Can you recommend a neighborhood for us? (Evanston, Addison: fit in, 2014)

[dnrodriguez]

We are in our very early 30s with no kids and looking for a new place to call home.

Budget:$3k/mo

Wants:
Safety- must be able to walk the dog alone at night
Residential vibe- community feel, tree lined streets, polished but doesn’t have to be Lincoln Park
Convenient access- city amenities without the hustle and bustle of DT
Our style- we like independent boutiques, hip and interesting restaurants, low key bars and extra points for green space to walk the dog

Needs:
35-40m max commute to Sears Tower
Looking for oversized 2/2 preferably with a small backyard or patio for dog
Not particularly interested in a high rise
Parking required

Have started poking around North Center, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood - am I on the right track?

[mojo101]

Have you tried Evanston?
$3k /month for a house would be hard.

[personone]

Based on your criteria, I really like Ravenswood and Andersonville.

Both are safe, have tree-lined/residential streets, and lots of local shops, restaurants, bars, and overall community feel.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by dnrodriguez

We are in our very early 30s with no kids and looking for a new place to call home.

Budget:$3k/mo

Wants:
Safety- must be able to walk the dog alone at night
Residential vibe- community feel, tree lined streets, polished but doesn’t have to be Lincoln Park
Convenient access- city amenities without the hustle and bustle of DT
Our style- we like independent boutiques, hip and interesting restaurants, low key bars and extra points for green space to walk the dog

Needs:
35-40m max commute to Sears Tower
Looking for oversized 2/2 preferably with a small backyard or patio for dog
Not particularly interested in a high rise
Parking required

Have started poking around North Center, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood - am I on the right track?

I would say the places above are a decent start. Roscoe Village would also fit in there. I also think Lakeview if south of Belmont, Southport or further west, and north of Diversey is notably quieter. I lived on Southport across from St. Alphonsus from 2014-16 and it was notably quieter than when I lived near Addison, with the exception of Oktoberfest weekend. Not sure what the safety situation is like 7 years later.

[Hiruko]

Renting a duplex for $3k per month will be a tall task, let alone a house with a yard. At your price point, that would be more attainable to the south in Bronzeville, Kenwood, Woodlawn, etc. If you are open to the south side, that would be the direction I would go. For Lake View, North Center, Lincoln Square, and some of the other north side community areas, you are going to need to push toward (and potentially above) $4k per month for a 3 bed, 2 bath with parking and outdoor space. My friends just rented something in west Lincoln Park for $5k per month. While it is lovely, it is in no way a spectacular condo.

[DaBears02]

I’d say North Center, Lincoln Square, Bridgeport should fit your needs.

[Kmanshouse]

Everyone is mentioning the right neighborhoods. As for a dwelling, I'd look at renting 1/2 of a 2 flat, or 1/3 of a 3-flat. Might be able to get that for the price. But it'll be vintage.

[dnrodriguez]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the advice. I can stretch the budget to $3500 and see what I find. Sounds like a 2/1 may be more realistic.

[Cool Arrow]

Everyplace you mentioned sounds good, I'd also look into Andersonville and Edgewater

[movin1]

35-40m max commute to Sears Tower

That could be an issue depending on how you plan to commute. Traffic and parking can be time consuming depending on the time of day.