Chicago area question...
 

Long story short, I'm back on the market looking for another employer.

Thursday last week, I was contacted via my LinkedIn account, by a potential employer in the Chicago area by the name of Tempel Steel.

Knowing that Tempel is located in the Lincolnwood area, south of Evanston, what are the best areas there to look at to live? Would it be better to live in Gary, IN for the lower tax rates?

Also, if this move happens, I'll have a house in the Pittsburgh area for rent, if anyone is interested.



FYI...you may remember that I had an offer on the table from Tesla Motors in California. Their offer hasn't hit the level where I would consider relocating my family yet, but it keeps getting better each time they call.

No, do not live in Gary, IN. Ever. Do not stop there for food, do not stop there for gas, do not stop in Gary.

Riding the train through Westside and other crime ridden neighborhoods is sketchy. You wanna be coming in from the North.

I'm open to suggestions. It looks as if I'll be flying out later this week or next, and I'd like to have a few areas to look at to reside while I'm out there.

That's a really funny line. Maybe if you were coming from the slums of Sao Paulo.

Let's put it this way...I know nothing of the area other than a prospective employer is there. LOL

You might find the NW suburbs quite convenient. Des Plaines, Arlington Heights. It should also be more affordable than the city proper. Take the train in and out, no need to worry about traffic. You're also closer to some ethnic neighborhoods like Korea town and Devon Avenue. Some of the best (and cheap) food in the area is up by where you'll be working.

I used to be a minister at this church in Chicago in the mid-70's.

Philadelphia Church

You can click on the location to see the map. It's southeast of Lincolnwood. While I worked there, I lived in both Skokie and Evanston. However, that was not really my choice. I liked the neighborhood where the church was and would have liked to have lived there. Not sure what it is like today, but if you're a city guy as opposed to a suburbs guy, I'd check it out.

The favelas of Sao Paulo likely smell better than Gary. And as a native-born Newjerseyan, saying that the Gary area stanks is saying a lot!

Anyway, rent the cheapest apartment you can, be prepared to break that lease, walk the h3ll away, and be on the next jet to CA when the Tesla offer comes through.

*** Sometimes...the grass IS GREENER... ***
 

Think short-term rents when you arrive...leave the family back 'til you get a DECENT place located...then keep it short term...

Like the others say...if TESLA comes through and it's a better deal, run, don't walk.

Sometimes, taking less $$$s is smarter than BIG$$$$s in a crappy location...money can't fix terbul... :rolleyes:

The money that Tesla has offered isn't enough to support my family in CA. What they have offered isn't enough to cover the CoL in that state, once you add in the higher taxes, fuel costs, etc...

I flew out there, had the interview, and came back. Yes, it was very beautiful out there, and I could handle raising my kids there, buy my wife would have to come out of retirement, and we need her at home for the kids more than we need her income.

You may want to avoid the Montrose St. area.

Does that include bonuses?

The key to good living in the Chicagoland area is the train. You want to take one train and walk to work. At best you want to take one train, then the bus. What you don't want to do is change trains. Keep your commute predictable and fast. (and yes you can drink beer on the Metra)

Take the Harvard line toward McHenry and get off at Barrington, Arlington Heights, etc. You'll be right near Soldier Field too. Barrington is a little spendy, but you should be able to find something that meets your needs a little closer to the city.

Yes. Tempel shows the potential of yearly bonus to be in the $30k range, whereas Tesla is only offering a potential in the $15k range. Add to the fact that Tempel has been around for over 65 years and has weathered a number of economically poor times without much job loss, and the decision is fairly easy to make.



Besides...Chi-town is closer to my real estate investments, not to mention closer to the rest of my family, than Cali is.

True!

Go for Arlington Heights and / or Rolling Meadows

Ahh Tesla, im dreaming again.