I am going to be moving to Chicago for a job from the northern suburbs of Detroit. I would like to know if the Lower west side is safe or not. I dont mind a little crime but I also dont want to live in the worst area of the city and have gang wars in front of my window. If the lower west side is not a relativly safe place to live, what is? Thank you.

There is no such neighborhood in Chicago. Perhaps you mean the near west side? If so, it's quite safe, and will become more so as it continues to develop into a residential area. If you want advice on where to live, you'll need to provide some info. Price range, where you're working, recreation and amenities, etc.

The location that I am interested in is at Cullerton and loomis. Nearest main rds are Ashland and Cermak. Would like to know if this is a good area. I believe it is also called the Pilsen area.

www.Chicagocrime.org

as I posted in the other thread.

Chicago is a dense and complicated city, with vast areas- many more square miles than others, especially East coast cities. In some districts and neighborhoods, 2 or 3 blocks can make a vast difference.

I know people who are "chancing" it, have mixed feelings wanting to live where they do, but still routinely skirt certain 2 or 3 block square sections of their OWN areas in better neighborhoods.

So I would strongly, strongly suggest you spend some one day or two looking around; time IN the neighborhoods, even if it just riding around on a bus or three all day, before you consider a lease.

Gang wars and drive bys are absolutely a possibility.

That's a heavily Hispanic area; it was originally German/Bohemian, hence the name Pilsen. It's pretty lively, with a lot of locally owned businesses, but the area is fairly poor and has its share of problems. As far as safety, I have visited during the daytime, but would not feel comfortable after dark.

You might check out the neighborhood around U of Illinois Chicago and the Medical Center (Ashland to Halsted, just west of downtown and south of the Eisenhower Expressway), or the South Loop (from downtown to about 22nd street.)

Lower West side, what do you think this is? New York?

Anyway, on Pilsen - While a lot of artists and such are moving in the Pilsen area, there are still quite a few parts of it that are rather rough and I would approach it with caution. A woman (an innocent bystander) was just shot there on the street last week (sadly in front of her children) so yes, there are still quite a few problems in the area. I've been to Pilsen during the day as well, and there is a lot going on there, but I'm not sure that I'd want to spend much time there at night either.

That being said, JJ5 made a good point about crime in the 'other' thread. I live in a 'trendy' neighborhood myself, and I happen to know that despite it's 'yuppie' and 'hipster' feel (I’m here more for the cheap rent I’ve managed to find through a friend and the proximity to downtown more than the neighborhood itself), that there is actually more crime here than in other neighborhoods in the city that may look a lot less interesting from the standpoint of someone looking for nightlife and overpriced boutiques (I just saw the aftermath of a rash of car break-ins this morning on my way to the 'el') so don’t assume that ‘wealthy’ and ‘trendy’ automatically equals ‘low crime’, because that is not the case.

Amen. Thank you, Vittrad.

My son's best friend for life is now a pharmacist but while in school at U.of I. right in the best area for medical student housing, his car was winged by a bullet while he was driving, and two times he came out to no car at all. Not a fancy car either. That's one of the areas where you have to know "which" block to go down.

You may be safer around Midway airport, but it might not be as much "fun". Vittrad is so correct in her assessment of that factor. It's diverse too, but more family, single family homes to apartment ratio. It has a strong percentage Middle Eastern population, and some good Med. restaurants- and just think how great that would be flying in/out for you, AND it would be a doable commute. But it is not a yuppie area and not particularly crime free either. But much less than some popular areas actually are.

I had a marvelous apartment there years ago, and they still have nice choices for housing, and also good available street parking, unlike other areas where, if you own a car, you might have a the real sticky parking problem. (You do know we put out chairs/tables etc. and stake them out in winter to "hold" them.) LOL!

Affordable choices may be your key.

Be careful about Brighton Park. They are pushing some great housing, but I know that neighborhood well. It would be a constant "adventure"- despite the $400,000 condos that they are putting up on Pershing Rd.

Good luck, and really do ride the bus or drive the area to observe the traffic patterns to your job before you lease.

It's really only Marquette Park that has a sizeable Middle Eastern population. For the most part, the SW/Midway area is Hispanic and Polish, more Polish as you head west. It is generally a nice area, though the Chicago Lawn police district is one of only a few that has seen an increase in crime this year. Gang shootings are still pretty rare, though. Parking can be very tight. Many buildings house at least two family's which means at least one car per house needs to be on the street. The commute is relatively quick and easy on the Orange Line, and there are a lot of apartments within walking distance of the Pulaski station. The SW side may not be trendy, but it's affordable, and a fairly safe and pleasant place to live.

after doing some looking around and checking I have determined that it would NOT be in my best interest to move to the South side of Chicago especially after checking out Chicagocrime.org. I have a nice 2003 ford f-150 supercrew and I dont want anything to happen to it. I have now been checking out some really nice apartments by Humboldt Park. From what I have found it is a safe place to live. My quick check for wether places are safe are not have basically been looking at the number of banks around the area as well as other establishments. I figure if it is a dangerous place, these types of bussinesses woulnd't be there. What do you guys know about that area?

I would rethink Humboldt part if you like your car. It varies drastically street by street, and has plenty of crime problems of its own. Honestly though, if you don't want anything to happen to your car, get a garage, even in a 'good' neighborhood. What price range are you looking into, perhaps if you give us that, and where you will be working, we can make some suggestions. I don't know a whole lot about the current state of the southwest side like flamingomonkey does, but I'm pretty familiar with the northside of the city having lived up here for 10+ years (and not only neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, or my own West-Town) etc

I am going to be working near the West Carroll ave and Ahsland area. I am looking for something preferably within 10 miles of the location. I would like something near a park but I can do without that too. I am looking for a 2 bedroom unfurnished apartment at least 800 SQ FT. I don't want to pay anymore than about $1000 a month before taxes and utilities but I would love something near the $800 mark. Whatever advise you guys can give would be great. Thanks.

I'm not sure if that entity exists that fufills your requests.

The area near Midway is by far a safer violent crime region than other areas that fill your criteria remarks.

The area around 63rd & Kedzie has become very Middle Eastern and also has high car property crimes. The area that flamingomonkey describes west of Pulaski and right within Midway's shadow is west of where you work and a bit South, but has good garage possiblities. My apartment at 63rd and Kolmar was a three flat and we all had a garage/fully housed slot for our cars. It's also close to bus lines and the orange line right to downtown. Of course you may hit an apartment without a side or back lot and would have to share the 2 or 3 spots out in front.

Because of where you will work, I really think no where else is going to fit your commute requirements nor will you have "good" (not in time, but in safety) commute neighborhoods to transverse from most other directions.

What do you think of farther west out of the city- like Berwyn. A blue color town with some great Mexican restaurants and nice apartments but mixed with some industrial.

I would ride and look myself. Because what you are suggesting, I've seen, and it is a whole lot worse, IMHO.

My only problem is this. I have a 2003 Ford F-150 supercrew with a 3" body lift kit and larger tires. My truck is about 3 inches too tall to fit into a normall garage. So I really need someplace that is relativly safe for nice cars to be parked on the street and be left alone. I have a top of the line car alarm and will be beefing that up before I go but I still don't want anything to happen. I understand that no area is 100% safe but what is the safest.

You are putting a lot of emphasis on what your car needs, but I think you're overlooking what makes a good quality city living experience.

A car that size isn't going to fit into most garages, whether they are for residential or public parking, such as downtown. It isn't going to be safe on the street in the area where you'll be working. If it's your priority, you'll need to spend more and find a garage that it will fit. What if you rethink the car and focus on the neighborhood, stores, entertainment options and kinds of people that will make your time here most enjoyable?

"You are putting a lot of emphasis on what your car needs, but I think you're overlooking what makes a good quality city living experience."

Listen all I want is someplace where my car will be safe parked ON THE STREET. I am not trying to get a garage. All I want is a part of town where my car will be safe while I am sleeping.

Well, you could park by me nacar02zp, but that would be in Tinley Park and more than 10 miles and at least 45 minutes away. LOL!

Now I don't want to discourage you- but I do think your truck will just about stand out anywhere. BUT there are several SW neighborhoods near Midway and WEST of where you work that it might possibly curb sit in a residential area without it being a surething steal.

You will probably have to be in a primarily residential neighborhood for that car to find it's "good" spot. Or you could drive a little further from straight N but much farther, or NW sides of Chicago and take a, to me anyway, more dangerous ride path to work.

Come and look with a good map. And you will find it. There are also areas straight West and North or West of Midway which might work better. They are NOT Chicago proper, but further west like Countryside or Lagrange. Your truck would be hunky dory there.

Or you could also do the near SW suburbs quick easily and it would work. Hickory Hills, Burbank, Palos
A longer drive and heavy traffic, but you might find all else you are looking for in those areas, for sure.

Which areas west do you think it would most likly be find. Someplace like Bellwood? or somehwere closer such as Forest Park or Broadview? By the way, a location near a country club or gold course, are those typically good areas?

I don't know those areas personally, but I think you could find better crime stats there. I do know Brookfield, Hinsdale, Lagrange well. Perfecto. Around the zoo- heaven. Don't know what the rentals would run. I think Broadview is a mixed/ industrial - sort of like a Berwyn area. That is someone else's expertise- not mine. Berwyn is a mix of just about anything besides but big populations of Eastern European, Mexican, and Irish descendants, IMHO and personal experience. Many trucks, some factories, lots of walk ups, 2 and 3 flats of differing ages. Older city width streets.

Maybe Vittrad could help you with those burbs. And the burbs I list at the beginning have great green places, good access to downtown, good schools, and so are family friendly - lots of people own their homes, for instance. Hinsdale has an icon and drop dead beautiful library, for instance. Brookfield has creek, parks, zoo etc.

But you know your commute will be longer.

Now what exactly is wrong with the Humboldt Park area. I was looking about 5 blocks north of that but somebody said it was a bad area for cars.