What is it about Oak Park ... ? (Chicago, Berwyn: rent, house, theatres)
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I completely agree that there is never any real hatred expressed toward Oak Park on the forum. More than a few folks poke more than a little fun at the long standing air of superiority that Oak Parkers have been known to exhibit. A significant number of the "pluses" of Oak Park are found in great extent in other towns -- from Evanston to the desirable south suburbs to many neighborhoods in Chicago some spots are indistinguishable from Oak Park.
The single biggest reason that suggestions to find housing in Oak Park draw critical responses on the forum is the way it is vastly over-recommended. As soon as some post that asks for places a little more convenient to employment centers to the west than Chicago the suggestions for Oak Park swamp other towns that are probably more practical. Pretty foolish.
Similarly the view of some that routinely promote Oak Park seems to be such that any person of color might as well live in the pre-civil rights legislation South if they are are going to consider any suburb other than Oak Park. Incredibly small minded.
The ability of some to make excuses for Oak Park's long standing problems is rather remarkable. The local politicians that are all about "statement making" whether that be for "Nuclear Free Zone" or housing issues AFTER federal laws are passed typifies the sorts of grandstanding that one should not stomach of politicians anywhere, but apologists seem to applaud among those headline grabbers in Oak Park's strapped village leadership.
Certainly there are good reasons to choose to live in Oak Park. The housing stock near the core shopping areas and historic district(s) tend to have a lot of the characteristics of other charming spots in Chicago and other suburbs with the unique distinction of also having the certifiable tourist draw of FLW's home & studio. Parks are more numerous and play lots better equipped / more kid oriented than those in Chicago. Access to Chicago via Metra and CTA is quite good. Proximity to the Loop / West Loop employment makes it possible to use bicycling as a commuting method so long as one is not intimidated by Chicago's West Side crime rates.
The defensiveness that some exhibit about Oak Park is not surprising. There are others that react just as strongly to negative comments about the South Side / south suburbs / northwest Indiana. The patterns of developers and home buyers choosing new construction / tear downs in suburbs with faster Metra service / greater uniformity of school performance must frustrate those to whom other qualities are important. The desirability of Oak Park for some segment of those shopping for housing will likely never diminish and the mindset that Oak Park has toward what have historically been labeled "progressive" political attitudes is so deeply entrenched it is probable to always be a beacon for others of that mindset.
The fact is that as attitudes toward the appropriate role of government evolve and people of color feel more comfortable in more places the core uniqueness of Oak Park will always remain a draw for some. There is no need to be so defensive about the place. Its own attractiveness ought to shine through.
Quote:
Originally Posted by urza216
Oak Park doesn't get hate from anybody. Oak Park is criticized in ways that other people find objectionable. Huge difference.
It's annoying when white people in Oak Park think they're the only white people in Chicagoland who have lived around black people. Whoops. What I meant to say was - it's annoying when Oak Parkers think they're the only "diverse" suburb in Chicagoland.
But I definitely don't HATE Oak Park. Not by a long shot. I'd enjoy living there (or somewhere nearby like Berwyn). It's just so far away from the life I have now. I'm still young so who knows what the future will bring though?
Evanston, and other areas in Chicago may share some similar qualities with Oak Park, but upon closer examination one finds each has very different characteristics and histories. Despite the politics in all suburbs, Oak Park is still a very well regarded community as evidenced by its many awards.
People generally recommend Oak Park in this forum when someone is looking for a suburb that is closer to downtown and is diverse with good schools. It is folly, I think, to recommend a suburb that is much farther from downtown with little to offer in the way of diversity. It makes no difference who states it, the fact is: four percent non-white is not terribly diverse in any suburb over 25,000 residents.
When people ask for a suggestion with the criteria above, some suggest suburbs that don't fit the criteria. The mistake is natural as few read the entire first post.
No school is a wonderfully functioning institutional machine. We can all point fingers at a variety of suburbs to highlight the inability of a school district to assimilate minority students they do not want. It is evidenced in the glaring lack of lower income housing stock available. It is nothing new in the Chicago area. It is just terribly disappointing that after a 100 years of fighting the same old fight it still exists.
Eighty years ago segregation by race and/or religion was accomplished with a document that included an inclusive and ugly 'Covenant'. The only difference today is segregation is not nearly as subtle.
The difference between the "have and have not" schools in the suburbs is more than just money. Oak Park does what others refuse to do. Residents of those places may call theirs a wonderfully functioning school district, but I know more than a few who think otherwise, which is why they chose, and continue to choose, Oak Park schools.
Bikes are a non issue, and an blatent attempt to veer attention away from the topic at hand. More important is the fact residents in OP can choose to use one of eight types of transportation based on nothing more complicated than need: 2 CTA, Metra, taxi, limo, zipcar, personal transportation, or bike.
It is rather interesting that some who claim no animosity for Oak Park deliberately insult members who live here, and then exaggerate a thirty year old event that proved nothing except bad things happen to good people. Those actions cause residents to look very closely at the objectivity of the person who mentioned it, and the validity of their statements.
The barrage of nonsense that Oak Park some how falls short of a desirable suburb is confusing. If there is any irony it is that Oak Park does continue to receive awards, residents do continue to have several choices of transportation to mull over, families do walk downtown, and students do continue to receive a very good, solid education.
There is no magic formulae. Students who have good study habits, and have a supportive family (the formula for success in any good school), do well. The child with involved parents is the clear winner. He gets a good education, he lives where the public library is actively involved with children of all ages all year, he plays in a park system that offers something for every resident, and he is able to enjoy a walkable "core" downtown with this family.
The attractiveness of Oak Park does shine through to many perspective residents despite ugly allegations. Sadly what naysayers perceive as a defensive attitude from its residents it is, in all actuality, an attempt to set the record straight. Righting revisionism, that prospective residents would not be able to decipher without input from actual residents, is the correct action to take in each instance.
It would be wonderful if detractors learned something about Oak Park, but they either do not have the ability to learn, or they won't take the time to do real research. It is a sad statement of our society today.
Evanston, and other areas in Chicago may share some similar qualities with Oak Park, but upon closer examination one finds each has very different characteristics and histories. Despite the politics in all suburbs, Oak Park is still a very well regarded community as evidenced by its many awards.
People generally recommend Oak Park in this forum when someone is looking for a suburb that is closer to downtown and is diverse with good schools. It is folly, I think, to recommend a suburb that is much farther from downtown with little to offer in the way of diversity. It makes no difference who states it, the fact is: four percent non-white is not terribly diverse in any suburb over 25,000 residents.
When people ask for a suggestion with the criteria above, some suggest suburbs that don't fit the criteria. The mistake is natural as few read the entire first post.
This is what all the fuss seems to be about. People look for their slice of utopia in Oak Park and people flip out, but no one freaks out when people look for utopia in Lincoln Park or Naperville...
It's annoying when white people in Oak Park think they're the only white people in Chicagoland who have lived around black people. Whoops. What I meant to say was - it's annoying when Oak Parkers think they're the only "diverse" suburb in Chicagoland.
The difference with Oak Park is that white people continued to move to Oak Park even after it became integrated. Most integrated towns (in Chicagoland) eventually become overwhelmingly black as white residents move out and few/no new white residents move in. Maybe Homewood/Flossmoor will also defy that historical trend.
Last edited by oakparkdude; 07-08-2012 at 08:39 PM..
Lincoln Park and Naperville for reasons unknown to me do not get the attention Oak Parrk does. I lived for years in an integrated city. As a consequence I look at cities differently. I look at parks, amenities for residents, available services and variety across the board. Asian restaurants, a Greek Church, a Jewish festival, a Mexican or Indian grocery store, a Priest blessing the animals, and black, yellow, red, brown and white professionals is variety to me.
The best place to learn about any community is the busiest coffee stop, the grocery store, the local newspaper and the local Yellow Pages. If I wanted 65 same-dogma churches Oak Park would be the last place I would look.
Yea Naperville and Lincoln Park easily get the same attention as Oak Park. And when some stroller pushing yuppies proclaim they want to move to Naperville, and everyone seems fine. But when some Subaru yuppies want to move to Oak Park and *gasp* send their children to school with 'the coloreds' people freak out.
Everyone gets hyped out on Oak Parkers, saying they are smug, insular, self congratulatory, etc., but the fact that people keep talking about Oak Pakers says something, IMO. It also says something when the smug, insular, self congratulatory people from places like Naperville or Park Ridge (ie the types of communities where Oak Park bashers live) get overlooked.
Double Standard, USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by oakparkdude
The difference with Oak Park is that white people continued to move to Oak Park even after it became integrated. Most integrated towns (in Chicagoland) eventually become overwhelmingly black as white residents move out and few/no new white residents move in. Maybe Homewood/Flossmoor will also defy that historical trend.
I think Urza is talking more about the classist aspect of it...and there is some validity to his point. You also have to remember those more diverse blue collar places have economic bases that eroded. Oak Park's location makes for a reasonable commute to white-collar jobs downtown.
Last edited by LakeShoreSoxGo; 07-09-2012 at 08:53 AM..
Perhaps not all of the blue collar places had an economic base as strong as perceived? It would be an excellent topic for a new thread.
Last edited by linicx; 07-10-2012 at 03:42 AM..
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