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Old 11-12-2008, 10:12 PM
 
5 posts, read 30,973 times
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I just moved to Chicago about a month ago, and about two weeks ago, I moved into an apartment in Avondale. I felt very safe walking home alone at all hours of the night here, and had done it several times with no problems. Last Sunday, I was walking home from the Belmont Blue Line stop at about 10pm, and was mugged right outside my apartment!!! I didn't get hurt but now I'm TERRIFIED to leave my house at night!
Then tonight, I was sitting home by myself at about 8pm, and someone was softly knocking on my door. I just moved here, and I don't know any neighbors so I ignored it, but it kept going on. So I went to the door and asked who was there, it was a man who said something quietly in Spanish. I said "I don't speak Spanish", and he said "ohh... can I talk to you for a minute?" I panicked! I know I probably overreacted because of my recent mugging incident, but it just seemed really sketchy.
I've also seen some black dudes on my corner hanging out at night. They'll disappear and then come back. This goes on for hours sometimes. There are also random cars that park across the street and sit there for about 20 minutes then leave. It always seems to be in the same spot.
I guess the point of this post is that I just want to know what the deal is. Is this a horrible neighborhood or am I just insanely unlucky?! I just signed a year lease and I work at night sometimes and have a 4-block walk from the train, so I can't avoid being out alone at night! I don't know what to do or how to feel safer! Help!

Last edited by linicx; 11-01-2009 at 01:33 PM..
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Old 11-12-2008, 10:14 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,604,670 times
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What intersection do you live near?
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Old 11-12-2008, 10:15 PM
 
5 posts, read 30,973 times
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I live at Spaulding and Wellington.
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Old 11-13-2008, 03:16 AM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,160,449 times
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The area around the Belmont stop is not the greatest, sorry to say. Especially since you're walking alone at night, get yourself some pepper spray and a whistle, and have them in your hand and ready to use while walking home from the station. I'd give you the same advice no matter where you lived really, but since you live in a mediocre neighborhood, it seems all the more apropos.

Other threads discussing Avondale:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ming-safe.html

https://www.city-data.com/forum/illin...-avondale.html

Last edited by Drover; 11-13-2008 at 03:26 AM..
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Old 11-13-2008, 03:25 AM
 
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Avondale is not really a safe neighborhood. It's not among the city's worst either, but it's definitely one of the North Side's sketchier neighborhoods. If you look at Chicago as a whole it might seem safe, but the crime would be high for someone used to, say, Lakeview or Bucktown.
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Old 11-22-2008, 08:02 AM
 
Location: Chicago
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Another gang killing in Avondale near the train station last night -- though as usual, the Tribune can't tell the difference between Avondale and Logan Square.

Teen killed in Logan Square shooting - Chicago Breaking News (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/11/teen-killed-in-logan-square-shooting.html - broken link)

Last edited by Drover; 11-22-2008 at 09:37 AM..
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Old 11-22-2008, 05:17 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,604,670 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Another gang killing in Avondale near the train station last night -- though as usual, the Tribune can't tell the difference between Avondale and Logan Square.

Teen killed in Logan Square shooting - Chicago Breaking News (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/11/teen-killed-in-logan-square-shooting.html - broken link)
Yeah the shooting happened really close to where the OP lives.
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Old 11-22-2008, 05:24 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,160,449 times
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Yeah, I feel bad for the OP... obviously didn't know what she was getting herself into. Something newbies to Chicago should be aware of is that some neighborhoods like quite a bit nicer than they really are. While parts of Avondale look distressed and give away the nature of the area, it's not so obvious in other parts. When I lived in Pittsburgh the opposite was true: some neighborhoods looked worse than they really were, but at any rate, every distressed neighborhood looked distressed so you had some visual cues as to what you might be in for. Here in Chicago you can't count on those visual cues.
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Old 11-22-2008, 10:12 PM
 
Location: Chicago
1,953 posts, read 4,959,932 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Yeah, I feel bad for the OP... obviously didn't know what she was getting herself into. Something newbies to Chicago should be aware of is that some neighborhoods like quite a bit nicer than they really are. While parts of Avondale look distressed and give away the nature of the area, it's not so obvious in other parts. When I lived in Pittsburgh the opposite was true: some neighborhoods looked worse than they really were, but at any rate, every distressed neighborhood looked distressed so you had some visual cues as to what you might be in for. Here in Chicago you can't count on those visual cues.
agreed. Especially since so many new condos have been popping up around Chicago. The areas look good from the outside and you dont really know what your getting into until you spend some time there
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Old 11-22-2008, 10:37 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,604,670 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by long101 View Post
agreed. Especially since so many new condos have been popping up around Chicago. The areas look good from the outside and you dont really know what your getting into until you spend some time there
..or until you ask people that have lived in Chicago for many years and have experience in many neighborhoods.
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