Supporting your hot rod habbit in Chicago...

Not totally off topic considering the dilemmas we face for space while building rods... bare with me if you live in the Chicago area...

Okay, I suddenly found myself in a life change this weekend and may possibly be moving to Chicago middle of next year (sooner than expected). Well, as a lot of us do, I've got a hot rod addiction and am not willing to part with tools and cars to make the move. That leaves me in the position of having to find a place on my own that I can not only live but have "the man cave" to build.

What are my options in the Chicago area? I won't know exactly what part until I get a job, but I'm guessing I will end up somewhere on the North side because of family location. I was hoping to maybe find an apartment or condo and then maybe rent a seperate shop space where I can build and have some machining tools and such. Is this an unrealistic idea that's going to land me in a house with a three car garage in the burbs or is it possible to have an arrangement like this? I would appreciate some suggestions from you Chi-town folks and the Chrome Czars of course. I'm interested in whatever suggestions or comments you may have for getting a good start w/out compromising the build situation.

Thanks!
Scooter

 

scooter
i forgot what kind of work you do
i live up north in the burbs and my wife works down town
she takes the train, works out good. You're not going to want to drive
property is super pricey in the city and its at least livable up in the burbs but not cheap by any means
too bad you not moving sooner, my parents are selling there place
in the burbs
3 bed full finished ba*****t 24x24 attached and 26x30 detached on almost an acre
tom

 

Chicago has a lot to offer. Renting shop space is going to be difficult and could get expensive depending on the location in the city. It looks like the suburban house and garage may be more suited for your needs . You will probably need an inquiry visit to get familiar with the area and prices.

Larry

 

Oh man... that would be good too! Yeah, I'm moving in with some family eek: ) in the mean time to save some money to either buy, or just to elliminate my debt...

I'm a Mechanical Engineer. I'm hoping to focus some attention to the hot rod scene though. Even if I have to have something going on the side. One of the first things I would like to do when I get to Chicago is get some kind of business license for the Freelance CAD work I do and focus it towards our scene. I'm still going to be working for the man for long time to come, but I need to start getting myself to the position where I can go out on my own everntually... At least that's the hopes and goals anyway... Something to drive for. Tom, we'll be in touch for sure! If I recall, you're in the Highland Park-ish area?? Is that right??

Larry, yes I have a feeling you're right. I may end up in the burbs. I know realestate is at a premium and especially IN the city. I'm hoping to come out in the next few months to check out the situation. My Sister and her husband know the areas pretty well and should be able to give me some insight, I think...

 

It's going to be really hard to make a decision until you know where your job is. But Des Plaines is nice. Park Ridge is nice. I live in Forest Park, on the west side, and it is nice. There are all kinds of places to live that will fit the bill. Just depends on where you are going to work.

 

i actually live in gurnee
its about 10 miles from highland park
mike zenor lives in highland park.. i think
there is a pretty good following in the are though
hell i just read that there is a nos set of 60hp ardun heads within a few miles of me
tom

 

I live IN Chicago... on t he south side and it's kind of a ghetto, but most of our neighbors are nice. you just have to pick the right neighborhood. property is CHEAP down here... cheaper than WI. Anyway, I used to live on t he Northside of the city and it's much nicer up there, but the traffic is a lot worse and rent is expensive and you can't buy a house for under 250 and condos start at around 100. single car garage spots on the northside start at around $75 and can be as high as $200 a month.

 

Sounding like I'm just going to have to take some time and come out and look at areas. I know it's hard to give me a specific answer... or should I say impossible... but I thought I would throw it out there and see what kind of input I could get from you chicago peeps... Your input is appreciated for sure! Thanks!

Feel free to keep throwing ideas out there. Would like to hear what you guys have running around in your nuggets about moving to chicago with a hot rod in the works...

 

come to the pile-up and hang out for a day or so
tk

 

When's the pile up this year?

 

Yeah, take a long weekend and hit the Pileup too. Where does the family live?

Oct 14

 

Both Zenor and I live in Deerfield, which is about 20 miles north of Chicago, and about 5 miles west of the lake. It's a real nice area, but housing prices on the north shore are pretty high. If you want to give me a call, shoot me a pm and I'll send you my phone number.

 

Aww man! Of all weekends, it just had to be THAT one! My whole family is going to be HERE that weekend for what was supposed to be my wedding day (don't ask). So that will pretty much be out... DAMN! I totally would to! I was hoping you would say the weekend before or after that weekend. Anything else coming up around that time?

My Sister and Husband live on W. Belmont currently (few blocks from Wrigley), but are planning a move to the Highland park area for a career move in the near future. They're trying to get me to go in a nice house with them in that area, but when my Sis' said the Model A will probably have to sit outside I knew what the answer to that solution was... (imagine the response in my head ) Sometimes it's hard to explain to people our p***ion for car building... it didn't even bother trying.

 

I live in Lyons, which is south west of the city. It's not a bad place to live. Houses are affordable in Lyons and Brookfield. I can get on 55 in seconds and 294 is not that far away. But then it all matters where the new gig is.

 

Will do! I was actually looking for stuff in the Deerfield area at one point before I decided to stay here longer. Now the idea has resurfaced and I could use a "clean slate" change of scenery... Sending you a PM...

 

Highland Park is big money, and they won't appreciate the rusty junk in and around the garage.

 

Pefect! ... except for the big money part.. I'll make a point to drive up there as much as possible though.

 

Berwyn is still pretty affordable and most houses have garages, some of them 2-3 car garages. You may have to use 290 to get to it and 290 ****s 24-7. 55 is close and usually pretty clear

 

scooter, PM me if you get some time. I'm a real estate appraiser and I work all over Chicagoland, including the South Side. Not all of its a ghetto but it can change in a hurry. If you put some bullet-proof siding on the house you can pick up a steal in Englewood, Roseland or Robbins.

I can give you some idea of how far your money will go and where it may be best spent depending on your situation. If your coming from Vegas, housing prices may not be too much of a shock for you but even I'm floored sometimes.

I have the same access to listings as Realtors do and I'm not going to try to sell you a house. I'll be glad to give you a hand and help you find an area that may suit your needs. Of course I'll need a ride in the Murray as payment.

 

DEAL! If it's not done when I get there, you need to come over, have some beers and help me finish the thing! I will definitely be in touch with you about realestate! Nice to know we have even our own HAMB resource for realestate! I'll be in touch when I know more about my situation!

You guys rule! Thanks everyone for your input!! Feeling better about the moving potential now. I'm REALLY liking the sound of the hot rod scene also!

 

heh heh! I live in Englewood! parts are scary, parts aren't. It depends on where you are. let's just say I don't take nightly strolls through the neighborhood.

I have friends around 111th and there are some REALLY nice houses down there, and they're affordable.

I've lived in the City since 1988, so I can help with some advice, but I don't know the suburbs at all.

 

We are you at? 71st and Aberdeen? Yikes!!!! I've got some funnyt stares down that way while measuring a house.

As you get closer to Beverly things get much nicer and they're still very affordable comparatively speaking.

 

Hellfishandchips... urban pioneer.

 

Scooter. I'm actually from the Deerfield - Highland Park area myself. If you need to live in the northshore, you might want to think about renting a shop space somewhere nearby. Family still all there along with lots of friends. I could ask around for you once I have a better idea what you're looking for. PM me if you're interested.

 

yeah, they call me Davey Crockett... 67th and Ashland.

Beverly is kind of nice. right by 57 and 94, too

oh yeah, FYI, if you choose to live IN the City, be prepared to get reemed on vehicle taxes. You'll get off a lot easier if your car is registered as an antique with the state... but you'll be officially limited on when you can drive it... not that the city cops give a hoot... but suburban cops are *****s.

 

No they're not, you just have bad luck.

In fact, I am friends with one.

 

yeah, I overstated myself. They're not *****s, just far more likely to pull you over for an obscure violation (like blue dots), or for running antique plates.

 

There are alot of really nice places around Hammond and Gary Ind, BBBAAAHHHH, HAH!

 

Scooter: Ditto what 392_hemi said... drop me a PM. You're an ex-hawkeye, no?

Deerfield/Highland Park is fairly expensive, but there's a wide of range... typical older 3 br ranch will go for $500k-$800k, new knockdown McMansions $1.2m and up. But there are a few smaller cottages (usually w/ 2br and a 1 car garage) that can be had for $350k-$400k. There are some condos, but anything with covered parking is gonna run > $450k.

There is some sticker shock here if you're not coming from California or NY, but housing values here are very solid and continue to rise. Deerfield has virtually no crime and local schools are some of the very best in Chicagoland (and even the US).

if you want to shop around some, go to Realtor.com - they will have most of the house for sale in the area.

 

Ex-Hawkeye! Yep! We'll be in touch for sure!

Sticker shock, no... I'm in VEGAS! Housing median is around $300K for a **** shack now it seems. I own nothing, so I don't have equity to invest. I will probably come out when/if I get a job lined up, rent something with a garage to see how I feel about the place (never REALLY know until you live somewhere) and then look into buying. Shoot... on a single income I'm probably SOL with most of the prices... All will be figure out in time... One thing is for sure... I would rather pay $300K for a house in Chicago that's worth it's money, is built more substantially and actually has a ba*****t! Why am I even talking about $300k anyway? I can't afford that!

One life step at a time... getting there and having a roof for myself and the rod... I'll worry a little more about it next year...