Best midpoint neighborhood (Bridgeport, Pulaski: best neighborhood, home, college)

[maestrajj]

I am going to be working near S. Pulaski and 87th as well as near Wrigleyville. I could use some suggestions on the best neighborhood to live in as a midpoint. I understand that these areas are no where near each other and that it is a bad commute, no matter what. So I already understand it's bad news.
I'm hoping for suggestions on how to make a bad commute more liveable.

Thanks all.

[chet everett]

About the only places that will make any sense at all are areas like the South Loop, UIC area and Pilsen. If you are a non-Hispanic woman I would not recommend Pilsen.

Some folks might suggest "McKinley Park" but the odds of anyone that is typical post college relocation new employee meeting anyone like themselves in that area are near zero.

[maestrajj]

Thanks, Chet. I was thinking about the Loop. How about West Loop?

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by maestrajj

Thanks, Chet. I was thinking about the Loop. How about West Loop?

....the challenge with any place that forces you to drive through the "worst" of the snarls where the Kennedy passes under the surface streets that feed the Loop and North Michigan Ave would be a huge negative in my view. The stretch of the Kennedy and Dan Ryan nearest the Ike is something that I recommend folks steer clear of when choosing places to commute through...

The benefits to being east of that or far enough south that you could rely on surface streets or LSD to get to the Stevenson (and then the long haul out to the 87th & Pulaski location) would be a huge plus in my view...

[Ace Rothstein]

Are you going to have a car? I'd look at Bridgeport or Pilsen. Wrigleyville is very easily accessible via public transportation but Ashburn is not. Ashburn isn't very accessible via area expressways either.

[maestrajj]

Makes sense. Thanks.

[maestrajj]

Just saw your reply Ace. Yes. I have a car. I should have also mentioned - I will only be going to the Wrigleyville area about twice a week, often 6ish.

[Ace Rothstein]

You can probably get to Ashburn from Bridgeport via car in about 20-25 min. In the AM, you'd never have to deal with traffic unless there is an accident. Coming home might take slightly longer at times but the Ryan inbound isn't often backed up south of 39th unless there is bad weather.

[maestrajj]

Sorry -Confused. Ashburn and Bridgeport?

[Ace Rothstein]

Ashburn is the neighborhood around 87th & Pulaski that you'll be traveling to. Bridgeport is a neighborhood just to the SW of the Loop.