Possible move to Chicago.... (Lincoln, Irving: neighborhoods, to buy, public school) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

tankhead · 10-10-2012, 03:44 PM

I am considering possibly moving to Chicago from Miami due to Chicago's higher wages, lower costs of living, better mass transit, more cosmopolitan, carless lifestyle, etc.

I went there a few years ago during the winter time and have a generally positive view of the city. I would like to live in the urban core and near mass transit and teach in a good public school as that is what I am currently doing for a living in Miami.

Any suggestions?

soulful · 10-10-2012, 03:56 PM

Chicago is a great city and the carless lifestyle is wonderful. The key will be finding and getting hired at a good school in a neighborhood that is desirable to you.

I could suggest any number of urban neighborhoods where you might want to live, however, one that has good, quick public transportation to the school where you are hired is probably important.

Personally, I love the densely populated lakefront neighborhoods on the northside. Great access to the park/lake and lots of urban streetlife/shops/restaurants/etc. I am really into Lakevew, Lincoln Park, Andersonville/Edgewater. Wouldn't consider living far from the lake. But that is just me.

good luck to you

chet everett · 10-10-2012, 04:32 PM

While it is possible to be hired to teach in a school that is reachable via public transit there is really no provision for that in the overall hiring process -- it would be sorta random whether you could even get an interview at a school near to a desirable / easy access to transit neighborhood vs one that is rough part of town that you'd really be better off driving to...

Not sure what you earn in Miami, nor how you choose to spend your housing dollars but there is a wide range of potential price points in Chicago, the averages may not reflect a realisitic target.

More details on what your current situation may make it easier to suggest how things might line up in Chicago...

chirack · 10-10-2012, 04:37 PM

Honestly our PT is very set up to get people to and from downtown. It does that job very well. It is weaker at getting people around the city(it does but driving is faster). I am not sure if school teacher is a good job that works well with transit. Schools can be anywhere. You might not be able to be as car free as you like.

tankhead · 10-10-2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet everett

While it is possible to be hired to teach in a school that is reachable via public transit there is really no provision for that in the overall hiring process -- it would be sorta random whether you could even get an interview at a school near to a desirable / easy access to transit neighborhood vs one that is rough part of town that you'd really be better off driving to...

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying. Are you saying that teaching assignments / schools are assigned as opposed to being able to apply to a choice of one's choice?

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet everett

Not sure what you earn in Miami, nor how you choose to spend your housing dollars but there is a wide range of potential price points in Chicago, the averages may not reflect a realisitic target.

More details on what your current situation may make it easier to suggest how things might line up in Chicago...

I make about $43k / year & have about $45k in savings (which I could use to buy a home).

ChiNaan · 10-10-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankhead

I make about $43k

The good news is that you'll likely make more than that working for CPS. The bad news is that you'll be working for CPS.

tankhead · 10-11-2012, 05:26 AM

So what are some good schools / neighborhoods where I can focus my job search?

Magpie1127 · 10-11-2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankhead

So what are some good schools / neighborhoods where I can focus my job search?

It's hard to suggest neighborhoods, because you haven't really told us what kind of "vibe" you like. All the neighborhoods have their own personalities. For a teacher, I would suggest the neighborhoods of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center, as there are a lot of professionals living in those areas, the schools tend to be good, and you're very near to public transit.

While I agree that the transit system could use a little improvement getting people AROUND town (rather than just downtown), it is possible. The bus system can get you from neighborhood to neighborhood and fill in the gaps where the El system is lacking. I live in Lakeview and used to commute out to the Irving Park area for work (not an easy trip via the EL), but I made it work. To get between inconvenient neighborhoods, you just have to go out of your way to coordinate bus schedules. If a carless lifestyle is important, it's not hard to achieve.

ChiNaan · 10-11-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankhead

So what are some good schools / neighborhoods where I can focus my job search?

I would recommend trying to get a job, first, then considering commute as a factor when deciding which neighborhood to live in. Unless you have a mind-blowing resume you're probably not going to be picking and choosing for your first teaching job in the city.

marothisu · 10-11-2012, 07:14 AM

While the train system was originally designed to get people to and from downtown, it's complete BS to act like that its own function. It's not as comprehensive as a NYC, but it's just like many other systems. You can easily get from one neighborhood to another on the rail system here. The only thing is again, it's not going to take you to every spot within that neighborhood. But yeah, the system does more than take you to and from downtown.