Thinking About Moving to the Loop

Hi Marlene,

In response to your question about rearing a family downtown. You can do it, but since you're thinking of having more children it'll be tough. At first your neighbors may be accommodating, but then as the children get older there may be problems because of the noise, strollers, etc. You can also use the monthly assessment fee as extra college funds, shopping for the children's growing needs, etc.

The drive home may be a bit long, but that could be as extra down time for your child and as the child speaks more some quality time for you all of you.

As a Realtor I can't believe I just talked you out of selling and buying. But, as a Mom I rather have the comforts of a single family home for my family. I co-owned a building with my brother-in-law. He was great, but after he passed away and his heir moved in, the comments, snid remarks, etc started to come forth. Due to other problems we sold the building and haven't looked back. In fact, my husband couldn't stop apologizing for not selling the building earlie as I'd suggested.

M.,
Consider Laura D and Michele M's advice...they both brought up really wonderful points, especially about the school system. research the schools, private or good schools usually have a waiting list or lottery card held before the school season. If your justing looking to enjoy the commute time and the lux of the city for a few years thats great, then move on to the burbs where the kids can really let lose and go to wonderful schools like we did when we were children (I'm 42 ) when they get older that a thought. However if your thinking of raising your children, I would consider a safe quite area, like the Gold coast. The shools are good and private, but they are expensive. But if your just looking to live down town, pick your stop at Mil park and move to Oak park when they get to elementary grade. However you look at it,...you'll need the space for all the children, and elevators can be a hassle when your strolling the chldren around, even if it is only just 1.

Good luck and let us know, how it works out.
I live in the gold coast, but will be moving to Burr Ridge.

I have lived in the south loop for the past 10 years and now that I have a 15 month old, i can't see myself anywhere else! i love the diversity of living downtown and the fact that there are always families outside strolling (weather permitting, of course!). there are two parks in walking distance where i live and tons of stuff for children to do with the museum campus so close. i live in a highrise and the building is full of couples w/young children. i'd love for him to have a yard to play in but i dread the thought of moving to the burbs! i'm going to stick it out as long as i can in the loop area and only then will i consider oak park (the only suburb which still has a city feel to it.) hope this is an encouragement!

N.

We live in a two bedroom condo in the city and it's much smaller than yours--it's GREAT! We childproofroofed the balcony of course, but we love it. There are a lot of families with children in the city and tons of parks and playgroups. I say go for it! You can always move back the burbs when your daughter is older.

go for it!!!!!!!!! we moved from the loop to the burbs and I...soo miss the city!! that sounds like an incredible situation!!

A townhome in Old Town is another option -- as houses in that area are VERY expensive. I drive and it takes me 15-20 minutes (from desk to door) to get home during rush hour. Plus, close to park, lake, zoo -- we love it!

Hi! Well, I am not living the condo life anymore but I was up until my daughter was 18 months so I am happy to share my experiences and opinions. We were living in the South Loop right on Michigan Ave, and it was a fabulous location - we loved it! And still miss it to some extent. However, what I have found is that while condo life can be doable, it is definitely a short-term option with children.

In our case, we had only a 2 bedroom/2 bath with 1 balcony, so we felt cramped for space as soon as my daughter started walking. For you, having the extra bedroom and family room will give your child a play area (which you will find you'll need more and more as your daughter gets older) so that helps. However, once you add to your brood, I think you'll find that you miss your house and yard. There was a young family who lived in our building - they actually lived next door to us. They had 3 kids, oldest was about 8, and lived in a 3 bedroom with a family room as well. I will tell you that those kids were ALWAYS playing in the hallway. Having a child myself, I was a bit more understanding, but having a soccer ball kicked against your door every afternoon gets to be a bit annoying. Many times we would see them riding bikes or playing hockey in the building's garage. Not only was this frustrating as a driver, but it is so unsafe! Often, they could also be found running around the lobby chasing each other. It was aggrevating but honestly, where else were they supposed to go? I can remember thinking to myself, I wish these people would move and buy their children a house that they could play in! I felt terrible for them that they were confined to a condo building.

Honestly, this is one of the main reasons we decided to move -not because they were a bother, but because we saw how important it is for kids to have space to play. It was like seeing the future. It was harder to realize it when our daughter was just an infant, but the older she got the more we could tell - she needed a home. Even with parks just a few blocks away and a pool in your building, we have a lot of bad weather in Chicago. Not just winter days, but rainy spring and summer days too. Let's not forget, you need to escort your child to go and play in a park - something you won't really choose to do when the weather is not great (even if you think you will). And let's face it, you won't want to go as often as they'll want to! We now have a 4 bedroom house with a full finished basement and a yard - I can send my daughter (now over 2 years old) outside to play in the back while I watch her from the kitchen as I do dishes. Rainy days are no problem - she has a full play area in the basement. And when it snows, we can play outside in it but then come back in right away as soon as we are done - no need to walk to and fro, which can be no fun in the snow.

All this being said, I completely understand your desire to eliminate your commute. My husband's job is downtown - moving to the burbs would mean a long commute and less time with our family. For this reason, we chose the Bridgeport neighborhood for our home. So now, I am just going to throw this out there incase you have not considered the area already. This is none of my business, I know, but I just came from the neighborhood you're considering and I know what the condos there are going for, especially the size and location you are considering. You could get a FANTASTIC house in Bridgeport for that money and still eliminate your commuting issue. We are literally 6 minutes from our old condo. We still have easy access to everything downtown. We are close to public transportation. And just a quick 4 minute drive to the lakefront. I go to the same supermarket, salon, and doctors' offices. True, these things are not at our doorstep like they once were, but that is life with a child - we had to make some of those sacrifices, but honestly not that many. We still have most of the amenities we love about the city. It was a win-win for all of us.

I know Bridgeport does not have a glamourous reputation - we are yuppies who were a bit turned off by it's blue collar-ness, if you will. But there are so many young families like ours moving here it is unbelievable. The houses that are being built here would astonish you. And Bridgeport is slated to be the next big development area after the South Loop. This is where developers are coming now that the SL market has become saturated. Main street retail areas are planned for major renovations and there are a number of tear-down/rebuilds being done on most blocks. We've been told that over the next 7-10 years, we can expect our home value to increase between 25-50% (if this housing market ever turns back around!!).

Anyway, I am not meaning for this to turn into a sales pitch for Bridgeport! I just wanted to give you some insight into our situation because I think it is very similar to yours. We were looking for many of the same things you are, and we found the answers here, right next door to the South Loop. Either way, I hope this will be helpful as you consider your all of your choices. The city has tons of great options, that's for sure. Whatever you decide, I wish you happy house hunting! : )

Have you looked into a house in Lincoln Park or Lakeview? The housing market is VERY favorable and you really get the best of all worlds. The houses are smaller and the yards are smaller, but at least there is a yard and there are tons of families and parks around.

We live in a condo in Lakeview and we have two kids. We love condo living. We have a little grocery downstairs, and a dry-cleaners that does laundry. I love that. It's very easy to get cabs/busses to the city and it's not far at all (my husband's commute is 12 minutes door-to-door, but then again, he leaves at 5:30 am and takes a cab... It would be more like 30 minutes if he took the bus and it was rush hour). There are lots of families around and family things to do.

We like the condo thing. We both grew up in condos. My sister raised two boys in a condo. It's true that they get a little stir crazy, but you have to help them channel that energy. We have a trampoline, a slide, a spin-around, a nylon tunnel... You get the idea. Most of the year it's too cold to be outside anyway. Also, my kids go to daycare, so they expend a lot of energy there. By the time they are home, they are more mellow. Weekends we tire them out at the zoo, aquarium, etc.

So condo is doable, but you have to rethink commonplace ideas about what kids "need" and be creative about channeling their energy.

Good luck!
R.

Research your school options unless you think you'll only be in the loop for a couple of years. It's hard to get into private schools and you need to be diligent about your research to find the best public schools for your child.

Here's my neighborhood pitch: Hyde Park is easily accessible to the loop (less than 10 minute drive, access via Metra (and bus if you're really an urban dweller)). You can get a lot more for your money plus you're surrounded by a LOT of green space and the lake. It's truly a city in a garden.

Hi M.,
YOU WILL MISS YOUR YARD. Common areas & parks are fine, but a yard that's yours where you can keep toys & bikes is really invaluable. Your baby is not at the rambunctious 2's yet & you have no idea how you will value your own outside space. Once they get older they will want to ride bikes & scooters & going on the elevater with 2 to 3 bikes with little ones is not very fun. Don't forget little girls wanting to do outside tea parties like Alice In Wonderland. Also, kids are constantly wanting to go in & out, either for a snack or to go potty or to grab a different toy (the list goes on) & if you're in a high rise that flexability is gone. I mean who wants to pack a suit case every time you go out to play. By the time you pack all the things you think you could possibly need, a half an hour has past while the kids are whining that they want to go now & you will inevitably forget something or it's not the right toy, etc. There's a reason so many families move from the city. It's not because they don't like city life, it's because of the schools & the yard & the snooty non kid people.

I used to live downtown but it wasn't a great location for a baby and so moved to Oak Park, which is just passed the city limits and only takes 25-30 mins in on the EL. Personally, I would be terrified of having a balcony with a baby/toddler. My little one is always trying to climb etc. Also, normally there isn't as much space in a condo compared to a house. You could move to a townhouse in Little Italy area or I highly recommend Oak Park. I live there for a lot of reasons but one is that it is relatively quick to get downtown. Or there are townhomes closer in than Rogers Park that would shorten your commute. the thing I find that I like the most is having neighbors with kids and hanging out in the backyard in the spring/summer evenings, chatting, sometimes grilling. My neighbor's toddlers come to our sandpit and play with my little one. There are over 30 children on my block and so it really has the feel of family. I never got that in a condo.

I personally think you should keep your house. I am from Iowa where the yards are big with swingsets, treehouses, sandboxes, and plenty of space to run around. My son covets his time at my mom's house. He just loves to play outside, and its such a relief to say "go outside and play". You also have to consider how you will do birthday parties, holiday gatherings, etc. Having a yard is a blessing for those things. Also think about what you will do with your kids when they are older. Will she want to jump rope? Will your future son want to throw a ball around with his friends? Another thought....As you increase your brood, and the baby is sick, what will your older child do on a bright sunny day? Have to sit inside because you can't take the baby out. And none of the above can happen if you have to go all the way to millenium park. And as your family grows, I suspect you will be working less and less. If you work in the same building and her daycare is right there, do you take public trans or do you drive? Might be worth the $$ to drive, and if you are all together during the commute that's great family time right there! You can eat breakfast, sing songs, talk about the day ahead and before, etc. together! btw, if you do decide to make the move, let me know, I might buy your house!

The only potential drawback would be if there weren't any other children with whom your daughter could play.

Otherwise, you're entitled to live wherever the hey you want. There are discrimination laws to back you up. DH and I are apartment dwellers. We try to keep our 3 yo from jumping and stomping around, especially in the AM's. There is just going to be a certain amount of noise involved with a young kid, however. If my downstairs neighbors have a serious noise issue, they can come and talk with us. I will accommodate them, but only within reason.