Possibly Moving to Logan Square (on Altgeld and Pulaski) good or bad choice? Need Advice! (Chicago: neighborhood)

[rnav]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I have been looking for a bigger place to call home. We've been looking everywhere and prices are either too high or the area is just not what we want. However, we recently found a place that meets exactly what we want and the price is WAY too good to pass up but that's where my worries come in...

I've been reading some of the older posts and everyone seems to say that West Logan Square isn't the greatest of places but it's not the worst either. The property is on Altgeld St., basically on the intersection of Pulaski & Fullerton.

Any advice would be great, We're just trying to get a feel of the neighborhood from people who live in the area.

Thanks in Advance!

[Attrill]

I'd say that's too far West, it's just barely in Logan Square.

In terms of safety everything is pretty much block by block around there, and if it was safe last summer it may not be this summer. You'd need to check it out a few times on warm nights to get any true idea of what it's like. I know a few people who have bought in that general area over the last 10 years, and none are still living there (and none made any money selling their places).

In terms of location it isn't great. Other than Metra you're far from convenient transportation and there aren't really many great amenities in the area.

[trailblazer33]

I disagree, I like that part of Logan Square. Less there to "consume" but definitely a worthwhile part of town to put down roots.

[Chi-town Native]

I have a friend who has been a half block from that intersection for about 10 years, it's definitely improving, but not at the pace the parts of Logan Sq closer to the Blue Line/Milwaukee are.

It's almost impossible to explain how screwed up that area was by the late 90s, a bar on Fullerton just east of Pulaski had homicides in/just outside on what seemed like a monthly basis for a few years.

[Drover]

Someone just asked about the 3700 block of W. Diversey, and I'd say the same thing I said about Pulaski and Altgeld: not great but gradually getting better; not likely to get caught up in the Logan Square gentrification wave (too far west) but probably a decent investment for the long haul. That said, there's a substantial downside if the place you're looking at is right on Pulaski. While Diversey is kind of a major thoroughfare as is Pulaski, Diversey is basically a residential street through that particular area so there's some curb appeal to be had, whereas Pulaski is more mixed-use business/non-storefront/warehouse and has a low aesthetic appeal.

[Chicagoist123]

Btw has anybody gone to that Cuban sandwich shop on Pulaski near Wellington I believe? It's super super tiny. Wondering if its good.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Btw has anybody gone to that Cuban sandwich shop on Pulaski near Wellington I believe? It's super super tiny. Wondering if its good.

It's on the corner of Pulaski and Wrightwood and it's fantastic. Their steak sandwich is IMO the best steak sandwich of any style anywhere in the city. Great empanadas too.

They've been trying for 3 years now to expand into the building next door to provide a sit-down area but I guess they're not connected enough to navigate through the bureaucracy or something.

[ToriaT]

What about the area a bit further north around St. Hyacinth? Its not Logan Square I think its Avondale. How is that area faring?