[Meulen]

This could be fun, but stay nice guys. Let's give our reasons for why we live where we do.

I'll start.

When I lived in the city....
1)there was an extremely unreasonable housing and renting market
2)I couldn't walk 2 blocks without five people asking for handouts
3)If I could find a parking spot for a car I would be able to sit in traffic for hours.
4)I can not own or transport a handgun but it took an hour and a half for police to arrive when a crazed maniac was discharging one up and down my block in front of an elementary school.
5)They gouge you for everything from city stickers to rifle registration.
6)They'll sell you a city sticker for a pick-up but come quota time some Chicago PD will always ticket you for parking a B-truck on a city street.
7)you couldn't even get gas at an Amoco station cause the cops would kick you out of the parking lot.

 

[MrBusa]

Crazy-

I think you just started a thread that is going to become quite volatile ;>---

But, I'll cover your back :thumbsup

 

[HDTony]

Not to mention that every bar or restaurant has a 2 hour wait even at 3 in the afternoon..



And reason for living out in the country. Peace and quiet. No horns or sirens all night long, oh yeah and we have stars in the sky out here.

 

[Meulen]

Not to mention that every bar or restaurant has a 2 hour wait even at 3 in the afternoon..



And reason for living out in the country. Peace and quiet. No horns or sirens all night long, oh yeah and we have stars in the sky out here.

and you don't have to pay $25k a year for a parking spot

and if I drop a pencil out of the window it doesn't get stuck between the buildings before it hits the ground.:laughing

I can't hear my neighbors three doors down arguing threw the walls even with the windows closed.:laughing :laughing

 

[Meulen]

Crazy-

I think you just started a thread that is going to become quite volatile ;>---

But, I'll cover your back :thumbsup

Thanks bro:thumbsup :thumbsup

 

[KBOlsen]

<-------- Lifelong city dweller. Grew up in what is now considered Edgewater.

Spent my freshman year of High School in Buffalo Grove (back in 1979, when the only thing north of Lake-Cook Road was CORN). Hated it. Ran away back to the city every chance I got. For the next 20 years, I lived all over the north/northwest side, except for a forgettable 9 months in Berwyn.

Two years ago I moved UP NORTH to be with my boyfriend. Total lifestyle change.

Ironically, if we were to split up, I'd buy a house even further away from the city, like around Harvard.

Go figure.

 

[GautamCity]

see here's whats funny.....i live in the suburbs, but i love the city. i'm down there all the time. when i started college, i was at uic in the city, and had a great time. so many different places to go, so much diversity, convenience of public transportation/cabs, etc. now, i enjoy living in the suburbs too. nice streets to drive on, quiet, quiant towns like naperville, close to work, etc. i think it all depends on what part of the city you live in. if i was to move down there now, i would either move to lincoln park or west loop.

 

[Vcook]

... if i was to move down there now, i would either move to lincoln park or west loop.

for what it costs to rent in those areas you would be better off trying to BUY a place in bucktown or something. I would be worth it to stretch your budget that far cause the return on your investment would be huge.

 

[Meulen]

for what it costs to rent in those areas you would be better off trying to BUY a place in bucktown or something. I would be worth it to stretch your budget that far cause the return on your investment would be huge.

That is of course if those areas aren't already all tapped out but who knows the housing market is a different animal:confused :confused

 

[KBOlsen]

Bucktown/Wicker Park are totally blown. Humboldt Park, Pilsen and Bridgeport are the next hot spots.

 

[Stydie]

Y'all have woken the sleeping giant...

Prepare to feel the wrath of Stydie :evil

Housing/renting: I live in a GORGEOUS greystone in a beautiful neighborhood in lincoln park with a few other roommates. I pay less than my close friend living in a loft apartment in cleveland. And yeah, I have granite countertops and all that whooptie doo shit too. Plus who wants to take care of a yard?

I LIKE being close to a LOT of people. Being able to hear things outside (when the windows are open) lets me know there are other people around me, which is comforting, because I am a very social person. I like being around THOUSANDS of people. It makes me feel safe, it's comforting, and it makes the social scene great (more on that later).

Riff-raff: I don't get accosted for handouts in LP. Maybe that's because it's snobby or whatever but not once (even on the way to the el) have I gotten harassed for money.

Traffic/parking: $125 a year for parking. So what. That's why we make more money here in chicago. I always can find a spot... or I could rent one for 100 a month (garaged)... not $25k. You pay $25k to OWN a spot that appreciates... it's an investment. Traffic is the worst on the FREEWAYS out to the SUBURBS. Ever taken the Ike at 5:00PM??? I rest my case. If you know where you're going you can take shortcuts anyway.

Guns: I don't own a gun. Never have, never will. They scare me because they kill people and I don't like killing people. So that's not an issue.

Gas stations: I have been able to get gas at every gas station I've ever been to. I have no idea what you are talking about with this whole "cops kicking me out of gas stations" thing.

Restaurants: I have never waited more than 10 minutes to get into a restaurant... except cheescake factory on the gold coast (which is worth it). You need to know WHERE TO GO dude.

And the most important issue: THE SOCIAL SCENE
I can WALK 5 minutes from my house and be at about 50 bars. 10 of them are in SIGHT of my house. I can walk anywhere and get food/drink/whatever I want. I don't have to worry about driving drunk because I never drive. Even if I get far from home there are CABS to take me home (curiously absent in the burbs). I could go on and on and on about this for pages but you ALL know that when it comes to social life Nappervile and the rest of the suburbs can't hold a CANDLE to the city.

Plus we have the lake right here. I played sand volleyball all summer... and then went for a swim to cool off. Try that in the burbs

PLUS, you guys have to drive/ride forever to get here!! If you all lived in the city I wouldn't have a problem finding someone to ride with.

;>--- I WILL NEVER BECOME A SUBURBANITE

Unless of course I move down south and get me a nice plantation house on some land... but that's a WHOLE 'nother story...

 

[MrBusa]

Bucktown/Wicker Park are totally blown. Pilsen and Bridgeport are the next hot spots.

Agreed...Pilsen is the next hot spot and value is already starting to rise. A lot of rehabbing is going on.

 

[Stydie]

see here's whats funny.....i live in the suburbs, but i love the city. i'm down there all the time. when i started college, i was at uic in the city, and had a great time. so many different places to go, so much diversity, convenience of public transportation/cabs, etc. now, i enjoy living in the suburbs too. nice streets to drive on, quiet, quiant towns like naperville, close to work, etc. i think it all depends on what part of the city you live in. if i was to move down there now, i would either move to lincoln park or west loop.

You certainly know what's up brotha. LP and west loop are AWESOME places to live. Depends on whether you want a high-rise or a greystone .

 

[MrBusa]

You certainly know what's up brotha. LP and west loop are AWESOME places to live. Depends on whether you want a high-rise or a greystone .

Chris-

I always have a great time hanging out in the LP...Truth be told, I'd like to live in that area, but my jobs have always been out in the suburbs. It's just that I HATE parking, when I have to meet someone there.

BTY, sounds like you have a kick-ass pad.

 

[HDTony]

You certainly know what's up brotha. LP and west loop are AWESOME places to live. Depends on whether you want a high-rise or a greystone .

Your still young and single, give it a few years and marriage andd then you will not want any extra hassles. Then youll be out here with us. where we can walk down the middle of the street at night with out fear. and theres only one bar, which is far enough away to keep it from affecting my property value

 

[Meulen]

LOL I told you this was going to be fun

Y'all have woken the sleeping giant...

Prepare to feel the wrath of Stydie :evil

Housing/renting: I live in a GORGEOUS greystone in a beautiful neighborhood in lincoln park with a few other roommates. I pay less than my close friend living in a loft apartment in cleveland. And yeah, I have granite countertops and all that whooptie doo shit too. Plus who wants to take care of a yard?

OK mr Giant I don't need a few roomates and nothing looks better than a well maintained lawn

I LIKE being close to a LOT of people. Being able to hear things outside (when the windows are open) lets me know there are other people around me, which is comforting, because I am a very social person. I like being around THOUSANDS of people. It makes me feel safe, it's comforting, and it makes the social scene great (more on that later). [/B]

Why do you hear everything but your bike being ripped off????? and after saturday's fiasco I can do without a social scene

Riff-raff: I don't get accosted for handouts in LP. Maybe that's because it's snobby or whatever but not once (even on the way to the el) have I gotten harassed for money.

Traffic/parking: $125 a year for parking. So what. That's why we make more money here in chicago. I always can find a spot... or I could rent one for 100 a month (garaged)... not $25k. You pay $25k to OWN a spot that appreciates... it's an investment. Traffic is the worst on the FREEWAYS out to the SUBURBS. Ever taken the Ike at 5:00PM??? I rest my case. If you know where you're going you can take shortcuts anyway. [/B]

It's always crowded till you get out of the city. I walk about a mile to work and get harassed regularly by at least 5 people each way

Guns: I don't own a gun. Never have, never will. They scare me because they kill people and I don't like killing people. So that's not an issue. [/B]

Problem is the guy stealing your bike has one.

Gas stations: I have been able to get gas at every gas station I've ever been to. I have no idea what you are talking about with this whole "cops kicking me out of gas stations" thing.[/B]

I was talking about the one by the MCD's

If you don't want to be here don't come down here and carve up our roads. :laughing :laughing J/K.:laughing :laughing

 

[Grover]

My case is similar to Gautum's..

I love the scene in the city. There are a lot of different types of places. I never really hit the 'in' places with the $20 covers since any girl in those places would be WAY too high maintenance.

A buddy of mine lived just off of Division Street. We'd try to get to the Leg Room, but would always end up in Alumni Club or Bootlegger's. After the cover at Alumni (whopping $5), it's comparable to Bootleggers in price. Get there before 10 or so and it's just you and the bachlorette parties.

That being said, I doubt I could live down there with my current income. I love my garage and house too much. My commute royally sucks now(an hour to go 16 miles), but owning your own place has benefits. If I suddenly doubled my income so I could afford a 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 car garage condo/townhouse, I'd move for sure. I'd also definately spend WAY too much money partying.

Parking's a pain in the city, but just get down there at noon or so on a saturday and park in an unzoned location (or where you know somebody so you can get a temp sticker). When I go down there, I get there early, party with a buddy during the day, then we go out at night. I actually took the Maxim down there a couple times. :helmet

Patrick, next time I head down to Wrigleyville I'll PM ya.

chris

 

[KBOlsen]

Funny... Even when I did live in the city, I never had any desire to live near downtown/LP/Wrigleyville... My last apartment was a 5-1/2 room, 2-bedroom first floor of a 2-flat, loaded with original woodwork, stained glass, hardwood floors, my own washer/dryer in the basement, garage for the bike... $745 a month heated and my friends could all come over and park in front of my house. If I wanted to go where the "action" was, it was a short ride away but I never had to deal with stepping over puking drunks on my way home.

 

[Stydie]

Chris-

I always have a great time hanging out in the LP...Truth be told, I'd like to live in that area, but my jobs have always been out in the suburbs. It's just that I HATE parking, when I have to meet someone there.

BTY, sounds like you have a kick-ass pad.

Get a job in the city then ... shouldn't be too hard to do with like 10 million people down here hehe...

Parking when you come into meet people depends on the person's intelligence. If the person knows they are expecting company, they will 'save' a spot... or be courteous enough to move their car and be waiting with a parking pass when the other person gets there. We've had 10-15 cars roll up before and been fine.

Yeah the pad is pretty cool... no idea how we lucked out with such a great place. When the weather gets warm I'll have y'all down for a big-ass grill-out on the deck... nothing better than beer, brats, and outdoor speakers

 

[Jim]

Man its to crowded where i live now.............. i gots to move again!!!!!!!!!!!!:laughing