What an awesome stay. My wife and I are from the Chicagoland region and know the lay of the land fairly well. This was an awesome place to stay. Some major pluses: little to no traffic, green line 12 min walk away on California, ample room in the apartment (we have a 17 month old who slept in the back room and it was so nice not having to be quiet in the main living space), 3 playgrounds within walking distance, surrounded by schools and churches, true neighborhood with real neighbors and community. At first glance, the area looks sparse and a bit neglected, but as you get settled in, there's so much to love. Rent some bikes if you can to get the feel for your location. Some possible fixers: (1. A table inside would of been nice for a family, but there's a beautiful counter to eat at (2. The apartment itself looked and smelled great, but I think the tenants below have taken to smoking in the shared corridor. Told Gabriela and she said she'd take care of it.
There were previous mentions of this area feeling unsafe and that was not our experience at all. We put out a blanket in the open field across from the house...read, slept, ate, did some frolicking. It was delightful.