Going to UIC, where to live? (Chicago: apartment, rent, crime)

[steve33186]

I will be attending UIC in the Fall for the grad program in Computer Science. Where is the best place to live that is relatively affordable? I will be moving with one other person who will be working, not going to school. We are looking to pay around 1000 for a 2 bedroom apartment. Neither of us will have a car. I have heard good things about Edgewater but not sure how far that is from UIC. Any help would be appreciated. We don't want to live in a terrible neighborhood but we both come from working class areas in South Florida so we are not exactly sheltered suburbanites. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but just saying. Anyway, help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Also if you guys could tell me what the job market is like in Chicago right now for my friend and myself (looking to maybe do part time, although my roommate will be looking for full time)

[chet everett]

Edgewater is about as far as you can get from UIC and still have a Chicago address. Bad idea for commute...

In general, for generic part time work, Chicago is in bad shape. Certain specialty skills are trending up a bit, as many employers have unfrozen hiring, but without knowing what you are capable of doing hard to say how difficult job search will be...

I really don't know what "working class" is in "south Florida" but Chicago has no real agricultural jobs (closest might be industrial food wholesaling, which is largely trucking and warehousing), a fraction of the manufacturing it once had, and a very tenuous existence for those without good skills.

There are places that are safe and well within the $1000/mo you cite that are walking distance to the main UIC campus. You could also easily find a place in the South Loop that would be very convenient with public transit, and even places like Bucktown & Wicker Park would not be a horrible commute to the campus -- you'd have a hipster mix of cultures if that is what you are looking for...

[steve33186]

Working class is perhaps not the best term. We just live in lower-middle class, inner ring suburbs is what I meant. Miami doesn't have a strong city center so even neighborhoods that are technically part of the city are more suburban in character. Basically trying to say we are used to areas that aren't exactly white picket fence suburbs, more inner city in character.

[chet everett]

Yeah, I sorta guessed that might be the case. Really the vast majority of Chicago is not particularly unsafe, and the pattern of development is strongly biased to neighborhoods of modestly dense residential and retail, so you can find that through out Chicago and even most suburbs.

Really comes down to how much time you want to spend getting to/from the campus and what you prefer to do when not on campus -- live music, perfromance, bars, quieter home oriented stuff...

[steve33186]

Live music and bars, and cultural institutions are what we are aiming for. We want to live in a vibrant area but most importantly honestly, I want to be close to campus.

[prinsessa]

Pilsen is close to UIC and not a horrible neighborhood. There are still some gangs and crime but it is slowly changing. I went to UIC and several of my friends lived in Pilsen. I don't know how many bars (that aren't sleezy) there are in Pilsen. There are several coffee shops and lots of Mexican restaurants. Pilsen is kind of centrally located so downtown is pretty close. Bucktown and Wicker Park are a little further but both areas have a lot going on. Rent will probably be a lot more expensive. There is also University Village but I'm sure rent around there is expensive.

There are jobs available in Chicago but the economy has affected the city. There are quite a few restaurants/bars around UIC that may be hiring. You could also look into working for the university.

[binarybelle]

Look into Logan Square, near the blue line. It will be a short commute and it's an interesting neighborhood with a lot happening. It's being gentrified.

[prinsessa]

I agree with Logan Square. Rent is probably cheaper than some other neighborhoods and not too far from UIC.

[Chicagoland60426]

Your closest bet is the Eastern part of Pilsen by 18th & Halsted St. or try to find something in University Village around the campus.

[Holdencaulfield]

What about West Loop or Taylor Street? Pretty close to UIC and is urban and vibrant.