I got this question via email from someone who looking to settle in Chicago. I gave a detailed and important answer and it might be helpful to those who have never been to Chicago before. Don't mind if there are any grammatical errors because I typed it up very quickly.
so I'm starting to look for a place to live in Chicago. Any good neighborhoods with nice apartments or condominiums that you know of near the Jackson park hospital?
ThanksAnd this is what I replied to him:
Live in apartments near Hyde Park (near President Obama's House) or around the University of Chicago, that's where most students from University of Chicago and medical students live. Also, a warning, avoid living near the hospital, that's dangerous area. Live north of 60th street; do not live south of 60th street.
Another warning is about parking of you're going to bring your car, come around 7:30 AM to get a parking space in the parking lot in front of the hospital. The parking lot is right in front the hospital on the same side facing Stony Island Ave. Do not park in the back parking lot behind the hospital; one secured parking lot is for doctors, where medical students cannot park, and the other parking lot, across the street, is insecure but whoever parks there gets their car window broken into. In the insecured parking lot, people who have cars with an out-of-state (not Illinois) license plate are targeted.
Also, if you're going to take public transportation, do not carry a laptop bag. I suggest a book back that has a laptop pouch inside. I recommend a Targus book bag with a laptop pouch from Amazon; it's the same type that I got and it's cheap. Carrying a laptop bag in front of the bus stop is asking to get mugged at knife point. I'm telling you this because one student got mugged at knife point last year at broad daylight; however this didn't happen in front of the hospital because there are police around the hospital. The bus stop closest to the hospital is 10 minute walk away.