Is the North Shore still regarded prestigious? (Chicago, Aurora: mcmansions, income)

[Steve-o]

Like I said earlier, comparing STC to Lake Forest is rediculous. I can find MANY north shore burbs that have strip malls and cookie-cutter townhomes too. If you want to say that Lake Forest is more prestigious than Hinsdale or Oak Brook (western burbs that are old money on a larger scale), than go ahead, but you look silly.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Like I said earlier, comparing STC to Lake Forest is rediculous. I can find MANY north shore burbs that have strip malls and cookie-cutter townhomes too. If you want to say that Lake Forest is more prestigious than Hinsdale or Oak Brook (western burbs that are old money on a larger scale), than go ahead, but you look silly.

How is it rediculous to compare St. Charles to Lake Forest? I didn't even mention it until you did. I was speaking about Plainfield, Bollingbrook, etc. But, how am I supposed to respond to a thread about the prestige of the North Shore without speaking about the places that the North Shore would loose it's prestige to? I'm not saying that Oak Brook and Hinsdale alone are more or less prestigious than Lake Forest. But I am not going to back down and say that the whole North Shore has lost it's old time prestige to the whole west burbs. That would be rediculous! Ask anyone. Everyone agrees with ME! I'm sorry that you feel an armada of small lot, big square foot houses, that were built a few years ago without any quality craftmanship can compare to the CASTLES in Kenilworth. You should take your cameras to those areas. By the way. How are you so knowledgable of an area that you don't appear to live in? From what I can tell, it looks like you used to live in Tennessee. That is a far cry from the west burbs of Chicago. I lived in the area for over ten years from a student perspective, and as a parent. No offense, but I think I know my way around the rich neighborhoods of Chicagoland.

[ravenstone]

My sister has lived in Chicago for a number of years. She married an heir to old money, and her husband and in-laws are pretty ordinary -- that is, adhering to the show of prestige but not a slave to it. What's my point? I have heard about the burbs ad nauseum and I have to agree w/BU. Just from my own observations, there is a very real difference between the old, authentic mansions and the cardboard imitations they build today, and my opinion is shared by ppl that live in the 'real thing.'

[nanannie]

[quote=ravenstone;205318. Just from my own observations, there is a very real difference between the old, authentic mansions and the cardboard imitations they build today, and my opinion is shared by ppl that live in the 'real thing.'[/QUOTE]

Yes, Couldnt agree more. The "new" money is looked upon no differently then a coal minor who wins the lottery. They are still not one of "them". The owners of the McMonstrositys with the heated drives and fountains are thought of as showy, tacky, and would never be excepted in "social circles" . One must be born into that class or marry ones equal. Silly ? yes, True? yes..I know people with inherited North Shore family money who asked me to drive them around South Barrington "for a laugh'".

[reppin_the_847]

That is true to an extent, especially in the eastern side of these towns towards Sheridan Road, etc.. But I guess to play devil's advocate (or Steve-O's advocate), there are some very new money, South Barrington looking McMansions in and around the western edges of suburbs such as Lake Forest (aka West Lake Forest, closer to Everett Road, Telegraph Road, Waukegan Road, etc.), and also towns such as Northbrook, Glenview, etc. Just go to the west side of these towns, and they're almost always newer. To be honest, not too different from the styles in South Barrington, Burr Ridge or Oak Brook. Now the old east sides of town (ie. east Lake Forest, east Winnetka, east Wilmette, Kenilworth, etc.), different story.

Originally Posted by nanannie

Yes, Couldnt agree more. The "new" money is looked upon no differently then a coal minor who wins the lottery. They are still not one of "them". The owners of the McMonstrositys with the heated drives and fountains are thought of as showy, tacky, and would never be excepted in "social circles" . One must be born into that class or marry ones equal. Silly ? yes, True? yes..I know people with inherited North Shore family money who asked me to drive them around South Barrington "for a laugh'".

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Like I said earlier, comparing STC to Lake Forest is rediculous. I can find MANY north shore burbs that have strip malls and cookie-cutter townhomes too. If you want to say that Lake Forest is more prestigious than Hinsdale or Oak Brook (western burbs that are old money on a larger scale), than go ahead, but you look silly.

I agree that you can find cookie cutter townhomes and strip malls most places, but not really on the "true" North Shore. Meaning those communities that make up the original north shore that actually hug the shore of Lake Michigan. Those suburbs are Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Glenview is not the North Shore, nor is Northbrook or Lincolnshire. They are all very nice suburbs, north suburbs, but they aren't the North Shore. Personally, I would never compare Oak Brook to the north shore, but wouldn't hesitate to put Hinsdale in the same category. Not all people who live on the North Shore are rich, I've said that many times on this forum, but I can't imagine it will ever lose its prestige. Too much history, too many beautiful old homes, and gorgeous private and public lakefront properties.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

How is it rediculous to compare St. Charles to Lake Forest? I didn't even mention it until you did. I was speaking about Plainfield, Bollingbrook, etc. But, how am I supposed to respond to a thread about the prestige of the North Shore without speaking about the places that the North Shore would loose it's prestige to? I'm not saying that Oak Brook and Hinsdale alone are more or less prestigious than Lake Forest. But I am not going to back down and say that the whole North Shore has lost it's old time prestige to the whole west burbs. That would be rediculous! Ask anyone. Everyone agrees with ME! I'm sorry that you feel an armada of small lot, big square foot houses, that were built a few years ago without any quality craftmanship can compare to the CASTLES in Kenilworth. You should take your cameras to those areas. By the way. How are you so knowledgable of an area that you don't appear to live in? From what I can tell, it looks like you used to live in Tennessee. That is a far cry from the west burbs of Chicago. I lived in the area for over ten years from a student perspective, and as a parent. No offense, but I think I know my way around the rich neighborhoods of Chicagoland.

Im up in Lake Forest several times a year so Im quite familiar with the north shore prestigious 'burbs. The point Im trying to make is that while the north shore is very uppity in many areas, there are also many areas that are no different than St. Charles. And while many areas of St. Charles are no different than, say, parts of Evanston, there are certainly areas that have beautiful grand old homes that rival those found in Lake Forest. Same goes for the Barringtons, Oak Park, Hinsdale, Geneva, etc. Sure many of the west burbs consist of many new developments that house McMansions, it shouldnt go w/o notice that many parts of the western burbs are just as old and uppity as many neighborhoods found in Winnetka, or Kenilworth. There is both old AND new money in ALL uppity burbs.

[sbd78]

Originally Posted by nanannie

One must be born into that class or marry ones equal. Silly ? yes, True? yes..I know people with inherited North Shore family money who asked me to drive them around South Barrington "for a laugh'"

Its kind of funny to me that the "old money" people act like they are better than the "new money" people. As someone who doesn't have anywhere close to millions, I have a lot more respect for the new money people who made their money by working hard, than someone who simply was born into it and inherited it without any of the hard work.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by sbd78

As someone who doesn't have anywhere close to millions, I have a lot more respect for the new money people who made their money by working hard, than someone who simply was born into it and inherited it without the hard work.

I can not disagree with you, but it is a fact that WHO your parents are is of utmost importance in some circles. I have known a well respected "Blue" family for many years and must say a few of the off spring have done a downward spiral into their adult years,kicked out of school,booze, drugs etc. All with that fat pillow of a trust fund to land on. Where I have pictures of Grandpa Joe and Uncle Ed around my house, they have pictures of themselves and Queen E and Phillip, summer fun with the DuPonts and Christmas with the Rockefellers. The family has kept the money well invested,given huge amounts to charity and philinthropic endeavors, but what happens when is gets "passed down" to the next generation is anyones guess. Interesting, these people are not "showy" and never brag or boast, but the "kids" are forever wrapped in Gucci and the newest porche. I suppose being raised by nannies and boarding school was a big factor.

[Joe107]

You have to be careful about the assumptions you make about how much money people have. Alot of affluent people don't necessarily want to show off their wealth. There are alot of very wealthy people that live in upper middle class towns (like Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Itasca, Elmhurst, Buffalo Grove) that would NEVER want to live in places like North shore or Hinsdale, Oak Brook Burr Ridge ect.......they care how their kids turn out and they don't want to raise a Paris Hilton