Old Irving Park/Avondale Area (Cicero, Addison: condo, crime, neighborhoods)

[rdtaylorjr]

I'm looking at buying a condo at Eddy and Lawndale on the north central side of Avondale. It's just one block south of Addison, so it's very close to Old Irving Park. The immediate area seems very nice, much more like Irving than Avondale. But it is technically in Avondale and I've read in these forums that Avondale can be pretty rough. What about this part of it? I want to be sure my wife and I can walk around the area and be safe. Would you buy here? What blocks/areas nearby should we avoid? Also, is the stretch of Addison between Cicero and Damen safe to walk alone on a regular basis? Thanks!

[Drover]

You'll be fine. The worst issue you'll have to face there on any regular basis is living right on top of the Kennedy. The road noise can suck at times, esp. in summer when you want to have your windows open. It can get really bad between about 11pm and 4am on nice summer nights when crockrocket pilots like to use the expressway as their personal test track.

[rdtaylorjr]

Thanks Drover. We actually like the noise, so that won't be too much of a problem (I hope). Anyone else familiar with the area?

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by rdtaylorjr

I'm looking at buying a condo at Eddy and Lawndale on the north central side of Avondale. It's just one block south of Addison, so it's very close to Old Irving Park. The immediate area seems very nice, much more like Irving than Avondale. But it is technically in Avondale and I've read in these forums that Avondale can be pretty rough. What about this part of it? I want to be sure my wife and I can walk around the area and be safe. Would you buy here? What blocks/areas nearby should we avoid? Also, is the stretch of Addison between Cicero and Damen safe to walk alone on a regular basis? Thanks!

I have good friends who live at Addison & Pulaski, they've had no safety issues whatsoever.

Cicero to Damen is one big honkin' stretch - is that what you meant to describe?

Avondale as a "rough" neighborhood is a bit overstated IMO. There are certainly rough characters here, but they mostly mess with each other. If you aren't dealing coke, weed or in firearms, you're not likely to be a victim of random crime any more than you are in other neighborhoods further east. calling graffiti blasters on at times a weekly basis is as bad it has been for me, at Belmont & Kimball.

But check out the block during rush hour, and late on Fri and Sat nights - if you feel comfortable then, you should be fine (keeping in mind there will be more people out and about in the warmer months).