Best/safest neighborhood around downtown/Univ Chicago? (Lincoln: apartment, to rent)

[mreza]

A new comer here,
We'll be soon moving to Chicago from Canada to live for one year.
I'll be working at University of Chicago and would like to rent a good apartment in a nice/safe neighborhood that is not too far away (say no more than 1/2-hour drive) from work.
Can you please recommend some neighborhoods? I have heard of Lincoln park, anything else?
Also, any site with listing for such places?

Any help is appreciated.

[knitgirl]

Hyde Park

[OrangeAndBlue]

Hyde Park where the U of C is located as well as most of the neighborhoods along the lake from the South Loop to the north are safe, with some slightly sketchy pockets up in Uptown and Edgewater (depending on your definition of safe). However, if you want to be within a 1/2 hour drive from work, you probably want to stay south of say North Avenue or maybe Fullerton and have as easy Lakeshore Drive access as possible. These neighborhoods include the South Loop, the Loop, River North, Streeterville, the Gold Coast, and Lincoln Park. These are some of the most expensive areas in the city however. The South Loop and Hyde Park should be a little more affordable. You could also look into University Village or the West Loop.

To give a better answer, what is your budget and how much space are you looking for? Do you mind dealing with streetside parking or do you require your own parking spot?

[elikhom]

Either Hyde Park (minimal or no commute) or South Loop, I've driven to UofC plenty of times from the SL even in rush hour and it takes less than half an hour using lake shore drive since after Roosevelt there are no traffic lights. You can even use public transport if you live close to the #2 stops.

[mreza]

I'm looking for a 2-bedroom apt with all the appliances (including W/D in-unit) as well as a parking spot. I would like to stay under $2500 and preferably around $2000 if possible.

[OrangeAndBlue]

You should be able to find that in one of the many new condo buildings in the South Loop. There are tons of empty condos in many of the newer high-rise buildings there with distressed owners looking to rent out their units. Most of those buildings, since new, should have all of those appliances and will also have parking spots. I think a 2BR with parking should be doable under $2,500 around there.

[mjtinmemphis]

I've lived in hydepark since september and its turned out to be a great neighborhood in terms of affordability activities and cultural diversity. The downside to hyde park would be lack of latenight restaraunts no clothing chains. Other than that its great.