22 year old Black female moving to chicago for grad school!!! (Lincoln: renting, homes)

[mprate32]

hello everyone,

i spend hours everyday on this site trying to gain some insight on how to make my move to chicago in august as smooth as possible. i know there are countless threads about which neighborhood to move to, but i have a smaller budget than most.

i am a 22 year old black female who is starting a doctoral program in august in the heart of downtown. i am not really a fearful person, but my mother is terrified because i am so small and look so young, (im about 5 ft tall) i am looking for a safe one bedroom (would prefer not to do a studio, because my family will visit frequently). i went to a historically black college, so i would prefer a neighborhood thats very diverse, as well as somewhere that has some nice shopping and or bars lounges or clubs. i am looking currently lakeview and lincoln park area, and i've read about rogers park, but i think it may be a little too far. i also need somewhere extremely close to transportation because i will not have a car.

i am looking for a nice mix of peace for studying as well as easy access to activities in my down time. i am also looking for like a thirty minute commute door to door for about 750 dollars total. i know that SMALL but i am hoping you all can give me some guidance on this...? PLEASE! thanks in advance.

[Carantini]

Well.
1)Rogers Park-too far.
2)Lincoln Park- all white and no 1 bedrooms for $750
3)Lakeview-same as Lincoln Park

Check out the Prairie Homes. And start looking at the west and southside instead of the nothside.

[ChiMack]

Originally Posted by Carantini

Well.
1)Rogers Park-too far.
2)Lincoln Park- all white and no 1 bedrooms for $750
3)Lakeview-same as Lincoln Park

why are you directing her to the south and westsides...what cause she is black she has to be on the west or south side...

[Carantini]

cause those are the only areas that she can find a 1 bedroom for $750 thats not too far from downtown and not all white.

[mprate32]

what about wicker park? is that a nice part a of town that is not too far?

[surlycue]

why don't you consider renting a 2 or 3 bedroom with some roommates? there really isn't much diversity in LP or Lakeview. I would probably recommend Logan Square, East Village, Noble Square or Ukie Village. Those neighborhoods will give you a quick commute downtown and the blue line runs 24 hours so you can go to bars, etc. Though if you'll be out past 12 or so I'd recommend taking a cab. You could find a 1 bedroom for that in Pilsen or Bronzeville but then you get into a bit of a safety issue. I would not recommend those neighborhoods to new city dwellers. They are more for the urban savvy.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by mprate32

what about wicker park? is that a nice part a of town that is not too far?

you can't find a 1 bdrm in WP with heat included for that

[mprate32]

thanks everyone i really appreciate the honest feedback i know my budget is so... small (my last apt was like 380) lol guess its time to get real!

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by mprate32

thanks everyone i really appreciate the honest feedback i know my budget is so... small (my last apt was like 380) lol guess its time to get real!

A lot of people live in this town on less. You'll just need to make compromises whether they be in size, to have roommates or in location. I would always give up space for a better and safer location so if you come here and fall in love with LP or Lakeview you just may end up in a studio. After all, the city is your backyard.

[Carantini]

get a studio.