If a fast, reliable commute to downtown Chicago is a priority in your apartment search, few North Side transit anchors compare to the Belmont CTA station. Three lines converge here, and the Red Line puts you in the Loop in roughly twelve to fifteen minutes. For renters who want Lakeview’s walkable neighborhood character without sacrificing commute efficiency, the blocks surrounding Belmont are worth looking at closely.
Why the Belmont CTA Station Is One of Chicago’s Best Commuter Stops
The Belmont station at 945 W. Belmont Avenue serves the Red, Brown, and Purple Lines. That convergence is unusual on the Chicago L network and gives commuters more routing flexibility than most North Side stops offer.
The Red Line runs 24 hours a day, every day, with trains every three to ten minutes during rush hour. The Brown Line runs from early morning until about 2 AM, looping through River North and the Loop on an elevated track. The Purple Line Express supplements both during weekday rush hours for riders heading toward Evanston.
For most Lakeview residents heading to the Loop, Streeterville, or the Magnificent Mile, the Red Line is the default. Twelve to fifteen minutes, no transfers.
How Belmont Serves Renters With Non-Standard Work Schedules
The Red Line’s round-the-clock service matters for renters who work outside standard hours. Healthcare workers, hospitality workers, and anyone with early morning or late-night shifts can board at Belmont at virtually any hour without planning around service windows.
For those commuting to the Streeterville medical corridor, the Red Line runs three stops south to Chicago Avenue with a walkable connection east to the Northwestern Memorial campus. Renters evaluating apartments near Chicago’s top hospitals consistently identify Belmont-area Lakeview as one of the more practical North Side options for this commute.
PPM Lakeview Apartments by Distance From the Belmont Stop
PPM has seventeen apartments in Lakeview at varying distances from the Belmont stop. Here is how they break down by proximity:
Within ~3 blocks
- 500 W. Belmont — on the same street as the station entrance
- 544 W. Melrose — one block north and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 537 W. Melrose — one block north and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 515 W. Barry — one block south and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 515 W. Briar — one block south and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
All five are a 10 to 15 minute walk to the platform.
Slightly further
- 441 W. Oakdale — two blocks south and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 350 W. Oakdale — two blocks south and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 450 W. Melrose — one block north and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 441 W. Barry — one block south and a couple blocks east of the station entrance
- 455 W. Wellington — a couple blocks south and east of the station entrance
- 3130 N. Lake Shore Drive — one block south and a few blocks east of the station entrance
These properties are roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk from the platform.
Further north in Lakeview
634 W. Cornelia ,596 W. Hawthorne, 3510 N. Pine Grove, 536 W. Addison, and 632 W. Addison are much closer to the Addison Red Line stop, which provides equally direct downtown access. 1049 W. Oakdale connects to Belmont via the 77 Belmont bus.
Bus Routes That Extend Transit Access Across Lakeview
The 77 Belmont bus and the 22 Clark bus both stop near the station. Residents in properties slightly further from the L can use either route to reach Belmont, extending practical transit coverage across a wider part of the neighborhood without adding significant time to the overall commute.
Find Lakeview Apartments Near the Belmont CTA Stop
The Belmont stop’s combination of three lines and 24-hour Red Line service makes it one of the most reliable transit anchors on the North Side. Browse Lakeview apartments from PPM to compare available units and ask the leasing team which properties best match your specific commute destination.
