Transplanters experiences (Chicago: transplants, apartments, condo)

[EEstudent]

Hey,

I just wanted to post this thread to find out how the transplant are handling themselves in this big city that is Chicago. I currently live in Houston and will be looking to move to Chicago in the near future; I was wondering how individuals are coping to the city life. How is the safety and neighborhoods treating you. How are local Bars and clubs treating new transplants. Are the people as friendly as where you came from?

Sorry if a similar thread was already started.

[j33]

While i'm not a transplant, I just wanted to point out that there are quite a few resources for newcomers and transplants such as meet-up.com and various online groups that are devoted to connecting people who are new to the city. When you get here I suggest you make use of them, I've heard reports that it is a very good way to meet people.

[Lookout Kid]

I had no problem adjusting. But I moved here from nearby Milwaukee, my girlfriend (now my wife) already lived here, I had been coming to Chicago for years to hang out with friends, and my Mom is from an inner suburb. So Chicago was really quite familiar to me before I changed my zip code.

[grapico]

I moved from Florida... loved it... I am now out of Chicago again... but looking for a reason to move back
But I like the urban feel though, you might not... The south lacks this urban life in general... I also like other big cities and for me Chicago gave a less hectic, cleaner version of this at a more affordable price than places like NYC and SF.

[alwaystraveling25]

The biggest change for me (and for most people, unless you live in NYC) was getting used to walking. Lots and lots of walking.

As much as I love not owning a car and all the hassles that come with it (cost, parking, etc.), I do sometimes miss the convenience. When you live in Chicago (at least, where I live, in Lakeview), you have to plan your grocery trips and trips to Target/other stores. I have to remember to get my "Granny Cart" to lug it over to Jewel to buy food. And if I see something I want at Target, I have to take a bus 2-3 miles to get to the closest one. I REALLY need to want something in order to invest 40 minutes to go roundtrip to a Target...

Everywhere I have ever lived I owned a car. When I moved here carless, I had a lot to learn...I had to write down what Bus to take and when to press for the bus to stop. It's funny looking back, that I used to write what direction was North and South on the Red Line for using that as well.

The best advice I can give anyone moving here reading this? Buy comfortable shoes (and comfortable flip flops in the summer). It REALLY helped me to use my BlackBerry with Google Maps to get around, since it showed me exact streets and intersections so I knew where to get off with public transportation.

Unless you are coming from New York City or another place with great public transportation, you will have a big learning curve. But, Chicagoans are friendly, and whenever I needed to ask for directions, people helped...and now? I help the others when they need it!

[Oildog]

I was a Chicago transplant but moved to Houston. Chicago is a great city to live in, especially if your single and have a decent job. Very walkable, and tons of public transport. Many people there are not originally from the area, many midwesterners. Like Houston, its kind of a melting pot for the area. One thing is cost of living...to get a condo somewhere like the south loop you will pay in the area of $225/sqft, while its half that in Houston (Midtown/montrose).

[lincolnparker]

south loop is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Chicago. Try $700/sqft in near north side

Originally Posted by Oildog

I was a Chicago transplant but moved to Houston. Chicago is a great city to live in, especially if your single and have a decent job. Very walkable, and tons of public transport. Many people there are not originally from the area, many midwesterners. Like Houston, its kind of a melting pot for the area. One thing is cost of living...to get a condo somewhere like the south loop you will pay in the area of $225/sqft, while its half that in Houston (Midtown/montrose).

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

south loop is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Chicago. Try $700/sqft in near north side

Units in Trump were selling for almost $1000/SF. The Spire was selling at $1200/SF--which is the highest yet for Chicago. Considering my Buena Park condo was $200/SF and I can be on the doorstep of Trump Tower in fifteen minutes by car, I don't see the benefit to paying that much.

[EEstudent]

Originally Posted by alwaystraveling25

The biggest change for me (and for most people, unless you live in NYC) was getting used to walking. Lots and lots of walking.

As much as I love not owning a car and all the hassles that come with it (cost, parking, etc.), I do sometimes miss the convenience. When you live in Chicago (at least, where I live, in Lakeview), you have to plan your grocery trips and trips to Target/other stores. I have to remember to get my "Granny Cart" to lug it over to Jewel to buy food. And if I see something I want at Target, I have to take a bus 2-3 miles to get to the closest one. I REALLY need to want something in order to invest 40 minutes to go roundtrip to a Target...

Everywhere I have ever lived I owned a car. When I moved here carless, I had a lot to learn...I had to write down what Bus to take and when to press for the bus to stop. It's funny looking back, that I used to write what direction was North and South on the Red Line for using that as well.

The best advice I can give anyone moving here reading this? Buy comfortable shoes (and comfortable flip flops in the summer). It REALLY helped me to use my BlackBerry with Google Maps to get around, since it showed me exact streets and intersections so I knew where to get off with public transportation.

Unless you are coming from New York City or another place with great public transportation, you will have a big learning curve. But, Chicagoans are friendly, and whenever I needed to ask for directions, people helped...and now? I help the others when they need it!

Wow guess I'm gonna get a big slap in the face when I move. But as Oildog alluded to; I'm looking to move while im stilll single and would love to experience the Bachelor lifestyle in Chicago. The walking will obviously need some getting used to, because in Houston, people almost spend a quarter of the day inside of their cars.

As for all those hardships you mentioned; Hopefully, i will be making enough to where I live within the loop and a decent distance from a Grocery store. How much do the apartments in the Loop cost? Is it safe?

I dont mind walking as long as there are others doing the same thing and I am not the lone one(in Houston nobody walks and often you see only one or two people on the sidewalks).

However the main opposition from Houstoners about moving to Chicago and up North in general is the fact that the winters are unbearable; getting groceries would be a monumental task. but to me, I wouldnt mind seeing some snow!

[jwaiter]

You don't want to live in the loop. The loop has no grocery stores at all.