Oakland

"I’ve lived here for 20 years and it has actually gotten better. The crime rate has decreased drastically. "

"close to the beach and not far from restuarants, good schools and convenient to public transportation "

"Okay this area is great if you work downtown and want the feel of living in a quiet suburb. The only place to live is on Drexel Blvd. The park across the street is great if you are a dog person. But its important to pick the right blocks. From 43rd street up to the fountain and track-that is for the most part condo owners and sfh owners-not rental units so that is the best area of the ENTIRE BLVD. Also so easy to get to 55, I90/94 and LSD and the city from here. Lots of city workers live down here, teachers and some federal workers are in our condo building as well as people who work for U of Chicago hospital and university. The crime is far more south and west of cottage grove. I don't see it in our neighborhood. If you have kids in the neighborhood, you send them to the Catholic school around the corner. Or the Chicago lab school. I would never send my kids to CPS schools. My neighbor's little girl goes to a school where you have to test into over in Dearborn park which is close. There are also charter schools in the neighborhood. The neighborhood has a long way to go in terms of restaurants and walkability. We have lived here for 9 years and are dog oriented and really like it because of that. Its not dog crowded and people are social in the park. Pitbulls are welcome and dogs of all sizes must be leashed and you gotta pick up. This is a car neighborhood. There is a whole foods coming around 6 blocks away in about a year -we go to roosevelt for all things grocery so this has never bothered me and we go to Medici and restaurants on 53rd to eat often. Its coming along. I'm not a hyde park fan. Its too crowded to park on the street and not car friendly and I'm a car lover-hate public transportation. But many in my building do walk a block over to take the bus to work. You get a lot of space for your money down here. That is the main reason why people move here. You have a family and work in the city and can't afford suburban ridiculous property taxes-"