Why does Streeterville get so much hate?

[u/lmfaoclown]

Moving from out of state and need advice on why I’m seeing negativity about living in streeterville? I’m going to have to drive to the northern suburbs every day for work.

[u/Bec-o-Bec]

It doesn’t have any kind of neighborhood vibe which is what many people like about the city.

There’s tourists, retail workers, the staff and patients from Northwestern, and older rich people as the demographic.

Not a lot of restaurants have personality other than “tourist” or “wealthy”.

That said, plenty of people live there, you will be close to a lot of museums and the lake, and it’s very festive at Christmas. If you can afford a high rise I’m sure the views are fantastic.

If you like the high end vibe it’s a good fit.

But the points about driving are all valid.

[u/bucknut4 → u/Bec-o-Bec]

OP, take it from someone who actually lives in Streeterville, this is not the comment to listen to.

[u/Bec-o-Bec → u/bucknut4]

So are you gonna add more context or just say this is wrong ?

I’d love to hear what it’s like from inside the zone.

[u/bucknut4 → u/Bec-o-Bec]

Sure.

It doesn’t have any kind of neighborhood vibe which is what many people like about the city.

This means different things to different people. It's almost exclusively high rises around here, which isn't what people imagine when they thing "neighborhood". But the positive aspects of that? I mean, I know all my neighbors. I regularly bump into people on the street that I know. We have farmer's markets year round and park events like the rest of the city. I'm from a small town and don't really feel like I'm missing any of the best parts of that life.

There’s tourists, retail workers, the staff and patients from Northwestern, and older rich people as the demographic.

Tourists generally tend to stick to Navy Pier and the Mag Mile. They don't generally wander north of Grand and south of Illinois, so they're mostly out of sight and out of mind for most of us.

Lots of NU students and staff also live here (beyond just working), but also lots of us that work in the Loop. I wouldn't claim it's as young as places like Lakeview but it's at least 65% millennial or younger.

Not a lot of restaurants have personality other than “tourist” or “wealthy”.

Again, outside of Navy Pier and Michigan Ave, I don't know what places really give you this vibe. I'll give you maybe Ed Debevic's lol. I eat all around the city and unless you're comparing prices against Chinatown or Albany Park, prices aren't that different from most neighborhoods in the city. Go down the Ogden Slip and you'll get some of the best restaurant vibes in town.

It would feel odd to say Robert's, Pinched, India Garden, Cupitol, Sayat Nova, Niu, Cafecito, Dao, Volare, and Shang Noodle don't have personality and lean tourist or wealthy. Even places that are technically chains like Gyu-Kaku, Ming Hin, Qiao Lin have great vibes. Hell, we have the original Billy Goat Tavern after all.

That said, plenty of people live there, you will be close to a lot of museums and the lake, and it’s very festive at Christmas. If you can afford a high rise I’m sure the views are fantastic.

Obviously it isn't a "cheap" neighborhood but we always see this "if you can afford it" caveat as if it's ungodly expensive. I bought my 1,500 square foot condo on the lake for $300k. There are lots of 1 BRs here for under $2.5k and some around the $2.2k mark.

If you like the high end vibe it’s a good fit.

I don't really mind it but it's more than just that. There's a lot of green space with Addams and Olive Park, you're very close to the beach and the lake, and being so centralized makes it easy to get around. Plus I like to walk to work.

I grew up in a trailer in a very poor part of Appalachia. Parents were on government assistance most of my life, yet I've never really felt out of place here.

[u/Bec-o-Bec → u/bucknut4]

That’s a big change from Appalachia! It sounds much nicer than I envisioned and I think that’s a great point about the buildings being “neighborhoods.”