Chicago - Decent apartments close to ORD?

I am considering taking a new job in Chicago, but am not particularly interested in moving back up north, nor is my wife, so I am looking at options for a safe area close to ORD that would suffice for 4 or 5 nights a week while I'm in town. I would then fly home to DCA or RDU every weekend.

The job would be in the Glenview area, but I'd rather stay as close to the airport as possible.

It's been nearly 15 years since I last lived in Chicago, but I do recall that Des Plaines and Rosemont were fairly rough, and the adjacent hoods in the city were also unpleasant. Park Ridge seemed fairly acceptable.Ideally, somewhere small and safe where I could leave my car without it being constantly broken into would be nice.

Cost isn't a huge sticking point, although I'd like to stay below $2,000 or so for a studio (I'm not taking any furniture with me, as this will be nothing but a crashpad).

Prior to flaming me (Yes, I did search for threads and have trolled CL a bit...), does anyone have any suggestions?

I don't think I've ever heard anybody refer to Des Plaines and Rosemont as "rough" areas. They're certainly not high-crime by Chicago metro standards, not are any of the city neighborhoods closest to ORD. On the contrary, they're a bastion of Chicago police officers and other city workers. I haven't checked out rent in these areas recently, but I strongly suspect that $2K/month gets you much more than a studio.

I work in Chicago right near the Cumberland stop on the Blue Line (second stop from ORD). There's a vast sea of apartments south of the Kennedy here. Based on who I see walking to the EL, a lot of the residents work at ORD, including air crew. It's far from a rough neighborhood, though a little short on character.

I work in Chicago right near the Cumberland stop on the Blue Line (second stop from ORD). There's a vast sea of apartments south of the Kennedy here. Based on who I see walking to the EL, a lot of the residents work at ORD, including air crew. It's far from a rough neighborhood, though a little short on character.

Character means nothing, as I'll only be there during the week if I take the job, and will be working 12 hour days, anyhow. EL access would be fantastic for biweekly ORD trips, although the office is not on any train line, so I can't just ditch my car forever like I had hoped. I'm still perplexed as to why anyone would build an office complex that isn't accessible via train, but...

In looking out the windows from the EL, everything looked pretty rundown, as did the areas near the ORD airport hotels off of River. I guess I'll take a closer look when I'm in town tomorrow.

Thanks

why not live just a little farther away for a neighborhood closer to chicago? 2k a month will get you a whole house around ORD...it'd get you a 2br apartment closer to downtown.

why not live just a little farther away for a neighborhood closer to chicago? 2k a month will get you a whole house around ORD...it'd get you a 2br apartment closer to downtown.

I'd agree - some of the nicer studios (such as in Streeterville) are probably sub-$1500. Plus, the fact that the Blue Line extends all the way downtown makes it easy to get to the airport (if you don't mind riding it, of course)

@brendog, You mentioned your office is in Glenview - it seems like the Metra heads out there from downtown as well, so you at least have an alternative mode of transport. Perhaps somewhere where the Blue line and Metra MD-N are both accessible?

Or you could just get an apartment in Glenview to reduce your daily commute.

Glenview is still near ORD. And it's a nicer town to live in than any of the areas around ORD. Probably less noisy too, since there won't be planes flying right overhead...

Or you could just get an apartment in Glenview to reduce your daily commute.

Glenview is still near ORD. And it's a nicer town to live in than any of the areas around ORD. Probably less noisy too, since there won't be planes flying right overhead...

Fully agree with this. Look for a place that's closer to your office that you'll be going to 5 times a week, not the airport that you'll be going to once.

Fully agree with this. Look for a place that's closer to your office that you'll be going to 5 times a week, not the airport that you'll be going to once.

While I like the shorter commute on a daily basis, I'd rather be able to park my car at my crashpad for the weekend and just take the EL to the airport, rather than paying for parking. As I won't be venturing out for anything but working or leaving, particularly when it's -227F for 8 straight months (Yes, slight hyperbole...). I might look into living further down the Blue, as per earlier posts, to see if anything looks better.

Unfortunately, the office is 2+ miles from a Metra stop, and the Metra up there has very limited hours. I'd hate to work until 10 or 11pm and then be stranded and have to pay $$$ for a cab ride home. Suburbs are evil, evil, evil...

One more random question, I'm not clear if you're looking for furnished/corp apartment type or just unfurnished and you'll buy some cheap stuff. I'm not really familiar with the rates for the former, but for the latter, $2k a month will get you a studio almost anywhere and a lot more than that where you're looking. You could likely get a decent sized 1 bedroom in that area under $1k.

One other note, it sounds like you've already talked yourself into this being an absolutely miserable experience. Cheer up a bit or you'll make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

One more random question, I'm not clear if you're looking for furnished/corp apartment type or just unfurnished and you'll buy some cheap stuff. I'm not really familiar with the rates for the former, but for the latter, $2k a month will get you a studio almost anywhere and a lot more than that where you're looking. You could likely get a decent sized 1 bedroom in that area under $1k.

One other note, it sounds like you've already talked yourself into this being an absolutely miserable experience. Cheer up a bit or you'll make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I'm not looking at it as a miserable experience, I'm looking it at it as a new work assignment in an area where I would prefer not to live (Nothing against Chicago, but I hate the cold and I have already lived there.), which is something I have done before and will likely do again (I've lived in unpleasant places like DEN, NYC, and BOS before escaping to RDU.). The money and the career advancement will easily override the separation from my wife and my displeasure with leaving the South.

As I won't be at the apartment all that often and will be working long hours (quasi start-up in need of senior leadership), travelling for work, or travelling home, I just want a place to store some suits and lay down a futon. I actually spoke to some UA FAs yesterday at ORD, and they seconded the earlier recommendation for the area around the Cumberland stop.

Thanks for the info, though, as I didn't realize Chicago was so cheap. It seemed expensive years ago, but I was in my 20s then, and everything seemed expensive. Not remembering the lay of the land anymore doesn't help much, and all of my trips there now involve ORD, a nearby hotel, followed by a drive into the northern burbs.

Thanks for the info, though, as I didn't realize Chicago was so cheap. It seemed expensive years ago, but I was in my 20s then, and everything seemed expensive. Not remembering the lay of the land anymore doesn't help much, and all of my trips there now involve ORD, a nearby hotel, followed by a drive into the northern burbs.

It can be, if you're in the Loop or Gold Coast or other "hot" close-in areas, but even there if you were okay with an older building you could get a studio for under $2k. Around the Cumberland stop is pretty boring, not much (other than airport access) to draw people in, so it's not a high rent district.

I'd take a look at craigslist, see what you can find.

While I like the shorter commute on a daily basis, I'd rather be able to park my car at my crashpad for the weekend and just take the EL to the airport, rather than paying for parking. As I won't be venturing out for anything but working or leaving, particularly when it's -227F for 8 straight months (Yes, slight hyperbole...). I might look into living further down the Blue, as per earlier posts, to see if anything looks better.

Unfortunately, the office is 2+ miles from a Metra stop, and the Metra up there has very limited hours. I'd hate to work until 10 or 11pm and then be stranded and have to pay $$$ for a cab ride home. Suburbs are evil, evil, evil...

I maintain it'll be a better quality of life for the 5/7 of a week you will be there to live closer to the office. You can still park your car at your apartment in Glenview and get a car service to/from the airport. I bet you could even negotiate a rate with them given that you'll use them every week.

Unless, of course, you do want to live in the city - but then your commute time will really increase. I have done the 1+ hour in each direction commute before, and was miserable. Whether it's on the train or driving, it's a couple hours of your day.

I worked for US Cellular for several years (HQ were on Cumberland at the Kennedy) in the 90s. Seems like everyone relocating into Chicago ended up in corporate housing at the high-rise just south of the exit (Presidential Towers?)...it was disconcerting running into my VP in the laundry room :eek: Park Ridge is certainly more characterful than O'Hare (which is the name of the the neighborhood around Cumberland). Also you might want to consider if there's an earnings tax in Chicago...there definitely is a sales tax premium in the O'Hare corridor (soak the tourists)

Also you might want to consider if there's an earnings tax in Chicago...there definitely is a sales tax premium in the O'Hare corridor (soak the tourists)

There isn't a city income/wage/earnings tax in Chicago.

Cook County has the highest sales tax in the country, however, at 11.25%.

we may be barking up the wrong tree here if living in NYC and BOS were miserable experiences for you... :)

bucktown along the blue line can be somewhat quieter than downtown while still not feeling like the suburbs. but if you're looking for a suburban feel, then glenview may do the trick. perhaps evanston closer to the water?

There isn't a city income/wage/earnings tax in Chicago.

Cook County has the highest sales tax in the country, however, at 11.25%.

It's high, but it's not that high. City is 9.75% in most places, 10.75% for downtown restaurants, suburbs vary (nothing higher than the city's 9.75%). It was 10.25/11.25 from 2008-10. Drops another .25% in 2012 and the last .25% of the Stroger hike goes away in 2013.

But there is not a premium by O'Hare, it's mostly that high everywhere.

It's been nearly 15 years since I last lived in Chicago, but I do recall that Des Plaines and Rosemont were fairly rough, and the adjacent hoods in the city were also unpleasant. Park Ridge seemed fairly acceptable.Ideally, somewhere small and safe where I could leave my car without it being constantly broken into would be nice.I've lived in a rough 'hood for the past 17 years and didn't even know it.:D

I just moved back to Chicago and did some apartment hunting in various neighborhoods including the Loop, Streeterville, Gold Coast, and Lincoln Park. $2k would get you a decent place in any of those expensive neighborhoods.

I also looked briefly at Irving Park. It was too far out of the city for my tastes (I actually like an urban environment), but might suit your purposes. It's on the blue line and a Metra line, relatively convenient access to highways, and $2K/month would go very far.

Good luck --- whatever you decide!

Why not just negotiate a long term stay with a hotel? I've been commuting to ORD from BOS every week for the past year and my monthly hotel spend is between 1700-2500. You'll get free breakfast, a safe place to park your car, your room cleaned, and a boat load of points.

Why not just negotiate a long term stay with a hotel? I've been commuting to ORD from BOS every week for the past year and my monthly hotel spend is between 1700-2500. You'll get free breakfast, a safe place to park your car, your room cleaned, and a boat load of points.

I like this idea for your situation. This way you also don't have to worry about random bills (water, heat, etc.). Housekeeping will be really nice and I doubt you will need to do laundry if you go home every weekend. And if you go home for a week, you will save on your "rent".

Alternatively, since it sounds like you don't have a desire to live in the actual city, I would say just get a place close to the job as opposed to the airport. You will make 1 round trip to the airport a week, but 5+ trips to work. Limit that commute.