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Old 07-17-2001, 02:56 AM   #1
wrxman555
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Default Please Please Please read this. I need your Help.

Dear Chicago Guys:

I am officially moving to Chicago in about 50 Days. I have been on-line www.apartments.com and have seen some really nice LOOKING places. It would be nice if they also added what kind of Neihborhood these places are in. I am just trying to avoid the Ghetto! I would really like to live Down Town but if you know of any other nice places then list them here so I can focus on them. I just don't want to waste my time going to look at crap when I come looking. ANY info is greatly appreciated. 1 Bedroom or a Studio will do. I have a rent budget of 1K or less!!!!!! Let me stress LESS!!!!!!!! Thanks!

Thanks,

Elliott***
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Old 07-17-2001, 03:04 AM   #2
HndaTch627
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YOU WILL GET NOTHING downtown for less that 1k a month, i live in rolling meadows and they just put up a hole bunch of apartments and condo's in a nice area. They are bout a block from me and also a block from Erik, dammit i forgot his name on the board. I will get a number or soemthing for ya, if you are planning on kids it's a great area, 1 block from botht he grade school and a block for the junior high, and a mile from the high school

jeremy
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Old 07-17-2001, 03:53 AM   #3
Godmal
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The name's Godmal, Jeremy.

You can find some good apartment in Rolling Meadows, Palatine, Schaumburg for that price, as long as you stay w/ studio or small 1 bedroom. Jeremy's right, there's nothing in Chicago for that price, unless its in a crappy area. The areas I mentioned are good, since they are close to most of the expressways, and they are good neighborhoods. Closer to the city, you can find places in Des Plaines, Park Ridge, maybe Evanston for that price. Good luck!
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Old 07-17-2001, 10:23 AM   #4
Yotsuya
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Where you live really depends on where you will be working. If you are working downtown, as in the center of the city, the best thing to do live slightly to the north. Anywhere along the lake is fine, with prices dropping as you go north. I live around 2800 north and five blocks from the lake and pay around $900 a month, but my first place (3200, and right on the lake) was around $650, so there are some inexpensive places. Granted that was three years ago, but you should take a look at www.chicagoreader.com and check the space finder link. look in the zip codes 60613, 57,14,10, and 11, and see for yourself what's available. Also compare to www.transitchicago.com to make sure you will have a way to get downtown; driving is not really an option. If you choose to commute from the suburbs, you are looking at a long train ride; I can get to the downtown office from my apartment (not that I actually get to go to my office these days) in about fifteen minutes on the el.

If you have a car, get an apartment with a garage, or rent space at a garage nearby. the winters are very cold, nobody knows how to parallel park, and there's always the potential for vandalism.

Hope this helps
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Old 07-17-2001, 10:44 AM   #5
Dissenter
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Are you looking to live in the city or suburbs? Most of us are in the west and northwest suburbs. The appartment complex I'm in is pretty nice, although someone was messing with Opti's Celica the other day. There's not a lot of trashy people here and there are 3 scoobys and an almost scooby, if mike sells the celica
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Old 07-17-2001, 11:10 AM   #6
PhlypSide
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Wink

Living downtown on a budget of $1K or less/month will not be good for your Scooby. Parking downtown is pretty d@mn tight, my friends with condos/townhomes downtown (actually just north a bit by the lake) tell me that their *parking spots alone* are worth $25K if sold separately. The city is anal with their parking tickets and the d@mn city sticker (required for all cars registered in Chicago is something like $60 per year... maybe more now, I moved to the burbs 4 years ago

You should investigate the near near west. I highly recommend this area around the UIC campus:

Bordered by these four streets:
Harrison on the North
Loomis to the East
Laflin to the West
Polk to the South

There may still be affordable $1K or less/month places there, just make D@MN sure you get a place with parking in the rear for your car. There is no parking there!!!!

Also investigate apartments in the Loyola neighborhood (just south of Evanston) but the parking problem there is also pretty acute.

There is also a high-rise apartment building on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt that's pretty nice (I'm not sure of how much it is per month for a nice 1BR or studio though, it *may* be $1K/month... but probably not anymore).


Suburbs:

If you have to work in the loop, I'd investigate living near a Metra served suburb.

As someone else has already mentioned Evanston wouldn't be too bad at all (has both CTA/Metra trains). [Mind you Evanston is a "stone's throw" from both Lake Michigan and is on the border of the Northside of Chicago.

Since NorthWestern University is based in Evanston you should have some considerable selection of housing for ~$1K if you're in the market for a rental.

There are some rough areas of Evanston too so do check, usually though any neighborhoods east of the CTA/Metra tracks and north of Oakton are pretty nice.

Also check into Skokie/Morton Grove/Niles (all about 12 miles from downtown, a 20minute drive w/no traffic, but then again there is the Skokie Swift for CTA access to downtown, and the Metra in Morton Grove--I highly recommend the Metra even if its a bit more in cost, it's got less stops and much cleaner/nicer railcars).

It would seem that the rule in Chicago is that the closer you are to the lake the nicer the neighborhood is... with the *possible* exceptions of communities further north from say Glencoe, etc. (e.g. Waukegan has some really rough areas

good luck & lateRZ

I think you'll find Chicago a particularly enjoyable place to live I know I did when I made the move from Atlanta (and Atlanta isn't too shabby either, I definitely missed the non-snowy winters, but that was before I had fun drifting in the snow
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Old 07-17-2001, 11:41 AM   #7
RiftsWRX
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If you wanna look at the far west suburbs, there are really nice apartments around stratford square mall in bloomingdale.

Really nice 1 bedrooms for around 900 with garages available.. plus it's kinda the hub of everything around here... Naperville to the south, Schaumburg to the north. Plus you have a metra train station in Hanover park right down lake street (lake and barrington) about 2 miles up the road. Really nice apartments, with like 10 state troopers in it so there are no problems with crime I have friends living their.

http://www.apartments.com/search/oas...rgn1=1&prvpg=7

here is a URL to the metra station
http://metrarail.com/Sched/md_w/hanover_park.html


Jorge (RiftsWRX)
www.ProjectWRX.com

Last edited by RiftsWRX; 07-17-2001 at 11:43 AM.
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Old 07-17-2001, 11:52 AM   #8
WRX 555 STi
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Actually Presidential Towers is cool...My gfriend lives there on tower #3 on the 31st level. She pays $985/month...Pretty nice price for such location and height.

Look for their website...I don't know it off the top of my head...
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Old 07-17-2001, 11:57 AM   #9
DoctorNick
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looked at evanston?...the closest subarb to chicago and we got the "L"(public train) So for the times you don't drive to chicago you can pay a buck fifty and get a ride to the loop. I do that everyday. It is not bad at all. night life here sucks for the most part..one or two bars that i know of (I am 18 so I don't really pay attention to that). Good luck man
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Old 07-17-2001, 01:00 PM   #10
wrxman555
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Default

Thank you all for the input:

I actually lived in Buffalo Grove for about 2 months and I thought it was pretty cool. They have the Cubby Bear there now and some other really cool stuff to play around with. As far as living in Down Town goes, it was really just a thought. Who wouldn't want to live in Down Town Chicago? I guess it will be the Burbs for me. I will probably look in the Schaumberg, Wheaton, Buffalo Grove areas for something nice. Thanks for all of the information.

Another point I wanted to bring up is emissions testing. How stringent is Chicago? I have 1990 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD and it has had all of the emissions equipment YANKED! The car is fast and I want to be able to drive it. I can get away with it in South Bend but Chicago is a whole new story. I had a 2.5RS but I sold it after it was wrecked. I picked up the Talon for 2500 Bucks and I am slowly building it. It has too many mods to mention now but I will be around to meets with it so you can see it then. I also have the trusty(UGLY) Toyota Echo for my work commuter. I get payed mileage(.40 cents per mile) it gets 40+ miles per gallon so laugh all you want but I in turn will be laughing all of the way to the Bank! I am looking to purchase a WRX in Rally Blue but I'm not sure if I want that or to wait for the STI. Thats down the road a little ways anyways.
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Old 07-17-2001, 01:24 PM   #11
bat
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Default

Chicago (Cook and the collar counties included) have pretty strict emissions testing. They strap you car to a roller (looks like a dyno) and accelerate your car through various tests while your exhaust is sampled through hoses connected to your muffler. I believe they also give it a visual inspection. Not sure how long you are exempt for when you move here, but I think that they make you bring it in every two years(?).

Brian
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Old 07-17-2001, 01:39 PM   #12
HndaTch627
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'09 Concours 14 ABS Black

Cool

Well seeeing as how your talon is AWD you are exempt from the dyno testing. But you do have to pass a tailpipe emissions with i believe 110 HC at idle, so you will need a cat. I have 2 2 1/2" high flow cats that could be grafted to some flages and installed. Well good luck, I live in rolling Meadows, about 15 minutes from BG, Wheeling, Wheaton, Scaumburg, Palatine...Etc...right in the middle

Godmal-Sorry Eric i had a brian FART!!!

Jeremy
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Old 07-17-2001, 01:54 PM   #13
hillman
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Location: Westmont, IL, USA
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thank God.

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Do they have an AWD IM240 testing rig around here yet? They have never opened the hood on any vehicle I've had tested, FWIW. I've never seen them look for converters, either. Unless they have X-Ray vision, they have not visually inspected my cars.

With respect to living space, it is possible to rent in downtown Chicago for less than $1K/month. A quick look at apartments.com will confirm. ( The Seneca, 200 East Chestnut, $846-1850; among many others. ) Expect to pay well over $100/month for a parking space, though.

That said, one of the odd things about Chicago is the mix of neighborhoods; you will find decrepit housing projects two blocks from seriously expensive new development. Certain areas are very homogenous, but those are few and far between.

As a general rule, the closer to the Loop or the Lake, the nicer the neighborhood. There are many exceptions, however.

Neighborhoods also change quickly, so even if someone says a neighborhood was ghetto 5 years ago, it might not be now ( or vice versa ).

Having fled to the suburbs a few years ago, I frankly cannot now imagine why anyone would live in the city. Especially a "car person". Usually, when I say that to a city dweller, they respond by citing all the wonderful ways to amuse yourself in the city; and I point out that even if you live in the suburbs, you are still allowed to come into the city and have fun, you just don't have to stay.

I enjoyed living in the city... I just didn't know any better.
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Old 07-17-2001, 01:56 PM   #14
HndaTch627
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'09 Concours 14 ABS Black

Default

no they can't dyno AWD cars, that why scooby's have an IM240 Exemtion sticker under the hood. They could NEVER afford a 4wd dyno and the amount of cars it would allow them to test is next to nothing. Good lukc guys

Jeremy
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Old 07-17-2001, 04:49 PM   #15
wrxman555
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Location: South Bend, Indiana
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Default

My car doesn't even have a Catalytic Convertor! I have "Off Road use only" Pipe! I guess I can slap one on when it comes testing time.

Elliott***
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Old 07-17-2001, 04:59 PM   #16
bat
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Default AWD

I forgot about that. I remember now that they asked me when I had a Blazer ( ) whether or not the 4wd was engaged. However, when they were walking around I noticed that one of the techs bent down and looked under the car for a while.

As a side note, does anyone know what speed they bring the vehicles up to? I remember that they had a monitor with speed and some other info, but can't remember the numbers. The Blazer looked and sounded as if it was going to self destruct (which about 3 months later it went ahead and did by itself ).

Brian
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Old 07-18-2001, 12:04 PM   #17
Dissenter
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If you're looking at the burbs, take a look at Clover Creek Appartments in Lombard. Rent's reasonable, and the place is pretty nice!
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Old 07-18-2001, 01:45 PM   #18
HndaTch627
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Default

bat, they take them to 60 if they have to. THey only do that to get the vehicle to pass.

Jeremy

P.S.: Get rid of your test pipe and get a cat, you will need it, cops here tend to NIT pick any import car when they get pulled over, i.e.: no cat= BIG BIG fine
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Old 07-18-2001, 04:28 PM   #19
newscooby
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Default Lincoln Park is sweeeet!!!!

OK, read every else's opinion so here's mine.

I moved to Chicago about 4 years ago from Cincinnati. Initally, I lived in Schaumburg because it was the only place I knew of and it was near work. AND, coming from a medium sized town, I was afraid of the big city. After hanging out in suburbs for 3 months, I found myself driving into the city 4-5 nights a week. Sooooo....I moved to Lincoln Park and I know what your all thinking...expensive and parking issues.

Here's my take:
You can easily find stuff in Lincoln Park for under a grand. Studios go for $650-$800 and 1 bedrooms from $700 to whatever. In Schaumburg, I had a 1 bedroom apt that cost me $850/month but I didn't have to look for parking. Parking is defintely an issue depending on where you live. I've lived here for three years now and never had an assigned spot, but I've never parked more than two blocks from my place. AND never had to look for more that 10 minutes for a decent spot. That being said, I should qualify it and say that I live in the south western part of the LP. If you don't believe me, just ask Nick (8) and Nick (Redline8K), when they came down to visit they got rock star parking right in front of my condo.

In my mind, it really depends on what you like to do and where your gonna work. I LOVE the city for it's activities, nightlife, and hotties. I work in the loop, so I don't even drive to work. And the lake is about a 5 minute bike ride away. If your single (or married and like to go out) or don't wanna hang out with big-haired WT, I'd recommend the city.

Someone posted the link to the Chicago Reader, definitely a VERY good resource for apts in the area. If you need help with where things are at, PM and I'll try to point you in the right direction.

Good luck with your decision and let us know when you get here.

Mike

PS, if you can somehow keep your Indiana registration, I would!! For reasons I don't want to reveal publicly, it's definitely in your best interest to keep out of state registration. Besides the whole emissions thing. BTW, I still have Ohio plates

Last edited by newscooby; 07-18-2001 at 04:30 PM.
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Old 07-18-2001, 04:46 PM   #20
wrxman555
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Silver

Default

My thoughts exactly! I will be using my Parents address so I can keep my Cars registerd in Indiana. I don't like having a license plate on the front of my car!

HEY- if I keep out of State registration, won't I be exempt from the emissions testing? I will have an address obviously but they won't know I have Cars unless they are registerd in Illinois RIGHT?? I guess just don't get pulled over!

Elliott***

Thanks for the input. I have met a few of you over at 8's late last year but I look forward to meeting more of you.

Later***
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Old 07-18-2001, 04:53 PM   #21
PhlypSide
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Default

Having an out of state license plate is PIMP. Keep it. You will never get bugged for Illinois emissions.

Living downtown is fun and all, but I got tired of it (4 years). I can't afford a house with a driveway and an attached garage downtown, well neither can anyone else, they're just not down there

Visiting people that live downtown can be an adventure too... parking time should be easily measured in seconds, not minutes

Don't even get me started on the asinine parking tickets and the stupid city sticker costs.... oh yeah in in the winter time... boy oh boy, have you ever seen a fight over a cleared parking spot?

hehehe

The city is great, but I don't think its soo great if you are a car freak and have lots of friends that are car freaks that like to visit you.

lateRZ
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Old 07-18-2001, 05:19 PM   #22
Yotsuya
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Cleared spots are a hoot; all the chairs and stuff people leave out (I can laugh since my apartment is new enough to have it's own heated garage). I really think Chicago should take a tip from New York and send garbage trucks with plows through the street cause the chairs and leftover cars make it impossible to clear side streets.

Of course, in Denver, they never even bothered to plow the side streets, allowing them to be pressed into two inches of clear ice that would last all winter...
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Old 07-18-2001, 07:58 PM   #23
Godmal
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Grey Mazda 5

Default Hey wrxman555!

I had a '91 eclipse GSX that had no cat on it. I took it for emissions testing and I passed! Just barely though, I think the spec is 250 ppm and I passed w/ 248 ppm. BTW it was just a tail pipe test, no dyno. Also, those engines run pretty clean as long as they are tuned properly, it shouldn't be a problem to pass. Otherwise, check out www.machv.com , they sell buschur racing exhaust and have hi-flo cats in 2.5" or 3" for pretty cheap, good quality, too.

Erik
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Old 07-19-2001, 03:26 AM   #24
HndaTch627
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'09 Concours 14 ABS Black

Default

I'd hate to walk 2 blocks in our winter deep freeze, unless your remote start works that far away.

Jeremy
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Old 07-19-2001, 01:20 PM   #25
wrxman555
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Vehicle:
2001 Lexus IS300
Silver

Default HEY GODMAL!!!!!!!

Erik-

What mods did you have done to your GSX? I am just curious. Also, I DAMN you for having a Rally Blue REX!!!!! I am getting one I think, but I might wait for the STI. See you soon!!!!

Elliott****
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