Waukegan lakefront (Chicago, Aurora, Naperville: low income, city hall, condos)

[Alexus]

I grew up in Waukegan and for the life of me, I cannot understand why that city has allowed the lakefront go undeveloped. What is going on? Anybody have a clue?

Hundreds even thousands of cities in this country would kill to have a lakefront like the one Waukegan has. Shame that nothing has been done. It would really boost that city if for instance there was a major world-class university there.

[Chelito23]

I always wondered why Waukegan never got its act together. The roads are bad, they can't attract many high paying jobs...but they have an EXCELLENT localtion between Milwaukee and Chicago, and cheap property. I can't explain for the life of me what the real problem is, if it is people's perception..or ineptitude at city hall. I would love to hear others opinions though.

[nanannie]

From your lips to gods (Da Mayors) ear.

[reppin_the_847]

Geographically the location appears to be good, but it seems that industrial blight and the shuttering off of older companies have taken too much of a toll on Waukegan. Add to that problems such as illegal immigration, many low income residents (majority don't have too much of an education unfortunately), and gang problems, and there's just no way that Waukegan is going to become the next Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, or Evanston any time soon.

Originally Posted by Chelito23

I always wondered why Waukegan never got its act together. The roads are bad, they can't attract many high paying jobs...but they have an EXCELLENT localtion between Milwaukee and Chicago, and cheap property. I can't explain for the life of me what the real problem is, if it is people's perception..or ineptitude at city hall. I would love to hear others opinions though.

[trailerguy]

For years the waterfront had large heavy industry, due to the proximity of the C&NW (now UP) railroad and the deep harbor. The industry all went bust and left behind crumbling buildings and a LOT of toxic waste. They took the jobs with them.
The city has a very ambitious plan to convert the harbor to a yacht harbor, get rid of the old industrial ruins and build an elegant Chicago-style lakefront. Unfortunately with no industry and a depressed tax base, the money is not there. It is starting to pick up now. The EPA has finally declared the area asbestos-free or nearly so. There are some new condo projects going up on Sheridan Road. It will take time.

[Alexus]

Yes, it has taken quite a long time. If I ever one day find myself incredibly rich, one of my primary goals is to put a world-class university near the lakefront. Can't think of a better way to revitalize that city. I'm talking about one that rivals U of Chicago, with a top law school, medical school, engineering school and the like. The university would facilitate its own housing, pushing lower-income, uneducated residents away. Companies would come to take advantage of talent that comes from the university as well as the various research problems that yield business opportunities. Top primary schools would be needed to educate the kids of these educators, students, and so forth. Waukegan is an ideal location. It takes a visionary I suppose, something that currently doesn't exist. But Waukegan is my hometown. Even though I left in 1975, I still hold the place close to my heart. It was a fine town at one time, an incredible place to grow up in.

The Waukegan University.
The University of Waukegan.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Alexus

. The university would facilitate its own housing, pushing lower-income, uneducated residents away.

Pray tell, where might all those lower income and uneducated people, go?

Perhaps another approach would be that such a redeveloped area might offer better opportunities and education for lower income people than may currently exist.

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

Pray tell, where might all those lower income and uneducated people, go?

Perhaps another approach would be that such a redeveloped area might offer better opportunities and education for lower income people than may currently exist.

One would hope that a by-product of the redevelopment associated with the university would see better opportunities and education for lower income people who become serious about taking advantage. I would hope that, seeing the revitalization, and being suddenly close in proximity to a place of higher learning, they might find a way to re-invent themselves. They would go back to school, leave drugs behind, abandon gangs, generally take the high road.

But, the reality is that the majority will not do this, choosing instead to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and low expectations. They will retreat to a location whether that be locally or not that enables them to continue in this regard. I'm not talking here about the elderly or the sick, but the troubled youth and adults. The city of Waukegan however must be saved from these criminally-minded and destructive elements. I'm talking about a segment that has an utter disdain for education, absolutely no respect for the neighborhoods, or other people. This segment would rather sell drugs to make money instead of availing themselves of better opportunities, opportunities that may require for instance that they go back to school for a short time or for training. The revitalization will occur for the most part without their participation and encourage their departure away from Waukegan and the region. I don't think Barrington has anything to worry about from the outflux.

[Nafster]

Wait...... isn't Waukegan trying to redevelop it's lakefront like others in this thread said?

It'll take a while, but I could see Waukegan in 10-15 years becoming another Naperville/Aurora/Joliet.... IF they try hard and put in decent food and entertainment venues on the front

[nanannie]

A lovely improved, enlarged park/marina would be an easier,less expensive goal. Even some nice condos added to the picture. Everyone loves the lakefront, its a shame about the eyesore Waukegans is.