoln Park should work, perhaps just stay as far away from DePaul as possible. But then that'd put you near the lake and I'm not sure what's available for 1400 with indoor parking around there.

[Aleking]

Food options in Lincoln Park outside a handful of super high end spots you cannot afford anyways are pretty meh, Lincoln Square is definitely better in that regard. Regarding nightlife, LP probably skews a little younger because of DePaul but that doesn't mean everyone in Lincoln/Roscoe is in their mid 40s, I'm a little younger than you and have plenty of peers in those areas. You'd also get more for your money and still be close if need be. All that said, LP is a fine option.

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Good luck finding a place with parking for $1400/mo in Lincoln Park...

He can probably find a 1 bdrm with parking for that in LP, granted on a less desirable fringe block with poor furnishings and possibly a basement. That's why I rec'd Lincoln Square.

[Chicagoist123]

I think Lincoln Park would be fine the further south and east you go in the neighborhood. The northern portion and also around DePaul tends to be more collegy. The southern portion tends to be much less so. I feel once you go south of Armitage it loses a lot of that college vibe to it.

Other neighborhoods worth considering are South Loop, West Loop and Ukranian Village. They are all "hip" neighborhoods, close to downtown, with plenty of nightlife and are not collegey. I would also recommend the Near North Side, however, not sure if it would really work with your budget. Unfortunately, viagra triangle does get that annoying college crowd as well.