Lansing Is going Down the dumps... (Chicago, Oak Park: credit, foreclosure, gated)

[Tony Collisimo]

The way I see it is many of the kids coming up today are not being taught respect. They are disrespectful to their parent(s) and the public, especially the police. This applies to both races. It must be noted that 7 of 10 black children are born out of wedlock and raised in a single parent household. Lawrence Fishburn said it best in Boyz in the Hood, " any fool with a dick can make a baby but it takes a man to raise a child." That is the damn truth. The violent crime we see in Lansing and nationwide stems from the breakdown of the family and all the values that accompany a proper upbringing. Whenever I deal with someone who is acting foolishly I always remind them that they are not where they came from. This sometimes has a positive effect.

[skyeINIL]

So, like I asked, care to share details?

[clockwise5]

Originally Posted by rubber duck

DeYoung's furniture just closed, which is probably the biggest business on Ridge Road, Sams club is leaving this year. Take a walk down Ridge Rd. and see all the empty stores that were once mom and pop joints. I know of two real estate/insurance agents also closing up shop on ridge. My point is that more stores are leaving than are coming to town. Also you are not getting your Starbucks, those plans were scrapped about 6 months ago. As far as I know it will be another vacant lot.

Yes, TF South's scores are horrible, what other high school to we have? I don't know about you but that's a pretty big deal to me. Also Memorial and Heritage are on the verge of academic probation. I can tell you haven't lived in Lansing long. I'm not paranoid about anything, you can't argue against the facts of what happens in general to towns in the south suburbs when whites leave. I'm sure this is where you're going to come back at me with some quaint saying about freeing my mind.

Also, do you have kids that actually attend any of the schools we have in town? There's a nationwide website called greatschools.net that not only rank schools on a scale of 1-10 based on test scores, but also has a section where parents/students can put input about their experiences with the school. Go read up on our "great" schools.

The main reason those little businesses are closing is because whites aren't patronizing them themselves.....now they shop at the big box stores, and farther down in NW Indiana, and get gas at the same time....
little biz is closing up everywhere because of the malling of america...
Lansing's little store thing on ridge was a relic of a far older age..its a miracle it lasted as long as it did.

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by clockwise5

Lansing's little store thing on ridge was a relic of a far older age..its a miracle it lasted as long as it did.

As of this morning, almost all of the stores are still there.

[Visionaire]

Without visionary leadership, the people perish, run wild, murmur,and cast off restraint. I am a firm believer in ownership. I believe if you let your neighborhood go and allow any type of riff raff to enter into your community and take over, whether it be a suburb or the greater Chicago area, the neighborhood and it's values will go down. I don't believe in fleeing because of isolated troubles. Everywhere you go there is going to be some kinds of issues. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, what matters is your attitude about the place you live. The real problem is allowing people who have no sense of ownership to enter into the community, via section eight or some other government entity, and allowing none owners to stake a claim in the land, which you are a stakeholder. That is ridiculous. Why let them come in and tear up, what you helped to build? I am a new resident of Lansing and I think it's the best place to live. Multi-cultural, family orientated. My family moved from another south suburban community that had bad leadership, where I also served as a public official. If the leadership is bad, then the residents attitude will be bad, and anything bad will attract more bad people. It is a land of opportunity but the people in the land are broken down. Stop complaining about the community and do something about where you are a stakeholder. I moved my family because there is no unity in that community. Everybody complaining about everybody and everything. If you are not going to do something about the community, then shut up, or move out. I am calling all stake holders to hold on.

[Lookout Kid]

Yes, Lansing Michigan is going down the dumps...

[golansing]

I have been a resident of Lansing for 10 years. It is a great place to live for those who make middle class money and have even higher aspirations for their kids. All of the comparisons to places with $600,000 homes are just foolish and pointless. Sure, there are for sale signs on my block, but where isn't this the case? As a country we are facing a NATIONAL economic crisis at the moment. My property value has nearly doubled in 10 years.

When I think of Lansing, the following things come to mind:

1. Where else can I find the quality-built home I own, in such great shape, with such great neighbors, 24 miles from downtown Chicago and with access to brand new roads? (Do a radius search and see what you discover. Ever been on 290 heading toward the city from the western suburbs?)

2. If you don't like it here, move out. Don't self-justify your racism with false claims of crime and graffiti. Just go. I want neighbors who want to live here and don't care for those who make up "other" reasons to leave. In my opinion, Lansing has become richer in that regard. Most of the hard-core bigots are gone now (but continue to trash-post on sites like this after they have left!). Lansing is a very safe place to live.

3. People around me take such great care of their properties that I often feel guilty for letting plants die or when there is a dandelion in my yard.

4. Stay involved with your kids and their schools and things will be fine. The relationships between kids, involved parents, and caring teachers that exist here are amazing. Despite the current upper-level administration in 215 which won't last long, there is a great deal of energy and commitment in our local schools. Kids who want to do well do exceptionally well! Parents who want to get involved become a part of school culture. Universities are full of Lansing public school kids and will continue to be.

5. Ridge Road is not ever going to look like LaGrange Road and 159th St. in Orland. I don't want it to. Nor do I care for the HIGH taxes and traffic congestion that happen in "shopping mall America." I'll grab a grinder at Mancino's, a slightly-higher priced gallon of paint at Gus Bock's, or some ice cream at Dari-Ville, all checked out by a local high-schooler and smile when I'm home 5 minutes later and saved the gas money. I could walk to any of these places if I wanted to.

6. For those who complain about high property taxes, I would encourage you to investigate. Lake County, IN (#1 location for south suburban white flight) is no longer a safe haven. After the steel mills closed, that tax burden got placed on homeowners. Ask someone in St. John or Dyer what they pay in property taxes and about how happy they are with the Lake Central High School factory. Look westward to Homewood and see your property taxes multiplied by 1.5. Go further to Mokena, etc. and multiply them by 2 or more.

7. This town is clean, well-kept, with excellent public works, police, fire/emergency departments.

8. Check out the programs offered by the local park district. If you want your kid to get involved, you will be pleased.

Enough pro-Lansing for now. I'm sure the naysayers will attack. To whoever is looking to move to Lansing... If you want some of the area's most reasonably priced housing and LOWEST property taxes (yes, they have gone up, but see #6), a community that will provide opportunities for your kids to walk, bike to something other than strip malls, play safely in their neighborhood, or grow up in an excellent church... and you are middle class without a better-than-thou attitude, Lansing is for you.

It is, and always will be, just right for me, and I have no complaints.

[Visionaire]

Originally Posted by golansing

I have been a resident of Lansing for 10 years. It is a great place to live for those who make middle class money and have even higher aspirations for their kids. All of the comparisons to places with $600,000 homes are just foolish and pointless. Sure, there are for sale signs on my block, but where isn't this the case? As a country we are facing a NATIONAL economic crisis at the moment. My property value has nearly doubled in 10 years.

When I think of Lansing, the following things come to mind:

1. Where else can I find the quality-built home I own, in such great shape, with such great neighbors, 24 miles from downtown Chicago and with access to brand new roads? (Do a radius search and see what you discover. Ever been on 290 heading toward the city from the western suburbs?)

2. If you don't like it here, move out. Don't self-justify your racism with false claims of crime and graffiti. Just go. I want neighbors who want to live here and don't care for those who make up "other" reasons to leave. In my opinion, Lansing has become richer in that regard. Most of the hard-core bigots are gone now (but continue to trash-post on sites like this after they have left!). Lansing is a very safe place to live.

3. People around me take such great care of their properties that I often feel guilty for letting plants die or when there is a dandelion in my yard.

4. Stay involved with your kids and their schools and things will be fine. The relationships between kids, involved parents, and caring teachers that exist here are amazing. Despite the current upper-level administration in 215 which won't last long, there is a great deal of energy and commitment in our local schools. Kids who want to do well do exceptionally well! Parents who want to get involved become a part of school culture. Universities are full of Lansing public school kids and will continue to be.

5. Ridge Road is not ever going to look like LaGrange Road and 159th St. in Orland. I don't want it to. Nor do I care for the HIGH taxes and traffic congestion that happen in "shopping mall America." I'll grab a grinder at Mancino's, a slightly-higher priced gallon of paint at Gus Bock's, or some ice cream at Dari-Ville, all checked out by a local high-schooler and smile when I'm home 5 minutes later and saved the gas money. I could walk to any of these places if I wanted to.

6. For those who complain about high property taxes, I would encourage you to investigate. Lake County, IN (#1 location for south suburban white flight) is no longer a safe haven. After the steel mills closed, that tax burden got placed on homeowners. Ask someone in St. John or Dyer what they pay in property taxes and about how happy they are with the Lake Central High School factory. Look westward to Homewood and see your property taxes multiplied by 1.5. Go further to Mokena, etc. and multiply them by 2 or more.

7. This town is clean, well-kept, with excellent public works, police, fire/emergency departments.

8. Check out the programs offered by the local park district. If you want your kid to get involved, you will be pleased.

Enough pro-Lansing for now. I'm sure the naysayers will attack. To whoever is looking to move to Lansing... If you want some of the area's most reasonably priced housing and LOWEST property taxes (yes, they have gone up, but see #6), a community that will provide opportunities for your kids to walk, bike to something other than strip malls, play safely in their neighborhood, or grow up in an excellent church... and you are middle class without a better-than-thou attitude, Lansing is for you.

It is, and always will be, just right for me, and I have no complaints.

Well Stated

[skyeINIL]

Very nice pro-list, golansing. My favorite thing about Lansing is the small town, walkability of it.

[Humboldt1]

GoLansing,

Seriously, check out the crime stats and school stats for Lansing. I know you have a vested interest in Lansing as you live there for it to get better, but let's face it Lansing was once an okay working-class area that is going nowhere fast. People from the south side of Chicago have started to move into your neighborhood, which will cause a long, painful decline. In 10 years you will be like Calumet City. In 20 years, you will be like Harvey. I don't see much hope for your area.

Skye and Visionaire are your fellow cheerleaders. Your property value has nearly doubled in 10 years? What has it done the last 2-3 years? I am not saying that the rest of Chicago is not in store for price declines, but don't be surprised if in 2 years your house is worth maybe 20-25% more than you paid for it in 1998.

Your cheap housing stock is great for affordability but unfortunately this allows the riff raff to move in, even if they aren't all Sec 8. Towns with $600M homes have priced themselves out of ever being ghettos. This is what has happened with much of Oak Park and all of River Forest. Naperville will avoid many of the problems of its cheaper neighbors Bolingbrook and Aurora simply due to higher priced homes. So long as you can buy $200M single family homes in Lansing you will be at risk to lessor elements moving in. Even Elmwood Park, with much nicer housing stock, is starting to see declines. Just imagine what will happen to areas such as Lansing.