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Moving to Chicago next week, looking for advice

heater123

Registered User
Oct 19, 2007
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I'm a 22 year old student from Canada that's doing an internship in Chicago (on W Madison St) and just started looking for a place to stay. I'll be there for 4 months.

Thank you for any help!

1) Which neighborhoods/districts (http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//1/1f/Integrated_Chicago_districts_map.png) do the college kids live in? I'm trying to keep the price of rent down while staying relatively close to my workplace.

2) Which neighbourhoods/districts should I avoid? I'm aware that chicago has good and bad sides of town, and I'd like to keep myself as safe as posisble.

3) Any good chicago-area renting sites that you guys would recommend?
 
Some people here live in the city and could probably give you good suggestions. All I will say is not to be too concerned about finding the safest neighborhood. They change from night to day within the matter of a block. In my experience, the south loop seems pretty cheap and decent but I haven't looked in years. It may be too built up now.
 
coldsteelonice84 said:
Some people here live in the city and could probably give you good suggestions. All I will say is not to be too concerned about finding the safest neighborhood. They change from night to day within the matter of a block. In my experience, the south loop seems pretty cheap and decent but I haven't looked in years. It may be too built up now.
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Thanks for the advice. I think that by living near other college kids will assure me that it's a relatively cheap and safe area, without any major crime or stuff.
 
Want to be near college kids where it's cheap and close to the west side?

Sounds like University Village might be a good spot for you.
 
There are a few main streets that run North and South Ashland Ave., Western Ave. & Damen Ave.

Western is closer to the United Center. The intersection of Western & Madison is in the middle of the UC and Johnny's West a little sketchy to live there.

Ashland & Roosevelt is located slightly South East from the United Center and that is University Village area.

Damen Ave is a little West and Chicago Ave is slightly North this is a solid area with good access to the subway. The Blue line is right there. The two main subways in Chicago are the red and the blue line. Having access to them will keep you from taking cabs. Damen Ave & Chicago Ave is fairly popular and reasonable.

Living North in Wrigleyville if you could sublet and afford it would be a single man's paradise, but unreasonably far from Madison Ave. where your internship is at.
 
If I were you I would find a place near Damen Ave & Chicago Ave. There is a McDonalds, Dominick's grocery store, and several pubs that line Chicago Ave.

The United Center is one mile South and about 1.3 miles east from that area.
 
Even though I'm a Cubs fan and go to DePaul, Wrigleyville is kind of overrated IMO. I agree with IU, University Village sounds perfect for you based on rent, convenience of getting to work, other people your age, etc. I like that area a lot
 
nds90 said:
Even though I'm a Cubs fan and go to DePaul, Wrigleyville is kind of overrated IMO. I agree with IU, University Village sounds perfect for you based on rent, convenience of getting to work, other people your age, etc. I like that area a lot
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As someone who lived in a ****** Wrigleyville garden apt that flooded and still payed $1300 a month: Stay the **** away from Wrigleyville.
 
check out pilsen, man. I know a lot of young people that move there. Diverse area but not bad.
 
Want cheap? You'll need to have roommates, look in the craigslist "rooms/shared" section.

The GF and I will have an extra room available @ $333 near grand/damen but it's really small and we're not sure if we're going to bother renting again, the Hungarian girl who was our roommate just went back to Europe.
 
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I live just north of North ave and Damen in Bucktown. Great spot by 6 corners. Soooo much stuff all around. There is also a bus that takes you right to the UC in 10 minutes. Its officially 2 miles away.

Would highly recommend
 
I would check on that spot at Grand & Damen that sounds like gold even if it is small.
 
I have no idea if this is anywhere near where OP is looking...but age-wise, i've got recent college grad aged relatives living in Lincoln Square and Andersonville and they both really like those places :dunno:
 
Yeah, I think anywhere in the Pilsen/U Village area is probably your best bet. Gets a bit pricier after you go north of 290, even though that'd be a bit closer to your office.
 
Pilsen is pretty cheap. Decent area, i lived there last year. Or university village/ little italy area for a little bit more. I also lived over there for 2 years. Lakeview is not ehat you are looking for in terms of price, i pay 950 for a studio.
 
UIC area

The UIC area---Taylor Street and other blocks near by will put you in the college rental environment as well as decent proximity to the West Loop and since it's not overly popular compared to other areas (but it is up and coming), it might be your best bet. Make sure you get to Hawkeyes, 4 Aces and Reggies (21st and State)----live music 7 nights a week.....A good spot without any pretenses.
 
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