Relocating to Chicago and need some advice. Mid 30s, professional male, with a dog. (Addison: apartments)

[Bacchus77]

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm relocating in December to Chicago and I'm hoping to get some advice on where to live. I'm a mid 30's professional male looking for a safe neighborhood, people my own age, nightlife (age appropriate), culture, good food and places to walk and run my dog (off leash would be great. large dog parks possibly?). I don't know anyone Chicago, so a place with a generally positive and friendly social vibe is important to me so I can establish a social life to compliment the new job. I will be working downtown so staying within a 20 to 30 min commute by train or car would be preferable. I am hoping to spend between $1500 and $1900 including parking. Any ideas?

[Irishtom29]

A professional male, what's that, like a model? Or an escort or something?

[Bacchus77]

Amazing the difference the lack of comma can make. Humorous catch, but i think you got the gist of what i meant.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Bacchus77

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm relocating in December to Chicago and I'm hoping to get some advice on where to live. I'm a mid 30's professional male looking for a safe neighborhood, people my own age, nightlife (age appropriate), culture, good food and places to walk and run my dog (off leash would be great. large dog parks possibly?). I don't know anyone Chicago, so a place with a generally positive and friendly social vibe is important to me so I can establish a social life to compliment the new job. I will be working downtown so staying within a 20 to 30 min commute by train or car would be preferable. I am hoping to spend between $1500 and $1900 including parking. Any ideas?

$1500-$1900 will afford you pretty much any neighborhood in the city, at least for a 1 bedroom. First off, let me say that unless your employer pays for parking, don't drive to work if you'll be working downtown (I assume the Loop area?). Parking is expensive downtown, like $30-$35/day in a lot of places. Cheapest I've seen is maybe $15 and that's rare. Most people who work downtown commute via train (whether it's CTA or the Metra commuter rail), bus, walking, or bike. Only a small percentage actually drive.

The trick here is finding the place that accepts dogs. How big is your dog? There are a number of places that do accept dogs, but a lot have a under 40 lbs clause.

As far as everything else goes, I'd recommend a few areas.

1) Lakeview East. Lakeview is a broad area and it's definitely younger in some areas (like around the Belmont red line station, around Wrigley Field, etc). A lot of people live in the area, the side streets are pretty green. I say this area because on Broadway for example there are many restaurants, shops, etc. Same as Halsted. As you get towards Wrigley Field it gets a little more frat-like. However, you would be right near the Lake which has a lot of green space (part of it's a gold course near Irving Park Road, but most of it's wide open space).

Here's the view from Belmont Harbor:
http://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/019/275019.jpg

The downside is that the train is 3-4 blocks away. The good news is that there are buses running on the major street to the train stations. For example, the bus ride from Lake Shore and Addison to the Red Line (Addison Stop) takes 5 minutes max. There are a lot of people utilizing the green space here and the paths too, so you can meet people that way.

With your price range too, you could get a 2 bedroom. The Southport Area west of Wrigley Field is nice too, although you are further from the lake and big park. The housing is pretty nice around here, so don't expect to get a 2 bedroom there like you might be able to in Lakeview East.


Lakeview, Chicago - YouTube


Stay away from living on the areas along Clark Street IMO. I'd say basically anything East of Halsted Street.

2) Lincoln Square/Ravenswood. A little quieter than Lakeview (although Lakeview East is fairly quiet in reality). A lot of families in the area, and a little more relaxed. You could easily get a 2 bedroom with your budget here. On the brown line which is again a straight shot downtown. 30 minutes usually, sometimes less. There's a large park up there in Wimmemac Park and to the West is River Park and Home Park. Welles Park also exists. I'm not sure about the dog thing, but I'm pretty sure most places in the city require a leash. I don't know how much it's enforced though. Guess it depends on how well behaved your dog is.


Lincoln Square, Chicago - YouTube

3) Somewhere West like Wicker Park or Ukrainian Village or Bucktown. I'm not as familiar with the green space there although I know a few parks. On the blue line mostly. Places in at least Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village have a hip kind of vibe. This area is one of my favorites in the city really. I'd say you find a little more variance in peoples' interests out here than in parts of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, etc.

Other areas would be North Center, which is south of Lincoln Square/Ravenswood. Good area, not sure about green space here or anything. Also Andersonville is quite nice, but I think it might be out of your commute range by a little bit. Hyde Park too, but same story as Andersonville. You might want to take a look at the Buena Park area in Uptown too.


Parking in an area like Lakeview or much of Wicker Park is a ***** though unless you have private parking of some kind. I will tell you that it's very possible to live in Chicago without a car. Many people do (me included). When I need one, I use a service like ZipCar or iGo, or I rent it. The people I know who do own cars barely even use them unless their commute absolutely requires they use it. In the city though? They don't use it too much. Just imagine if you were paying $85+ in insurance a month to have your car sit a lot of the time. That's over $1000/year in just insurance costs. Just letting you know

[Jandur]

Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Wicker Park are probably the responses you will get. You could live in River North, Gold coast, South Loop etc but they don't have a ton of space for walking a dog.

You can live anywhere though. I would do some research on neighborhoods and get some feet on the ground.

[hellothereIN]

I liked the "runner" that had her six month dachsund on a lead RUNNING across LSD practically dragging the poor thing. What an idiot. Or the woman that HAD to have her pomeranian at the HEIGHT of lunch. The dog was kicked, stepped on, etc., trying to keep up near water tower. This woman kept right on walking with this poor dog. OBLIVIOUS. Didn't really care.

There's the woman that lets HER dog out on the 6th flr balcony. 8am. Every day before she leaves and comes home around 5pm. Small patch of grass in a box. His world.

What a life. I cannot fathom what was going thru these dorks minds that brought them to the decision to get a dog they know NOT how to care for.

I am happy to see you put your dog first in your decision of where to live. NO EXTENSION leads please. Seen many a dog get clipped by inpatient drivers turning corners. Those leashes ARE TOOOO LONG for crowded cities and people are more concerned with their cell phones. The dog DOES NOT understand crosswalks, right-of-ways, taxis, mean chicagoans.

I hope you find something great for your dog.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by hellothereIN

There's the woman that lets HER dog out on the 6th flr balcony. 8am. Every day before she leaves and comes home around 5pm. Small patch of grass in a box. His world.

I'm no dog expert, but unless it's super cold out this sounds a lot better than keeping the dog in a crate inside, which is what many many owners do.

[nana053]

Off leash dog parks in Chicago

Off-Leash Dog Parks in Chicago, IL, US

[TPresence]

Take a look at Andersonville. Great culture and restaurants. Lots of history in this neighborhood and very close to the lake. Great in the summer for eating outside with your dog

[ToriaT]

I think you would be better away from the concrete canyon of the lakefront. East Lakeview is mostly larger buildings. If you go into other areas such as the western part of Lakeview such as southport corridor you will find a bit more green space. Also check out places like Andersonville, graceland west, wicker park, logan square, bucktown as there are more two and three flats there that have a chance of having a small yard. also the area around Oz park in Lincoln Park is nice. My son has rented two apartments and one house in logan square and two had small yards. One did not but there was a small park about a block away.