https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:32:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528983 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 16:16:10 +0000 Worrywart 2528983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: @LindsayInNY: My sister rented in Lakeshore East when she had her first. Great idea if they're looking for something good for kids AND downtown close to everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528820 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:43:58 +0000 Beehive 2528820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: My sister is in River North and really likes it there. She enjoys living right downtown. Personally I like Lincoln Park, though from what I understand they don't have great high-rise options.</p> <p>ETA - I forget where you are in NY at the moment, but I think you'll be able to get a lot more bang for your buck wherever you end up in Chicago - it makes me so sad to hear about real estate prices there compared with NYC! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528815 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:35:53 +0000 ChitownRo 2528815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you want to live in a high rise, also look at Lakeshore East. It's a neighborhood directly north of millennium park and actually has two fantastic parks. I know a few people who bought down there - but 3 beds cost 1-2 mil with high assessments. I'd rent there before buying a place. </p> <p>We lived in river north before having kids - great for singles or DINKs but not as many parks as other neighborhoods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528807 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:21:40 +0000 Worrywart 2528807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: We loved living in the West Loop, especially with a child! There are so many parks and amazing restaurants you can walk to. Tons of young families. It's the most up and coming neighborhood in Chicago right now and very very close to downtown. You'd be happy there! We miss it all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528790 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 12:51:05 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: Sounds like River North or West or South Loop might be more up our alley! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528730 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:49:18 +0000 Shantuck 2528730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Chicago but I probably wouldn't recommend the Loop for living as much of it closes down on the weekends and other than Millennium Park, there won't be many options for playgrounds, etc. River North, West Loop and South Loop might be good options as they border the Loop but offer a bit more of a weekend life. Also, I lived in Roscoe Village for several years and it took me 30 minutes door to door to get to work on the brown line, which isn't bad. When I lived in River North, I was able to walk to the office in about 15 minutes. I would just consider an area with parks and restaurants and things to do on the weekend. Chicago is not as sprawling as cities like NYC so living in Roscoe Village or Lakeview or Lincoln Park is not like living in Brooklyn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528680 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:02:53 +0000 cascademom 2528680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I walked to work when I lived in the Loop (close to West Loop). I can't remember any daycares near where we lived, but we were just getting engaged then, so it wasn't on the radar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528678 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:01:40 +0000 cascademom 2528678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Worrywart: @LindsayInNY: Downtown gets quiet on the weekends too. Even West Loop which is pretty active gets on the quiet side when everyone's in the neighborhoods going out for brunch, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528675 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:00:39 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: Oh that is huge! I love urban-ish living!!</p> <p>@Worrywart: Hmm. My aunt/uncle use to be near water tower place and I loved it. I don't want a ghost town outside of work hours, want lots within walking distance... Ideally walking to work (even if it's a lengthy walk) in nice weather or a short ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528666 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:56:29 +0000 Worrywart 2528666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: You won't want to be actually DOWNTOWN. Downtown is more for tourists, shopping, and office buildings. The neighborhoods around the city is where you'd want to be, espcially with a young a child. All of the areas I listed are about 10-30 minutes from the actual downtown area and are great for young families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528662 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:54:56 +0000 yellowbird 2528662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: we live in the middle of nowhere about 1.5 hours from DC, so this move is huge for us! We are excited.</p> <p>We're moving to the burbs, though. It's still way more "urban" than we're used to. We found a place in Oak Park. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528660 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:53:21 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: Ahh, good to know. I like things within walking distance. More than a drug store. ;)</p> <p>@macintosh: North of Millenium Park? Does that help?</p> <p>@Worrywart: Wow that's awesome! I know DH liked options in Wicker Park but thought it was a little too far from downtown.</p> <p>@ChitownRo: We would be ultimately looking to buy. I know relocation includes corporate housing and I *think* we would consider renting, if need be, but would prefer to buy instead of having to move multiple times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528638 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:34:29 +0000 cascademom 2528638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Worrywart: Our condo took about two weeks to sell with a bit of a drawn out closing process. We moved to Vernon Hills in a fantastic subdivision. We spent all weekend meeting our new neighbors in the nearby playgrounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528637 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:33:57 +0000 ChitownRo 2528637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love Chicago - live in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and LOVE it. It borders the lake, is walking distance to the free zoo, short commute to downtown (about 5-10 mins on the Red Line). There are tons of shopping, restaurants and parks for the littles. It's comparable to the feel of Park Slope but is a shorter commute.<br /> Are you looking to rent or buy? If you want to buy, 3 beds in Lincoln Park range from mid 400s to 900k depending on the square footage and rehab status. I'm not as familiar with the rental market but would guess 2.5-3k/month for a 3 bedroom.<br /> I'm happy to answer questions/help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528636 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:33:26 +0000 cascademom 2528636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: PM your name. I'll do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528635 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:33:15 +0000 Worrywart 2528635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: Hi neighbor! We sold our condo in the West Loop in ONE DAY, the area was booming so much. We love living up here. We are in Highland Park. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528634 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:32:08 +0000 cascademom 2528634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Worrywart: We're in the Northern suburbs too. I loved living in Logan Square for many years. We just got priced out of a single family home as the area began booming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528631 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:28:59 +0000 Worrywart 2528631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fellow Chicagoan here. We moved to the Northern suburbs last year but lived downtown near the city for 14 years. Most recently we lived in the West Loop with our toddler and it was a VERY great family neighborhood. Tons of parks, restaurants, good childcare options. It's about 10-15 minutes on the Blue Line into downtown. Some other good family neighborhoods would be Roscoe Village, Wicker Park/Bucktown, South Loop, Lincoln Park, Lakeview. Fulltime daycares anywhere in these areas would run about $2K a month or more. Chicago is a great place to live! Let me know if you have any other ?s :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528630 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:28:57 +0000 macintosh 2528630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Another option for downtown is the West Loop. My coworker lives there and she really likes it.</p> <p>ETA: where is the potential job located? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528629 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:27:45 +0000 cascademom 2528629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Here's Loop Apartments: <a href="http://loopapts.com/" rel="nofollow">http://loopapts.com/</a> to get an idea of prices. We lived in the Loop close to the West Loop. K Station and apartments near there are nice. Gold Coast is expensive and not terribly family friendly. It's a bunch of old stately homes with a crappy Jewel Osco nearby. West Loop and River North are more family friendly of the Loop areas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528627 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:25:44 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: Oh you are?! How exciting! Where are you now/is it a far move? DH is anti-burbs... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528626 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:25:39 +0000 macintosh 2528626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lived in Logam Square as well but before we had kids. If you're not opposed to living in a nearby "urban" suburb, I highly recommend Oak Park. It's about 8 miles from downtown. Green line runs along the north side, Blue line to the south, and the schools are great. There are plenty of affordable apartments. OP has its own little downtown area.</p> <p>I moved to the area from Ohio for work a few years ago. I highly recommend visiting the city and scoping out the neighborhoods, public transit, and downtown area. Downtown is big! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528624 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:25:20 +0000 Ash 2528624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you're probably interested in living in the city rather than "downtown". All of the neighborhoods @cascademom: listed are great!</p> <p>Eta: I lived in a 3bd/1bath apartment in the ravensquare/Lincoln park area for $1500/month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528623 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:24:34 +0000 yellowbird 2528623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: will you add me?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528621 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:24:05 +0000 yellowbird 2528621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I know nothing about living in Chicago but we are moving there in June. I'm guessing by downtown you mean the loop? There are definitely some places to live in the loop but I think most people choose to live in one of the neighborhoods listed above. They are all really close to the loop.</p> <p>We were just looking for apartments and I would say a 2bd1ba runs around 1900-2500 in most of those neighborhoods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528620 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:23:14 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: Thank you!! Part of the discussion with DH is that he's always wanted to be in the city and we skipped over NYC and moved north of it, which he has regrets about. So he said the only way we would move would be to downtown. The loop area would be on his list. I know he mentioned gold coast too? Wicker Park looks nice but he said it was further away than he'd like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528615 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:21:20 +0000 cascademom 2528615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I added you to the group pending approval. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528614 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:20:40 +0000 cascademom 2528614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Most neighborhoods are about 15-20 minute commute on the El away from downtown. Downtown is the Loop, South Loop, West Loop areas. I haven't lived downtown in some time, but our rent back then wasn't anything to sneeze at. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528613 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:18:28 +0000 LindsayInNY 2528613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: The FB group is secret so I can't join... How far away are a lot of those neighborhoods from downtown? And how expensive are we talking for downtown? What exactly IS the downtown area anyways? See, I know nothing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chicago-living#post-2528597 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 09:55:39 +0000 cascademom 2528597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Downtown's hella expensive to live. Most families live in neighborhoods off the Blue, Red, Brown, Orange, and Pink lines. Logan Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown are crazy hip neighborhoods off the Blue line. Red line has Uptown, Buena Park, Rogers Park, Evanston. Brown line has North Center, Lakeview, etc. Pink Line has Pilsen. Depending upon which part of the city you chose to live in, there's parenting groups for it. The big FB Mommy group for the city is MamaTribe Chicago: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mamatribechicago/" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/groups/mamatribechicago/</a></p> <p>I only know childcare options in Logan Square where we lived for 6 years. There's also Neighborhood Parents Network as well as a resource: <a href="http://www.npnparents.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.npnparents.org/</a><br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NPNparents" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/NPNparents</a> </p>