Area of Logan Square (Chicago, Avon: apartment, crime rates, home)

[kikid]

I recently looked at an apartment in Logan Square on the corner of Kimball/Diversey/Milwaukee, a large studio for $700, very cute, except I wasn't sure of the neighborhood. I'm a 29 year old female, will be living alone, do you think it's safe for me? It's also a first floor apartment which I've always heard is a bad idea to have.
From reading up on the area I've heard anything west of Kimball is not great, I didn't know if being on Kimball was going to be bad as well. I've looked at some of the crime rates in the area and it makes me nervous. Any advice would be appreciated!

[chet everett]

...then don't do it. It does not matter how "street smart" you are if some creep wants to break in a d steal your stuff it is a lot easier to get in / out of a first floor place than a secure high rise. Heaven forbide if some real criminal sees you come back home late at night and figures a first floor unit makes for an easier target.

People that pay more for a secure building with a doorman are buying piece of mind.

[kikid]

Thanks Chet! I think I'm slowly talking myself out of it, and that definitely helps! I love the actual apartment, but I'm not in love with the area.

[chet everett]

There are lots of other options. $700 / studio is not such a screaming deal that you could not find something that you feel safer with, maybe just a building that is a little more secure.

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by kikid

Thanks Chet! I think I'm slowly talking myself out of it, and that definitely helps! I love the actual apartment, but I'm not in love with the area.

Just to let you know, as I think you are new to these Chicago boards, Chet is the resident anti-Chicago poster. I would take his advice with a BIG grain of salt. He will do anything and everything to convince you that you should move to the suburbs and not live in the city. He has probably never visited that intersection before in his life.

That area is perfectly fine. A little gritty looking but it's safe. Obviously, I wouldn't walk around alone at 3am but I wouldn't do that in almost any place in any city. The area is really cleaning up though and gentrifying. So it could be exciting to live around there as new bars and hot restaurants are contantly opening up. Have lived in the area for 26 years and there is nothing to fear.

In regards to west of Kimball. It's not bad west of Kimball. I think more so when you get west of Pulaski.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Just to let you know, as I think you are new to these Chicago boards, Chet is the resident anti-Chicago poster. I would take his advice with a BIG grain of salt. He will do anything and everything to convince you that you should move to the suburbs and not live in the city. He has probably never visited that intersection before in his life.

That area is perfectly fine. A little gritty looking but it's safe. Obviously, I wouldn't walk around alone at 3am but I wouldn't do that in almost any place in any city. The area is really cleaning up though and gentrifying. So it could be exciting to live around there as new bars and hot restaurants are contantly opening up. Have lived in the area for 26 years and there is nothing to fear.

In regards to west of Kimball. It's not bad west of Kimball. I think more so when you get west of Pulaski.

I second this. That's pretty close to the el stop. As mentioned above, be street smart as you would anywhere else in the city, but I wouldn't call it any more dangerous than anywhere else. I know a handful of females in your age range who live over there.

As far as the first floor thing, you'll have decide your own comfort level.

[kikid]

Thank you both very much! I'm still on the fence, but I think I'm most uncomfortable with the fact that it's a first floor unit, I do think another unit is available in that building so maybe I'll look into that. I'm definitely warming up the area though, I originally wasn't looking in that area and never really had any plans to look in Logan Square at all but I looked at this one on a whim. But I feel more at ease from your guy's opinion of the area. Thanks again!

[BHboston]

When I lived in Logan Square 2-3 years ago, it seemed like the further north you got, the less the "stay east of Kimball" rule applied (there seemed to be much more of a distinction on Armitage, for example, than on Diversey).

In addition to being close to the "L" you would also be reasonably close to Logan Blvd, which is a beautiful place to run/walk/hang out in the summer and fall.

I understand the qualms about being on the first floor, but otherwise I don't think the neighborhood would be something to worry about any more than any other reasonably safe area in Chicago.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Just to let you know, as I think you are new to these Chicago boards, Chet is the resident anti-Chicago poster. I would take his advice with a BIG grain of salt. He will do anything and everything to convince you that you should move to the suburbs and not live in the city. ...

Anything unclear about the SOLID REASONING for my recommendation?

Originally Posted by chet everett

There are lots of other options. $700 / studio is not such a screaming deal that you could not find something that you feel safer with, maybe just a building that is a little more secure.

Originally Posted by chet everett

...then don't do it. It does not matter how "street smart" you are if some creep wants to break in a d steal your stuff it is a lot easier to get in / out of a first floor place than a secure high rise. Heaven forbide if some real criminal sees you come back home late at night and figures a first floor unit makes for an easier target.

People that pay more for a secure building with a doorman are buying piece of mind.

"calling out other members" is a vioation of TOS. Post had been reported

[beadivina]

I live east of there (Avondale Triangle) but am up that way a fair amount. It's been on an upswing, in terms of gentrification. However, I'm not sure I'd give a thumbs up to a female living in a first-floor apartment around there. There's a fair amount of MLD activity around, as well as some muggings around the Logan Square stop. These are issues you'll have to face anywhere in the city, but I'd try a bit further south and east, if you can. There's a lot of really pretty old buildings in the area.