North or South side of Chicago?

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Lifelong Chicagoan

Sheridan Park, where I have lived for ten years has some affordable buildings. Many people poo poo Uptown but overall it's not that unsafe for the average resident. This apartment building is well taken care of, at least on the oustide. It is easy to get to other parts of the city from this area as well.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/5236836871.html

thats not a bad price for a studio at all actually

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by Sobefobik

Not from what I've seen. If you look on Craigslist, there are actually quite a few between $600 and $800 in all areas mentioned so far. I could probably do $750 if I needed to.

A lot of the lowest-priced apartments listed on Craigslist don't actually exist. Unscrupulous landlords bait with low prices then switch to what is actually available. $700 is below market in any decent part of Chicago, although you might find a studio at that price. Pilsen is the best suggestion I've heard if you really can't spend more than $750, but I would also consider roommate situations.

[vb808]

Originally Posted by Lifelong Chicagoan

Sheridan Park, where I have lived for ten years has some affordable buildings. Many people poo poo Uptown but overall it's not that unsafe for the average resident. This apartment building is well taken care of, at least on the oustide. It is easy to get to other parts of the city from this area as well.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/5236836871.html

I lived in this building for a little over two years, when I moved to Chicago for grad school in 2005. Not once did I ever experience an issue with crime in the area during my stay. I was on a tight budget so my search was limited. I was told to avoid the Uptown area - Wilson st in particular, by friends who also pooh pooh'd the area. But I kept coming back because it fit my limited budget and wants perfectly. I wanted my own place, didn't want to live any farther north, and wanted quick and easy access to the trains to get downtown.

When I went to check out the neighborhood, it was not bad at all. It was changing when I moved in and it has gentrified even more since I left. The Red Line trains are a few blocks away and will get you direct access to other great neighborhoods that are minutes away by L (Wrigleyville, Lakeview etc) not to mention a straight shot downtown. You can also walk to Argyle st (mini Chinatown) as well as Andersonville and the lake/bike path. Malden and the surrounding streets in Sheridan park is very charming. A lot of cool vintage buildings and houses if you are into that.

This particular building is well managed, the management company is great. A bit of advise that I wish my Chicago friends had given me. If you are a light sleeper, get a unit on the top floor if you plan on renting in a vintage building. I had never lived in such a place, but soon learned that having a high heel shoe wearing "Clomperella" neighbor upstairs, put a damper on my sleep. Other than that I'd say check out the area and see if you like it. Sheridan Park is a great option!

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by vb808

check out the area and see if you like it. Sheridan Park is a great option!

Sheridan Park is only one of several nice parts of Uptown; Margate Park and Buena Park are worth checking out too.

But I would still stay away from Wilson Ave. east of Clark (actually I would generally avoid Montrose to Lawrence except right on the lake in Buena Park) because the concentration of social services is so intense, and the social services cater more to the mentally ill than to ordinary poor people.

[vb808]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

Sheridan Park is only one of several nice parts of Uptown; Margate Park and Buena Park are worth checking out too.

But I would still stay away from Wilson Ave. east of Clark (actually I would generally avoid Montrose to Lawrence except right on the lake in Buena Park) because the concentration of social services is so intense, and the social services cater more to the mentally ill than to ordinary poor people.

Sheridan Park is east of Clark; do you mean east of Broadway? Sheridan & Wilson in particular was a bit sketch when I was there; not sure how it is now. I thought I read somewhere that the city is moving a lot of the mental health social services out of the area.

This building was used for social services, now luxury apartments:

Sheridan Plaza Apartments

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by vb808

Sheridan Park is east of Clark; do you mean east of Broadway? Sheridan & Wilson in particular was a bit sketch when I was there; not sure how it is now. I thought I read somewhere that the city is moving a lot of the mental health social services out of the area.

This building was used for social services, now luxury apartments:

Sheridan Plaza Apartments

I would stay away from Truman College, which borders Sheridan Park on the east, but is west of Broadway.

I am not enough of a local to be aware of building-by-building improvements, but I do know the area is slowly improving. Sheridan Plaza Apartments looks nice. It only takes a few bad apples to make a neighborhood feel sketchy, but the bad apples do not travel far, so you have to have local knowledge to make a sensible rental decision in that part of town.