Albany Park anyone

jenlenth

Does anyone have thoughts on buying/living in Albany Park? I lived in the city from 1994-2006 in a variety of north-side neighborhoods. We are now planning on relocating back to the city this summer. We're seeing a lot of condo development in Albany Park. We like it because of the Brown Line proximity, but not sure there's enough entertainment/retail etc. in that area for us. Any thoughts, anyone?  We like Lincoln Square, but seems like we can get a lot more for our money in A.P.

kleen

Where in Albany Park? 

I think there is a lot more to do in Lincoln Square.  However, if you are in the right sopt in AP you might be close to some retail and restaurants. 

 

joelen&louis

AP is a great neighborhood for its diversity. I think it was named one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. With the diversity comes lots of easy access to various cuisines and stores/shops. With the brown line running through it, its easy to commute to/from AP into downtown.

 

AMG_2007

I love Albany Park - great for your $, and the neighborhood is really diverse and cute.  It was actually my preference when we were looking, but we ended up finding "the place" in Old Irving.  I have friends who live at Sacramento and Montrose, and they love it - never afraid alone at night, parks for their little boy and their dog, cheap haircuts, lots of places to eat, decent daycare. 

You can walk to Lincoln Square in the summer, plus being off the brown line puts you easily into Ravenswood, Roscoe Village (when the construction is done), Lakeview, and LP.

lbj

We have been living in Albany Park for a few years now. I like living here for the most part. There are some great restaurants nearby. I like the diversity. Street parking is always available. Real estate prices are not as crazy as other parts of Chicago. There is a great large park nearby. The Blue Line is also accessible (the Belmont or Irving Park stations, which are short bus rides away). The negative -- from a dining/shopping perspective, it is not like Lakeview or Lincoln Park at all. I used to live in those areas, and sometimes I miss that I had so much to do within a block away. But oh well, you take the good with the bad.

moreace01

I'm also in Albany Park. Been there for two years. It's nice because it's close to the freeway (both 90 and 94 - which was one of the reasons we chose it cause we used to work in the burbs) plus walking distance to the Brown Line. Lots of development going on there. It's really picking up. And if you have a chance to check out Ravenswood Manor - do it. It is beautiful! It's the area where Blagovich lives. Anyway, there are a number of great restaurants (Noon O Kebab, Semirami's, Arun's, etc). You are right - not a lot of shopping (clotheswise), but lots of great fruit markets and it's close to a Jewel and the Whole Foods up on Peterson. Finally - as pp said, parking is not really an issue - which is a major plus for me cause I can't parallel park. Ok, and we are within walking distance of Horner Park which is one of the biggest parks in the city. Really it's a great "up and coming" area. I'm not saying there's any nepotism, but I think the fact that Alderman Mell is related to Blagovich has something to do with why the streets are pretty nice and the crime is relatively low for the city. I could be wrong...

daisybride78

One of my close friends just closed on a condo in Albany Park yesterday.  She was able to get so much more for her money there, and really its not all that far from Lincoln Square/North Center!