Howard St, Chicago

Howard is about as far north in Chicago as you can be. Evanston and Northwestern University's campus is a short drive or L trip away. If you catch the express train (purple line) you can be in the Loop in 30 min. Howard is in the Rogers Park neighborhood which used to rival Cabrini Green in crime and undesirableness. In the last decade the area is experiencing, if not a renaissance, a huge improvement in livability. Invesments by the city in law enforcement and public services have paid off. Many small businesses line the commercial sections of the street. Sure you'll find the requisite check cashing store fronts, but you'll also find some excellent value restaurants with hard to find ethnic cuisines represented. The side streets offer a mix of rented and owned residences with many families. Howard and Rogers Park offer vibrant cultural diversity and a warm community. While it's not as trendy as some of the more gentrified areas, you can find a comfortable community on the rise.