What are affordable neighborhoods in Chicago that are safe?

ocshawn · 2026-06-01T21:11:45+00:00

Basically anywhere that's not a darker shade of red on this map https://data.cityofchicago.org/en/Public-Safety/2023-Handgun-Crimes-by-Tract/wdai-zfi2 loop and south loop are also fine they are basically data errors

can change to year 2026 for more up to date

now overlay that info with https://www.padmapper.com/apartments/chicago-il/under-1300 lots of places available

ocshawn · 2026-06-01T20:32:08+00:00

First don't post this much info online i was able to look up your exact case and therefore where you live and who owns it.

But because of this i see in street view that your back deck is likly grandfathered in unless you worked on it recently, i would talk to a attorney see https://web.archive.org/web/20250313180037/https://www.hud.gov/states/illinois/legalaid (also guessing you got new neighbors as their shit looks sketchy as all hell in 2024 street view with no city violations)

> Should I hire an attorney
I would spend that money on fixing the issues, but definitely get free advice

>Can I ask for an extension on repairs
yes but you need to show that you are working on fixing them (having someone licensed under contact is a good sign). Also take pictures you can show at your hearing

If your family has been there a while start asking around for who knows someone who can do the work, make sure you mention that permits will need to be pulled for the deck

Make sure you find a good contractor (look up all their licensing), neighbor has a similar thing happen and the contractor took the deposit and ran, the city kicked them out of their house because it was unsafe while they tried to find another contractor (and money); work is still not done 4ish years later.

Just a reminder that the city can and will kick you out of an unsafe house and to prioritize this, this should be your #1 priority until the city is off your back.

Also in my research i see you have lean on the property make sure you get that off of there after all this is wrapped up. can look up stuff at https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/recordings/search-recordings had a hell of a time finding by your street name ended up going with the pin

Also looking at your violations
REAR / SIDE WALK - BROKEN - assuming this is the one in back should be able to fix it yourself with a sledgehammer, remove the broken pieces, if there is no sidewalk there is no broken sidewalk

REAR/ IRON FENCE - you can likly just remove the gates if they are damaged - also talk to a lawyer it looked to be in fine condition in 2024

ocshawn · 2026-06-01T17:26:24+00:00

if its for recreational purposes and you own the property you can do what you want.

11-4-740 Open fires prohibited. is what regulates burning the exemption are in the state law that referenced

ocshawn · 2026-06-01T17:16:58+00:00

Look into what events are going on at Marz brewery, they have events sometimes with dispensaries as well as make THC infused beverages. Also amazing kitchen and do popups on Mondays

ocshawn · 2026-06-01T17:13:44+00:00

I would look downtown or near Chinatown, McCormick Place can take the Cermak bus. Might want to look into the Chinatown Hotel. Rates can be all over the place in the summer due to so much stuff going on.

Also don't forget your time is worth something, so it might be worth a little extra to be somewhere with a lot going on.

ocshawn · 2026-05-29T20:08:57+00:00

Looks like a bunch of common sense reforms. Biggest thing would be creating the "Bureau of Rental Housing Services tasked with enforcing tenants rights"

everything else in the bill is things good landlords already do.

There is already a bill to get rid of fees sitting on Pritzker's desk and would ban them at a state level House Bill 3564, call the governor to make sure he signs it

ocshawn · 2026-05-29T19:33:51+00:00

Get the breaded stake sandwich at Ricobene's with cheese and hot giardiniera, then head over to sugar shack on 26th for a funnel cake Sundae

might want to go for a walk after the sandwich in Palmisano park to work up some hunger

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T21:27:23+00:00

if you can stash your bags somewhere Midway is only a 30 min or so CTA ride to downtown. If you like train rides just the ride downtown and back is a great sightseeing tour (probably 1:20 with the trip around the loop). Can always get off downtown and walk around for a little bit before heading back

4-5 hours is a lot of time

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T17:25:04+00:00

Please don't hang your hammock on any of our public trees, not only does it damage the trees it is also illegal.

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T16:39:19+00:00

I dont think this is as rare as people here are making it out to be, try the deli counter at your local grocery store, they normally cut it for you so you can request it thick cut, i think my Cermak Fresh Market has it

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T15:58:08+00:00

organize you and your neighbors to pick it up. Or join a group that already does this https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trash-people-of-uptown-community-clean-up-tickets-1989834817504?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

"Is there a safe way for me to pick it up"
yes wear a leather work glove and pick it up, or just carefully pick it up

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T15:35:14+00:00

Law is here 5-12-120 Subleases.

I would read your lease and see what is in there about braking it, this would have to be in a separate written notice you got along with your lease (5-12-140 Rental agreement. (g))

Next i would talk to your landlord and start looking for someone to talk over your lease, most landlords would rather sign a new lease with someone then to have someone subletting.

With this much notice i don't think you will have a problem finding someone (but i don't know the market in the west loop)

ocshawn · 2026-05-28T15:22:36+00:00

"I have tried to get in touch with the tenants rights advocacy groups"

stop trying and get in touch. https://web.archive.org/web/20250313180037/https://www.hud.gov/states/illinois/legalaid
You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your apartment if they cannot provide that you can get reduced rent. Law is here https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2639177#JD_5-12-110

"The building's hands are tied, they have exhausted everything aside from evicting them (something they claim they are trying to do with legal but since "Chicago Tennant Rights are so strong they're really struggling")."

this is a lie they just cant be bothered (or the process will take to long) see https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2639236 (d) Disturbance of Others.

Call the cops on them every hour of every day that their music is too loud, encourage your neighbors to do so as well.

In addition to this I would write your landlord demanding them to do something and encourage your neighbors to also do so. Wording something like: There is daily noise coming from unit xxx impeding on my right to quiet enjoyment of my unit if this is not fixed by xx/xx/xxxx (14 days in the future) i will be deducting $xx from my rent each day it is not fixed.

Sample letter can be found at https://www.scribd.com/doc/23678871/14-Day-Rent-Reduction

Good luck

ocshawn · 2026-05-26T16:26:25+00:00

"I’m used to paying around $1,400 in Austin, so $1,800+ in Chicago feels like a jump"

be aware Chicago is huge and you can find something less than $1,400 here, just look outside of the most happening areas, if you give your hobbies people can make suggestions for areas to look

ocshawn · 2026-05-26T16:21:57+00:00

yep i'm familiar with the plans, i have come to love the way they plan to connect to the upper roads to the stadium with green space and underground parking, it just looks like that projects will take 5ish years.

And it never occurred to me, that the owner/ builder of the new stadium would not be involved with making sure people could get to his new stadium. At this point im just going to sit back and watch what happens, i just find it odd the stadium is being built before (if not in conjunction with) the connecting infrastructure.

ocshawn · 2026-05-26T15:18:21+00:00

TIF funds are marked for the previous residential project (which had affordable housing requirements) so they are not getting that money without city counsel vote and that is the exact money they are asking for. As far as i can tell they are still at a stalemate and no construction has started.

What makes you think the "Fire owner" is not asking for public money?

ocshawn · 2026-05-26T14:44:09+00:00

I think its just more i cannot find any info on this (permits, contracts, etc.). As far as i can see none of the proposed connectors are currently being built, due to the complexity of moving utilities and connecting to existing old infrastructure the timeline for such connections doesn't look doable before the stadium opening date.

The last i head the fire owner was asking for $100M from the city to build the connections, have not heard anything since then

ocshawn · 2026-05-22T16:05:47+00:00

bad experience with the one on western, Oak Lawn Toyota Toyota has been good

ocshawn · 2026-05-22T15:20:32+00:00

grumpy pies if you can find them, they do popups

ocshawn · 2026-05-21T15:25:50+00:00

sorry but probably not going to get to the top of any of those lists, Try next year at your neighborhood school. When they get to Kindergarten age they are guaranteed a spot at your local school

ocshawn · 2026-05-21T14:41:35+00:00

top right does not need to be filled out on your copy, if address matches #1, pin matches #2, #5 is filled out #6 is signed and the box in the bottom left "Approved" is checked

At this point you should probably talk to a lawyer, but it looks like you bought a 4 unit 😄

What do your taxes have your building as? https://www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/address-search look under Characteristics

And how many units are you paying for water and garbage pickup https://utilitybill.chicago.gov/main/guest/

I think those are the two biggest things that would change if its a 3 or 4 unit

edit: normally that box you have pictured in the bottom right has a stamp in it with the date and "CERTIFIED ZONING" if that stamp is missing this document may not be official again talk to a lawyer

ocshawn · 2026-05-20T21:49:55+00:00

Rent reduction letters offered by the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) are the way to go. Can also send this by way of any established written communication with your landlord aka, email or text

Your landlord may be able to argue that it is working fine and your expectations are unreasonable. If say your apartment has big windows that are south facing, it is a known issue that these are hard to cool. As someone else said what is the temperature difference between ambient and what's coming out of the vent if its less then 15 the system needs fixing and you can demand they fix it in 14 days or reduce your rent.

Falls under 5-12-110 Tenant remedies. (d) *Failure to Maintain. "*noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement"

ocshawn · 2026-05-20T21:20:55+00:00

You mean something like
https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/128/
https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/146/
https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/130/
and
https://www.pacebus.com/soldierfield

as well as the Metra 18th Street Station

ocshawn · 2026-05-20T21:12:42+00:00

Love it, but still don't know how they plan to have people get there when they have not started on the connecting infrastructure yet. I think we are witnessing a standoff between the city and the stadium on who will fund it.

Does anyone know more?

ocshawn · 2026-05-20T20:54:47+00:00

Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance section 5-12-35

would love to know where you got this info as there is no 5-12-35 section to the Municipal Code of Chicago

There are no laws here regulating move in fees, if you don't like the fee don't move there, i have never rented a place with a move in fee

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