Hermosa is full of hipsters? (Lincoln, Hardin: condos, home, to buy)

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by Warsie

There was a thread on here in the past which mentioned Hermosa is full of hipsters. Is this true/explain?

I'll describe it as a 'low class' neighborhood where gangs have become a problem. I can't imagine myself living in the neighborhood. I should clarify that I'm speaking of the eastern section of Hermosa.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by tompope

I think it's interesting that, at least in my experience, the official names of most Chicago neighborhoods aren't actually used in everyday situations by actual Chicagoans very often, unless they're in the news media or the real estate industry, and I think that's largely because of that impreciseness of the boundaries. There are only a handful of Chicago neighborhoods (like Bridgeport, Englewood, Roscoe Village, Hegewisch, Uptown, etc.) that are distinct and specific enough that locals actually refer to them frequently.

Beverly, McKinley Park, South Shore, Hyde Park, Loop, Austin, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Washington Park, Irving Park, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Lincoln Square, etc. etc. etc. Way more than "only a handful," IMO.

[Mimi33]

Hermosa's best kept secret is the Metra train stop on Fullerton just west of Pulaski - 14 minutes to the Loop- better than the Blue line any day Definitely a good long term investment for Urban pioneers (aka older than a hipster-but we welcome them as well). Property is selling at a fraction of Logan, there are less apartment buildings, bigger yards and friendly people to boot! Prefer area North of Palmer, East of Kostner.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Mimi33

Hermosa's best kept secret is the Metra train stop on Fullerton just west of Pulaski - 14 minutes to the Loop- better than the Blue line any day Definitely a good long term investment for Urban pioneers (aka older than a hipster-but we welcome them as well). Property is selling at a fraction of Logan, there are less apartment buildings, bigger yards and friendly people to boot! Prefer area North of Palmer, East of Kostner.

For commuting the Healy stop is definitely a gem. But you can't really compare it to the Blue Line, as the service is far less frequent and not 24/7:

Milwaukee District / North (MD-N) Schedule

[tompope]

Originally Posted by Mimi33

Hermosa's best kept secret is the Metra train stop on Fullerton just west of Pulaski - 14 minutes to the Loop- better than the Blue line any day Definitely a good long term investment for Urban pioneers (aka older than a hipster-but we welcome them as well). Property is selling at a fraction of Logan, there are less apartment buildings, bigger yards and friendly people to boot! Prefer area North of Palmer, East of Kostner.

I agree with your overall points, and that Hermosa is a terrific neighborhood in a lot of ways, a pretty well-kept secret at this point. But I disagree that one can really consistently get downtown on the Metra from the Healy stop in 14 minutes. Maybe on a really, really, really good day, but in general my experience has been that it tends to be more like 20 minutes from boarding at Healy to getting off downtown. It's still a hell of a convenient way to commute, but I think you exaggerated it a little. Also, you said that it's "14 minutes to the Loop," but of course Metra doesn't run to the Loop. The Milwaukee Road line that stops at Healy ends up at Union Station, across the river from the Loop. It can be up to a ten minute additional walk from Union Station into the Loop, depending on which part of the Loop you're going to. So, again, I agree with your larger point, but I do think you exaggerated somewhat.

[Mimi33]

You're right, slight exageration, it's 18 minutes according to the published schedule....my apologies. still beats the blue line in terms of cleanliness, seating and speed (also affords one the opportunity to connect to a bus to N. Mich Ave from the Western stop). It's even $1 less per month than a CTA pass. I know, I know, only a consideration if you do not use the CTA on the week-end. Tom, you take the spirit out of conversation with your requirement to correct on technicalities (ie Loop).

[tompope]

Originally Posted by Mimi33

You're right, slight exageration, it's 18 minutes according to the published schedule....my apologies. still beats the blue line in terms of cleanliness, seating and speed (also affords one the opportunity to connect to a bus to N. Mich Ave from the Western stop). It's even $1 less per month than a CTA pass. I know, I know, only a consideration if you do not use the CTA on the week-end. Tom, you take the spirit out of conversation with your requirement to correct on technicalities (ie Loop).

I don't see how it "takes the spirit out of conversation" to strive for as much accuracy as possible. Especially since, as I said, I agreed completely with the spirit of your prior post. I think trying to ameliorate or remediate a couple of the details only improves and strengthens the point you were making, by making it (hopefully) more true. Just my two cents.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Mimi33

You're right, slight exageration, it's 18 minutes according to the published schedule....my apologies. still beats the blue line in terms of cleanliness, seating and speed (also affords one the opportunity to connect to a bus to N. Mich Ave from the Western stop). It's even $1 less per month than a CTA pass. I know, I know, only a consideration if you do not use the CTA on the week-end. Tom, you take the spirit out of conversation with your requirement to correct on technicalities (ie Loop).

How?

[North Side Brandon]

Originally Posted by williepotatoes

The next hipster I see in Hermosa, will be the first hipster that I have ever seen in Hermosa. And odds are that he will be running for his life with half a dozen 14 year old gangbangers in pursuit. Hermosa at night is not always a nice place.

You are right on the money. My Grandmother grewup near Armitage and Kostner. My Great Grandmother lived in Hermosa for over 40 years. My family went to St. Phil's where my Grandmother was baptized in 1915 and where my Grandparents were married in 1934. They bought their home on the East Side of Pulaski in Logan Square near Mozart School in 1942 and my Father and his siblings went to OLG and my Grandfather lived there until 1989 when we had to move him out because the house was broken into. Thank God he wasn't home he was a 76 year old who wouldn't have a had a prayer of defending himself. Well even when my mother was going to Kelvyn Park in the mid to late 70's the gangs were starting becoming a problem. KPHS has metal detectors these days because of the gangs. My Mother lived on the 1700 block of North Keeler then and my Grandmother stayed there until 1981 and it had gotten really scary by that time. The West Side of Logan Square, Hermosa and Humboldt Park North of Division are very similar neighborhoods. I don't see gentrification coming to any of them any time soon. My Father still has a childhood friend living on Armitage and Ridgeway and just don't know how the hell he does it.

[gomexico]

East Hermosa, just SW of Fullerton and Pulaski ... isn't a neighborhood I'd move to or wander about without someone who lived there by my side.