Is the North Shore still regarded prestigious? (Wilmette, Hinsdale: estate, diversity)

[Steve-o]

Naperville does have a very nice college downtown (North Central College), as well as branches of other colleges in town (including the University of Phoenix). Back to the mall issue, its Naperville on one side of 59, Aurora on the other, thats why I said it practically is in Naperville. And the area around the mall is 100% safe. It only gets bad when you cross the tracks on the bridge heading west bound on New York St. Ive been in several not-so-desirable north shore areas, its no different than Naperville.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Naperville does have a very nice college downtown (North Central College), as well as branches of other colleges in town (including the University of Phoenix). Back to the mall issue, its Naperville on one side of 59, Aurora on the other, thats why I said it practically is in Naperville. And the area around the mall is 100% safe. It only gets bad when you cross the tracks on the bridge heading west bound on New York St. Ive been in several not-so-desirable north shore areas, its no different than Naperville.

But it is not IN Naperville. The taxes are Aurora's, and the land is Aurora's. I live very close to a mall. But the mall has a Peoria address. That mall is no more Dunlap's, than Fox Valley is to Naperville. Sure, loads of residents from Dunlap shop there, but it does not reside within the limits of my town. North Central College is hardly a major Illinois or American insitituion. Ask most people, and they will not know what you are talking about. Maybe you should look up Illinois State Univeristy, Bradley University, University of Illinois, UIS, UIC, etc. if you want universities that actually are know throughout the nation for being purely Illinois at heart. So, what was your argument again when trying to validate Naperville as a big American city? When you take a look back and really analyze the facts, Naperville is no more than a nice downtown with large, heavy populated borders. Do you honestly think that in another fifty years Naperville will be that enticing? New, at some time or another, will become old. Remember this fact. At one time Aurora was considered a really happening suburb. Aurora still has one thing over Naperville; space.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

But it is not IN Naperville

You asked why Naperville doesnt have a mall. I said it didnt need one since there was one literally right across the street. What is so hard to understand about that. Last I checked, a city does NOT need a mall or a college to be a great city. If thats what youre judging it over, you need some help.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

You asked why Naperville doesnt have a mall. I said it didnt need one since there was one literally right across the street. What is so hard to understand about that. Last I checked, a city does NOT need a mall or a college to be a great city. If thats what youre judging it over, you need some help.

Well, if Naperville wants the same respect that other large cities get, than it needs the same things to show it's success. Wouldn't it be odd if you had to drive from Bloomington to Peoria just to use the mall? How would you like going to Des Moines and not seeing any major shopping center? You didn't finish reading what I said, because I stated more than mall is needed in order for Naperville to be considered a real city. I'm just saying that for Naperville's size, there is nothing big city about it. Further showing how it lacks any real prestige. I get the same positive things living in Dunlap that you do in Naperville, but Dunlap is only a few thousand people! Plus, the Fox Valley Mall only serves the west side of Naperville and even then the traffic is as bad as going to the airport. If I lived in the east, north, or south sides of Naperville I would not be patronizing the mall in Aurora that much. For the last time, stop talking about Naperville. This is about the North Shore, and I'm sure we would all like if your comments stayed on topic.

[Windy City John]

Scotsdale, Scotsdale, Scotsdale........

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Windy City John

Scotsdale, Scotsdale, Scotsdale........

You mean "Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Scottsdale....."?

[Justabystander]

I found I had a little time on my hands and was reading this long thread, and found it was pretty interesting until it got so off track it started mentioning areas like Naperville, the Westfield Mall in Aurora and Scottsdale,Arizona. How did this discussion end up 1500 miles west of here?? I thought this thread was answering a question about whether the North Shore is still prestigious. I think the answer is definitely yes, it sure is, and I say this living in a town that has been mentioned quite a bit in this thread , Hinsdale. I did not, however, move to Hinsdale for anything other than the 22 minute train ride to the Loop, the great schools for my kids, the big trees and old houses on hilly terraine, and the, up until recent, leaps in property values that were occurring, and certainly not any prestige factor.

There are alot of places that are "prestigious" for various reasons. One reason could be that you are on a great well known golf course, or near a well known buisness district. You could be in a college town with a premier college that gives an aura to the place you live, or live near a group of really nice houses with A list owners. Prestige is pretty subjective, and really depends on the person that is viewing the place or item. And, like a 15 year old Cadillac Cimmarron, prestige comes and goes.

What I think most people are talking about here is the exclusivity of places. A place can be prestigious without being exclusive. Both Scottsdale and Naperville have prestige, but are not exclusive, because 500k gets you in a pretty nice house in both places, therefore not excluding middle to upper middle income families. What will 500k get you in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Oak Brook or Hinsdale? Not much other than a teardown on a pretty small lot. All those places have an average price of over a million dollars, and therefore are exclusive, because not everyone can carry such a mortgage.

I respect Steve-O's love for the Naperville-St.Charles area, because there are some really nice places along the Fox River, along with their fair share of really nice neighborhoods. But these places are not exclusive overall, since you can still buy a pretty decent house for a reasonable amount of money in most neighborhoods. I just think that it is funny the back and forth in this thing about how "my area is better than yours is".

Overall, I think, as the statistics by one poster show, that the western suburbs, particularly on the train line around the Hinsdale/Western Springs/Clarendon Hills area are becoming more exclusive at a faster rate than the North Shore due to faster appreciation because of all the teardowns that are occurring there. But there is still something nice about the north shore, maybe the lake on a nice day.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

How did this discussion end up 1500 miles west of here??

Actually, its about 1700 miles and that would be southwest of here. LOL

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

I found I had a little time on my hands and was reading this long thread, and found it was pretty interesting until it got so off track it started mentioning areas like Naperville, the Westfield Mall in Aurora and Scottsdale,Arizona. How did this discussion end up 1500 miles west of here?? I thought this thread was answering a question about whether the North Shore is still prestigious. I think the answer is definitely yes, it sure is, and I say this living in a town that has been mentioned quite a bit in this thread , Hinsdale. I did not, however, move to Hinsdale for anything other than the 22 minute train ride to the Loop, the great schools for my kids, the big trees and old houses on hilly terraine, and the, up until recent, leaps in property values that were occurring, and certainly not any prestige factor.

There are alot of places that are "prestigious" for various reasons. One reason could be that you are on a great well known golf course, or near a well known buisness district. You could be in a college town with a premier college that gives an aura to the place you live, or live near a group of really nice houses with A list owners. Prestige is pretty subjective, and really depends on the person that is viewing the place or item. And, like a 15 year old Cadillac Cimmarron, prestige comes and goes.

What I think most people are talking about here is the exclusivity of places. A place can be prestigious without being exclusive. Both Scottsdale and Naperville have prestige, but are not exclusive, because 500k gets you in a pretty nice house in both places, therefore not excluding middle to upper middle income families. What will 500k get you in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Oak Brook or Hinsdale? Not much other than a teardown on a pretty small lot. All those places have an average price of over a million dollars, and therefore are exclusive, because not everyone can carry such a mortgage.

I respect Steve-O's love for the Naperville-St.Charles area, because there are some really nice places along the Fox River, along with their fair share of really nice neighborhoods. But these places are not exclusive overall, since you can still buy a pretty decent house for a reasonable amount of money in most neighborhoods. I just think that it is funny the back and forth in this thing about how "my area is better than yours is".

Overall, I think, as the statistics by one poster show, that the western suburbs, particularly on the train line around the Hinsdale/Western Springs/Clarendon Hills area are becoming more exclusive at a faster rate than the North Shore due to faster appreciation because of all the teardowns that are occurring there. But there is still something nice about the north shore, maybe the lake on a nice day.

Exactly! Thank you for summarizing what the majority of us have said all along!

[crbcrbrgv]

The only suburbs that compare to the North Shore burbs are Hinsdale (similar to Winnetka) and Western Springs (similar to Wilmette). One big advantage Wilmette has over Western Springs is it is a part of New Trier's district while Western Springs is not a part of Hinsdale's. Hinsdale Central and New Trier high are very comparable. Lyons Township, although a good school is no New Trier or Hinsdale Central.