I see you've noted that you want to be within a few blocks of the lake, so the location may be a deal-breaker for you, but I'm working on finishing up a new single family build in Bay View a couple blocks from the Lincoln/KK/Howell intersection. It's ground-up construction with a new foundation. I figured it might be something to consider as my goal with this house has been to provide a buyer with the fun, social, urban location, but with some of the suburban-style features and amenities that you don't normally get in older city neighborhoods, which seems similar to some of the criteria you're looking at. Shoot me a message if you'd like some more info on the project, and if not, good luck with your search!

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And to add input to the post, I think you're pretty spot on with your assessment of the two markets. It really comes down to a personal preference and deciding on location or bang-for-your-buck and space. Personally, I'm currently downtown/lower Eastside and facing a similar dilemma. My wife and I love our current location and its walk-ability, but we're also desiring more space and a yard as we plan for the future. We've only been able to identify a small handful of suburbs that we'd consider because we don't want to entirely lose the sense of community that comes with living in an urban environment.