Is the North Shore still regarded prestigious? (Chicago, Aurora: estate, home)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by via chicago

personally i find the whole "old vs new money" argument amusing. kind of ironic..being elitist even to people in your own class .

Yeah, no kiddin, right?

Buncha ingrateful boneheads, yuppies are! What I find funny is that DuPage County's individual income rates are just as high, if not higher, than Lake County's.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Interesting, but wrong on many counts. First off, there are definite crime issues in Aurora, same as some northern burbs. Second, Naperville is not shown in a positive light? Wrong, dead wrong. The town is consistently praised by many groups (10 best cities in America, best place in America to raise kids, best library system in America, etc), including CNN/Money mag. To some that might not be a big deal, but to the 150K people who live there, its a big deal. And if you think you can find whats in Naperville in any metro in the USA, it just shows you havent traveled much. Not trying to sound like Im harpin' on ya, but I just dont think you really know much about other cities.

I have been to almost every major city in this nation several times, and though my job working for the state, I have extensive knowledge of every major city in Illinois. You tell me one place in main stream culture (ie; movies, plays, books, TV etc.) that show Naperville as being a place for the rich and famous. I have never come across any. Money magazine has been making that list for over twenty years. Naperville came up on it only recently, and only twice. Besides, placing your authority with Money Magazine is not a valid option. They are an advertising based magazine that use these kinds of things to make money, not really show the actual facts. Please don't attack my opinion, when mine is based on solid state facts, and not from a monthly magazine. Looking at that list, it shows Aurora as being in the top 100. Right off the bat, that should be a signal that it isn't valid. And yes, I have found several 'Napervilles' in both New York, and LA's metro area. This is about prestige, not about magazine ratings. You ask someone from Peoria whether they think the prestige of Illinois rests in the hands of Kenilworth, or Naperville, you know what they will say. I'm not attacking the west burbs, but come on, you are going to go up against the NS!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

I have been to almost every major city in this nation several times, and though my job working for the state, I have extensive knowledge of every major city in Illinois. You tell me one place in main stream culture (ie; movies, plays, books, TV etc.) that show Naperville as being a place for the rich and famous. I have never come across any. Money magazine has been making that list for over twenty years. Naperville came up on it only recently, and only twice. Besides, placing your authority with Money Magazine is not a valid option. They are an advertising based magazine that use these kinds of things to make money, not really show the actual facts. Please don't attack my opinion, when mine is based on solid state facts, and not from a monthly magazine. Looking at that list, it shows Aurora as being in the top 100. Right off the bat, that should be a signal that it isn't valid. And yes, I have found several 'Napervilles' in both New York, and LA's metro area. This is about prestige, not about magazine ratings. You ask someone from Peoria whether they think the prestige of Illinois rests in the hands of Kenilworth, or Naperville, you know what they will say. I'm not attacking the west burbs, but come on, you are going to go up against the NS!

I never compared Naperville to the NS suburbs, I just disagreed when you said that Naperville isnt shown in a positive light, to which I think youre wrong. Chill out.

And yes, Naperville is quite prestigious in many areas. There are several areas of town that house multi-million dollar homes, there are exotic-car dealerships and fancy restaurants, etc. Sure, its not as prestigious as Lake Forest, but Naperville definitely has money. But then again, I never compared Naperville to Lake Forest.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I never compared Naperville to the NS suburbs, I just disagreed when you said that Naperville isnt shown in a positive light, to which I think youre wrong. Chill out.

And yes, Naperville is quite prestigious in many areas. There are several areas of town that house multi-million dollar homes, there are exotic-car dealerships and fancy restaurants, etc. Sure, its not as prestigious as Lake Forest, but Naperville definitely has money. But then again, I never compared Naperville to Lake Forest.

Sorry I offended you. I really didn't mean too come off that way! But understand my stance. I lived in Downers Grove, where Naperville, was at the time, a running joke. I now live in the Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois area, where Naperville continues to be a running joke. And I know enough people in the North Shore area to know that they still think Naperville is a joke. Me, and most of the state, still don't quite understand the allure of Naperville. My friends that live there now don't even get it to be honest with you. If you want to say that Naperville is pretigious under the terms that it is home to multi-million dollar estates, exotic-car dealerships, and fancy restaurants, then you just included the Peoria metro area, and the cities of Normal and Bloomington under the terms prestigious. Maybe even Springfield for that matter. Which, by the way, is a term the proudest Peoria or Bloomington resident would never give to their city. Sorry. When it comes to Naperville, it really is only in the same category as these other cities. Sure, it may be at the lead because of it's location and subsequent affluence due to Chicago, but neither Naperville or Aurora has yet to make it's way out big Illinois cities and into the 'prestigious' category. Naperville's downtown is great, but Normal is quickly catching up, and in another ten years may be even better. The Peoria Riverfront has become the envy of the whole Illinois River Valley and to other cities it's size. You guys have much more incommon with us, than you do with the North Shore.

[rgb123]

The Barringtons are more North Shore than they are Western Suburbs (actually they are northwest suburbs)....not right on the lake, but right down lake cook road....partly in lake county, partly in cook, only a tiny portion in Kane County, none in Dupage....and totally old money.

[lpdoxey]

Originally Posted by rgb123

The Barringtons are more North Shore than they are Western Suburbs (actually they are northwest suburbs)....not right on the lake, but right down lake cook road....partly in lake county, partly in cook, only a tiny portion in Kane County, none in Dupage....and totally old money.

With the exception of Barrington Hills, I've always considered the Barringtons to be the exact opposite of the North Shore. Too flashy, opulent, nouveau riche types. To be quite honest South Barrington reminds me of DisneyLand!

[rgb123]

South Barrington has certainly departed from the tradition.....I agree.

[ahava]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

What I find funny is that DuPage County's individual income rates are just as high, if not higher, than Lake County's.

Um, that's probably because most of the North Shore burbs are in Cook County. Only Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Deerfield are in Lake County. And if you look at what's in the rest of Lake County - Waukegan/Zion/Round Lake, plus a lot of undeveloped land toward the Wisconsin border - it's nothing like DuPage County.

[kingofhearts]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

Sorry I offended you. I really didn't mean too come off that way! But understand my stance. I lived in Downers Grove, where Naperville, was at the time, a running joke. I now live in the Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois area, where Naperville continues to be a running joke. And I know enough people in the North Shore area to know that they still think Naperville is a joke.

Wow. The more vigorously you claim not to be offensive, the more offensive you sound.

I grew up in Downers Grove, and I don't ever remember knowing anyone who bore such antipathy toward Naperville. Naperville is no Lake Forest (surprise). Yet, it still has much to offer: excellent school system, beautiful parks, great downtown, low crime, child-friendly and more ethnic/cultural diversity than the north shore (excluding Evanston and Skokie which also are not in the same league financially). Given these factors, the allure of Naperville does not seem particularly enigmatic.

[lpdoxey]

The only western suburb that really truly resembles the North Shore to me are River Forest and Hinsdale. Also possibly Riverside.