Chicago; tell me about it?

[JDillon15]

Hey guys.

Basic intro: I'm a recent college graduate who is looking to relocate to downtown Chicago. My degree is in business and I would like to focus in the healthcare sector. I have just over 2 years working in a hospital with one year focused on process improvement (Lean Six Sigma).

I have been doing quite a bit of research into to the Chicago area in terms of rent, public transportation, good and bad "areas", cost of living, etc.

A couple questions:

• If you were moving there, what would you want someone to tell you about Chicago?
• Also, where do you park your car? From what I've found, parking is ~$150-250/mo; any tricks or tips to this?
• What are some "must do's and do not's" of Chicago?
• Also, I will be in Chicago for one day next week (3/8); anything I should definitely check out?

Thanks!,
Jonathan

[PedroRS5]

Hope this helps:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/dwelling

[JDillon15]

Hope this helps:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/wiki/dwelling

Yes; I've only referenced it for ~15 minutes and it seems to have a lot of information.

Thank you!

[HackDevil]

My fiancé is an ER nurse at Loyola. They're a level 1 trauma center. There pay seems to be higher than most. Maybe you could check them out.

Also did you see my reply to your question on my other post?

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[Rahmen]

When my wife and I moved here from the East Coast, we knew nothing, we found this to be a pretty good reference guide for the different neighborhoods in Chicago. Chicago is definitely a city of neighborhoods with a lot of things changing within a few blocks. This gives a nice rundown of each one.

http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoo...hborhoods.html

[HackDevil]

When my wife and I moved here from the East Coast, we knew nothing, we found this to be a pretty good reference guide for the different neighborhoods in Chicago. Chicago is definitely a city of neighborhoods with a lot of things changing within a few blocks. This gives a nice rundown of each one.

http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoo...hborhoods.html

I actually used that exact same website before we moved to Evanston. Loved it there.


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[JDillon15]

My fiancé is an ER nurse at Loyola. They're a level 1 trauma center. There pay seems to be higher than most. Maybe you could check them out.

Also did you see my reply to your question on my other post?

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I'll keep them in the back of my mind. I think I want to be downtown downtown to start.

Yes, I did read your other post. Definitely won't be on the south side, ha. I was looking a little north of the loop. River north, Lincoln park and Lake view areas (assuming I'm looking at this correctly).

Not necessary set on moving there, but I'll be checking the areas out when I'm up there next week. A lot will depend on how much rent I can afford. (There are some beautiful rentals for 2k+/mo, but I'm sure I wont be making 107k+ right out of college).

When my wife and I moved here from the East Coast, we knew nothing, we found this to be a pretty good reference guide for the different neighborhoods in Chicago. Chicago is definitely a city of neighborhoods with a lot of things changing within a few blocks. This gives a nice rundown of each one.

http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoo...hborhoods.html

Looks like a good tool. I'll definitely be going through it. There seems to be quite a few different "neighborhoods"

[Airflite40]

I've lived in the city for 13 years and here are some tips:

- The only area we call "downtown" is the loop. When you say you want to be downtown but then talk about Lakeview, Lincoln Park, you will get a lot of confused looks. Most Chicagoans refer to parts of the city by their neighborhood.
- Parking is absolutely atrocious. If you value your A4 at all, factor in the cost of a garage. Lincoln Park and Lakeview especially, street parking is not the way to go. Streets are very narrow and your front and rear bumper will get destroyed. People park by feel and do not care whatsoever about their vehicles.
- Chicago has so many awesome neighborhoods, you have to figure out what is important to you to figure out where to live.
I would start by figuring out where you are going to work. If you are going to work "downtown" aka in the loop, you want to be close to the L trains to get to work. If you are going to work in the suburbs, close to the highway is a must.
- Which neighborhood to live in definitely is a personality test. If you like to hit the bars all the time, love football/college sports/baseball then Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, or Wicker Park (close to division ave). If you are more of a hipster mentality, enjoying the dive bars and oddities, hang out at a brewery or coffee lover, then you want Wicker Park, Logan Square, West Town, Ukrainian Village. If you love to spend time at the beach or be outdoors in the park then you want Uptown, Andersonville, Edgewater, Rogers Park. If you have expensive tastes and the means for it, Old Town, Gold Coast, River North. If you're a foodie and have a dog, West Loop. I've lived in all those areas throughout my 13 years and now I live in Logan Square. The best part is, if you don't like your neighborhood or find yourself spending a lot of time in a different neighborhood, you can easily move!

[JDillon15]

I've lived in the city for 13 years and here are some tips:

- The only area we call "downtown" is the loop. When you say you want to be downtown but then talk about Lakeview, Lincoln Park, you will get a lot of confused looks. Most Chicagoans refer to parts of the city by their neighborhood.
- Parking is absolutely atrocious. If you value your A4 at all, factor in the cost of a garage. Lincoln Park and Lakeview especially, street parking is not the way to go. Streets are very narrow and your front and rear bumper will get destroyed. People park by feel and do not care whatsoever about their vehicles.
- Chicago has so many awesome neighborhoods, you have to figure out what is important to you to figure out where to live.
I would start by figuring out where you are going to work. If you are going to work "downtown" aka in the loop, you want to be close to the L trains to get to work. If you are going to work in the suburbs, close to the highway is a must.
- Which neighborhood to live in definitely is a personality test. If you like to hit the bars all the time, love football/college sports/baseball then Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, or Wicker Park (close to division ave). If you are more of a hipster mentality, enjoying the dive bars and oddities, hang out at a brewery or coffee lover, then you want Wicker Park, Logan Square, West Town, Ukrainian Village. If you love to spend time at the beach or be outdoors in the park then you want Uptown, Andersonville, Edgewater, Rogers Park. If you have expensive tastes and the means for it, Old Town, Gold Coast, River North. If you're a foodie and have a dog, West Loop. I've lived in all those areas throughout my 13 years and now I live in Logan Square. The best part is, if you don't like your neighborhood or find yourself spending a lot of time in a different neighborhood, you can easily move!

Good advice; thank you.

Yeah, first step is landing the job. I think I would like the River North/Gold Coast area, but doubt my job will support that right away (maybe in a few years). I've been looking more seriously at Lincoln Park and Lake View.

Keeping this car in that area might be a nightmare. Depending where I land, I would consider selling it. Maybe buying a beater if I need to get from A to B, but something I care less about.

[dturn37]

I live in Ukrainian village and it's a great area that's some what affordable. redfin just awarded it the hottest/best neighborhood in the USA last month so I'm sure that'll raise rent prices. As far as the parking, I've always had luck finding garages on Craigslist for $80-$130 a month. If you're moving this spring a ton pop up. When it's winter it's a little harder to find one since everyone's scrambling to get their cars indoor.

[allstock]

Don't do it. Coming from Muncie, IN a lot is gonna seem like a nice change. Maybe the proximity to your hometown has a lot to do with your consideration. There are much better places in the country for you to start off. All I can say is don't. Seems unfair without giving a whole lot of explanatory reasoning. I don't know if you've lived long-term anywhere else, but again there many great places and you should expand your horizon a bit more in your search.

[HackDevil]

I've used apartment people with great success. You tell them exactly what your looking for and they take you around the neighborhoods that fit your needs. I just used their service and I found a sweet little spot in the city.


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[JDillon15]

I live in Ukrainian village and it's a great area that's some what affordable. redfin just awarded it the hottest/best neighborhood in the USA last month so I'm sure that'll raise rent prices. As far as the parking, I've always had luck finding garages on Craigslist for $80-$130 a month. If you're moving this spring a ton pop up. When it's winter it's a little harder to find one since everyone's scrambling to get their cars indoor.

I'll have to find one of these spaces. Have you had any problems with car break-ins?

Don't do it. Coming from Muncie, IN a lot is gonna seem like a nice change. Maybe the proximity to your hometown has a lot to do with your consideration. There are much better places in the country for you to start off. All I can say is don't. Seems unfair without giving a whole lot of explanatory reasoning. I don't know if you've lived long-term anywhere else, but again there many great places and you should expand your horizon a bit more in your search.

I do appreciate the feedback, but there are several things going into my decision to move to Chicago. Proximity to Muncie isn't one of those, lol. It may not be the best area, but I think will provide plenty of opportunity to start my career.

I've used apartment people with great success. You tell them exactly what your looking for and they take you around the neighborhoods that fit your needs. I just used their service and I found a sweet little spot in the city.


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Very cool. I've heard some are more helpful than others. Any recommendations on who to use?

[GlazierGlaze]

It sucks - don't come here.

Taxes are high, property value is sky high, and we have the largest out-migration of any population in the country at the moment.



All that said - I live here in the city in Wicker Park and quite like it. I have two garages, one attached to my building, and one that I rent specially for the M. There's a great little Cars and Coffee group, as you are aware, I've seen you in the chat, and there's some great shows and cruises over summer.

[HackDevil]

Very cool. I've heard some are more helpful than others. Any recommendations on who to use?

They're called apartmentpeople. Their websites is apartmentpeople.com

I've used their service twice and they put me in great condos by owner.

It's a free service to you, so it wouldn't hurt.


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[JDillon15]

It sucks - don't come here.

Taxes are high, property value is sky high, and we have the largest out-migration of any population in the country at the moment.



All that said - I live here in the city in Wicker Park and quite like it. I have two garages, one attached to my building, and one that I rent specially for the M. There's a great little Cars and Coffee group, as you are aware, I've seen you in the chat, and there's some great shows and cruises over summer.

Yeah, pretty excited to meet your group. I have been following with your guys chat. Your new car looks stellar, by the way.

They're called apartmentpeople. Their websites is apartmentpeople.com

I've used their service twice and they put me in great condos by owner.

It's a free service to you, so it wouldn't hurt.


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Cool. I'll check them out; thanks.

[KevBow]

Most of the south and west sides.

Avoid like the plague

[JDillon15]

Most of the south and west sides.

Avoid like the plague

Ha, yes. Have definitely heard no further south than China town... not sure how far west is good? I'm really looking at Lake View and Lincoln Park.

[DerekS5]

Don't do it. Coming from Muncie, IN a lot is gonna seem like a nice change. Maybe the proximity to your hometown has a lot to do with your consideration. There are much better places in the country for you to start off. All I can say is don't. Seems unfair without giving a whole lot of explanatory reasoning. I don't know if you've lived long-term anywhere else, but again there many great places and you should expand your horizon a bit more in your search.

What a small world.. I grew up in Muncie and moved to Chicago about 10 years ago. East Village neighborhood to be exact. Been over here since I moved and started to get pretty popular the past couple years.


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[JDillon15]

What a small world.. I grew up in Muncie and moved to Chicago about 10 years ago. East Village neighborhood to be exact. Been over here since I moved and started to get pretty popular the past couple years.


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Ha very cool. I think a lot depends on where I end up landing a job. I have 2 interviews next week, so hopefully one of those pan out! One job being downtown (near navy pier) and those other being between Skokie and Evanston.