c/chicago-relocation

The week I moved to Logan Square was pure chaos - anyone else have a brutal first week?

I landed a job in the loop and thought I found the perfect apartment on Milwaukee Ave. But my first Monday morning, the Blue Line was so packed I had to let three trains pass before I could squeeze on. I barely made it to work on time, and by Wednesday my moving company canceled last minute and I was hauling boxes up three flights of stairs in the rain. So which is worse for a newcomer - the commute shock or the moving logistics?

3 comments

johnson.jason•14d ago

Tired of everyone saying Lincoln Park is the only safe neighborhood for families

I keep seeing posts from people moving here with kids, and every single comment says move to Lincoln Park or get out. I have lived in Portage Park for 5 years with my two kids and never had a single problem. We have a huge backyard, good schools within walking distance, and my rent is $1,400 less than my friend pays for a one bedroom in Lincoln Park. Has anyone else found a hidden gem neighborhood that gets ignored for families?

2 comments

gracewebb•15d ago

Question about using neighborhood Facebook groups to find a rental in Logan Square

I spent 3 months fighting with Zillow and hotpads in Chicago, getting nowhere. Then I joined 4 local Logan Square Facebook groups and found a place in 6 days by just posting what I needed. Landlord was a guy who never lists online and had a 2-bedroom for $1,400. Has anyone else had luck skipping the big sites for finding apartments here?

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ray363•17d ago

3 years in Lincoln Park taught me something about winter parking

Last week I watched a guy spend 15 minutes digging out a space he'd shoveled hours earlier, only to have someone else grab it. That was me my first winter here. After 3 years of street parking, I finally realized saving spots with lawn chairs is a Chicago tradition, not just laziness. My neighbor Mike explained it to me after I got an earful moving his orange cone - he's been parking on the same block since 2017. Has anyone else had to learn the unwritten parking rules the hard way?

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tara_jones94•17d ago

That first week in Chicago felt like a fever dream

Moved here last August from a small town in Ohio and I swear the first 7 days were a total blur. I remember walking down Michigan Avenue on a Tuesday morning and some guy just handed me a flyer for a free comedy show that night. Ended up going alone, sat next to a random couple who bought me a beer and gave me tips on which el stops to avoid after 11pm. That same week I got lost in Pilsen trying to find a taco spot and stumbled into a mural walk instead. I think what hit me hardest was how friendly strangers actually are here despite the whole "Chicago attitude" stereotype. The noise and the smells and the way people just talk to you on the bus threw me off for a solid month. Has anyone else had a first week here that was just completely wild and unexpected?

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the_joel•17d ago

I finally stopped listening to people who say you gotta live downtown to 'really experience Chicago'

Overheard a guy at a Logan Square coffee shop last week bragging about how he'd never leave the Loop for anything, and honestly, after 2 years in Humboldt Park, I think those folks are missing out on the actual neighborhoods that make this city feel real.

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nancyw97•18d ago

PSA: The 90-day parking grace period for city stickers actually got me a $75 ticket

I moved to Wrigleyville last month and thought I had until July 26 to get my city sticker because of the 90-day rule. Well the meter maid didn't care one bit and slapped a $75 ticket on my windshield yesterday. Anyone else get caught by this same trick or is it just me?

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the_adam•20d ago

Just moved to Logan Square from the suburbs and the noise difference is wild

I came from a quiet cul-de-sac where the loudest thing was lawnmowers, and now I've got car alarms and bass thumping at 2 AM from three different directions. After two weeks here I finally learned to sleep with earplugs and a white noise machine. How long did it take you guys to adjust to city noise?

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jessica_hall49•20d ago

Paying for a storage unit for 6 months before I even moved here was such a waste

I put $1,200 into a storage unit in the suburbs back in January thinking I'd move into my apartment by March. Well my lease fell through, then I had to stay with my cousin in Ohio for 3 extra months while I sorted things out. All that money just to keep a couch and some boxes I could have sold and rebought here. Anyone else pay for stuff way too early before actually getting to Chicago?

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terry_jones•20d ago

Tried moving here without visiting first. Big mistake.

I flew into O'Hare on a Friday and signed a lease on a place in Logan Square from a video tour. Got here and the heat doesn't work, my neighbor blasts reggaeton at 3am, and I'm paying $1,800 for a so-called 'renovated' unit with a stove from 1987. Learned my lesson the hard way. Anyone else get burned by a rental sight unseen?

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the_matthew•23d ago

Hot take: The first apartment I toured in Logan Square was a total setup

I spent two weeks stressing about how small the unit was until a local told me the landlord staged it with a tiny bed and undersized furniture to make the rooms look bigger. Now I always bring a tape measure and ask for the actual square footage - has anyone else fallen for this trick?

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lopez.simon•24d ago

My buddy who moved to Logan Square swore I had to use a broker for my apartment hunt

I ignored him and went direct with landlords on Zillow, ended up paying $200 less a month for a bigger place in Avondale, so now I'm wondering if brokers are even worth it for anyone moving here.

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emmaallen•24d ago

Reebie vs New City Movers for a local Chicago move?

Hey everyone, we are moving from Lincoln Park to Lakeview next month and are currently gathering quotes. Has anyone used Reebie or New City Movers? Both gave us pretty comparable estimates, but I want to make sure we go with a reliable crew who won't damage our furniture or ding up the walls. Any experiences with either of these companies?

3 comments