<p>I love River North. Wife and I have a weekend place there right off the Ohio Street exit from 90.</p>
<p>It is about nine blocks from North Michigan with its shopping and movie theaters. There are lots of restaurants including a Lou Malnati’s within three blocks and a number of high end ones like Gene and Georgetti; there are banks and drug and hardware stores and a delis within a block or two and lots and lots of clubs and a Binny’s. MacMall is opening a new store right across the street from us, and an upscale cupcake place is half a block away. </p>
<p>On weekends our part of River North is crawling with lots of 20 somethings going to the area clubs. They do not create the problems that you see around Wrigley. There is a Brown Line stop at the Merchandise Mart, which is only a few blocks from our place, and a Red Line stop is about five blocks away. The area is safe as far as I can tell. In the summertime the drive to the Oak St. Beach is only ten minutes. There is a bus that runs right in front of our place (the 65) that goes to the Navy Pier. There is a dog park right behind the Office Depot across the street. You can walk to the theater district on the other side of the Chicago River.</p>
<p>We couldn’t be happier. We have a spectacular view towards the Lake, which includes the Trump Tower and all sort of high rises. On Saturday nights we can see the fireworks sent high into the sky over the Navy Pier. We will, however, not be able to resell it for anything near what we paid for it, which was almost 10% less then the original buyers paid. Don’t care.</p>
<p>All in all a perfect place for us. Every time we go we feel like we are on vacation.</p>
<p>Thanks tsdad! My younger S is likely one of the 20 somethings at the clubs in your neighborhood. He’s mentioned it as one of the neighborhoods he might look in this summer for a post-graduation apartment. I have only driven through at night (isn’t Coco Pazzo in River North?) so I don’t have a good sense of what River North is like.</p>
<p>My first visit to Chicago two years ago and I stayed at newly opened Kimpton Palomar Hotel in River North. (Crazy great opening special rate- lovely time with daughter)
River North doesn’t seem to have the “community” tree lined vibe Lincoln Park has, or other neighborhoods. Correct me if I’m wrong TS Dad. Your high rise, is quite contained, and you don’t need to leave it for groceries, gym ect. right ?
Isn 't River North known for large number of art galleries and restaurants opening in the area? </p>
<p>ImoreMom- mentioned the Rush street nightlife. There is a little European triangular shaped park, tiny but so sweet, with twinkling lights, gelato stand, florist, in the middle of the bustling fine dining area of Rush street. Love that area!!!</p>
<p>For much cheaper rent and safer (look it up) stay by the blue CTA line (O’Hare to downtown) and look further north in Mayfair and Jefferson Park. The Metra train lines also run though there. And the Edens/Kennedy expressway junction. Park in front of your building. Walk to the blue line.</p>
<p>When comparing rent prices, make sure you know what utilities are included.</p>
<p>Palomar has a great restaurant in it, the Sable. We have eaten there several times. I actually learned about here on CC. Coco Pazzo is only a few blocks away from our place. We haven’t eaten there. </p>
<p>River North is very urban, which as weekend people is what we wanted. We have plenty of trees and community in Madison. Our high rise has few amenities; a small gym, no outside communal space, we have balconies, but it has 24-hours door people, which is expensive but great. We do know some of the people in the building to chat with when we see them, but have not made any friends. </p>
<p>There is a brand new JewelOsco on Kinzie & Des Plaines about 5 minutes by car right by Blommer’s chocolate factory. Our part of RN often smells of chocolate. </p>
<p>BTW, Chicago has a number of discount cleaners and we bring our dry cleaning to Chicago. It’s only $2.49 per item. The one we go to is on Broadway right off of Diversy in Lincoln Park.</p>
<p>Yes there are lots of restaurants, including some touristy stuff like Gino’s East (avoid it) some art galleries but lots and lots of very high end home furnishing stores because of the Merchandise Mart being in the area.</p>
<p>tsdad - do you have any specific recommendations for realtors/complexes to look for in RiverNorth? This would be to buy an apt, not rent…thanks.</p>
<p>I’ve PM’d you. Didn’t wanted to publicly display the information since it shows exactly where we live. </p>
<p>I cannot recommend a realtor. The fellow who sold us our place closed his office and went to @properties. They managed our building for a year, but the HOA in a very sharply worded letter notified the owners that they were dropping them. The Board was not pleased. I don’t know if this says anything about their realtors.</p>
<p>When looking at Chicago condos make sure that the price does or does not include the parking spot. It often does not and can be up to $50,000 extra in a high end building. Usually though it is $20,000-25,000 for an indoor space.</p>
<p>Regarding condos in Chicago, I noticed some high rise buildings which had been owner occupied during the real estate boom, now seem to be in dire circumstances and are accepting renters. </p>
<p>The downside seems to be complaints about maintenance, and overall condition of these properties.
The foreclosure market impacted some of those high rises, so I’d factor that in as a buyer or renter, too.
Reading on ApartmentRatings or ApartmentReviews can be enlightening, although you have to weed out the disgruntled tenant who didn’t get all their deposit back.</p>
<p>Came into Chicago last night. Lots of people on the street, and many restaurants were serving outside.</p>
<p>If our building is typical, based on what I saw in the elevator today, the 20 somethings, to quote the Coneheads, will be consuming mass quantities. </p>
<p>As for the weather,absolutely perfect.</p>
<p>For comments on housing in Chicago see cribchatter.com. Read with a grain of salt. Many of the commenters don’t like anything (or anyone for that matter).</p>