Lansing Is going Down the dumps... (Calumet City, Harvey: place to live, shop, statistics)

[skyeINIL]

Mamama, that's something one would know if one has actually been to Lansing and not looked at it from a Google map.

[Humboldt1]

I have spent some time in Lansing and am not impressed. Humboldt Park is worse than Lansing for now but I suspect in 20 years they may be reversed. I think in 10 years Lansing will be like Cal City and 20 years like Harvey.

There is a cheap liquor store on Torrence I have been to several times and my handyman owns a place in Lansing.

During the next 20 years, Humboldt Park will continue to improve and continue to flush out its riff raff. Humboldt Park will never be Gold Coast but it certainly will improve, though we have a long ways to go.

I don't see Lansing improving but continuing to get worse.

[skyeINIL]

Ah yes, your very own cliché: the 10-20 year forecast.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by skyeINIL

Mamama, that's something one would know if one has actually been to Lansing and not looked at it from a Google map.

I am there often. One of my college roommates lives there and teaches at Memorial Jr. High. The area has become more diverse, but she embraces it.

[skyeINIL]

I wasn't referring to you not being familiar with Lansing, I was referring to the other person who is not familiar with it.

How does she like teaching at Memorial? How long has she taught there? I've heard good and bad things about it.

[Chicagoland60426]

I don't see Lansing as a dump, well at least right now. In my opinion Lansing is your average middle class suburb and the crime rate is below the average for the country. I don't see the graffiti on walls and buildings and the litter that some people claim that is in Lansing. Lansing is not a Naperville and I think people are trying to compare Lansing to Naperville/West suburbs and North/Northwestern suburban standards. I'm from Harvey and Lansing is nothing compare to some run down parts in other south suburbs. In the city, I bet Logan Square and Wicker Park have more crime than Lansing and those suppose to be the gentrifying areas.

[Humboldt1]

I think there are certainly areas worse than Lansing. I have no doubt there is more crime in Logan Square than Lansing right now, but I see crime in Logan declining while crime and poverty in Lansing increase.

I see Munster as the next Oak Park. Many of the areas around it will decline while it will stay relatively nice due to its affluent housing base.

Lansing isn't that bad now, but it is certainly not improving.

Skye,

Are you arguing that Lansing is getting better, holding steady (I have stats that show this is off) or getting worse?

[vester72]

One big thing to keep in mind that the subprime and mortgage issues blowing up is a good thing in the long run for a lot of communities.

Many, many people that should not have been able to buy homes did and brought down many communities. Lansing, as well as a lot of others will not decline quickly and may recover some due to loans now actually requiring a real job, real income, a down payment and good credit score.

Subprime and fraud played the main role in bring down many communities and now that it is getting cleaned up things should begin to stabilize and change for the better - but it will take time.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by skyeINIL

I wasn't referring to you not being familiar with Lansing, I was referring to the other person who is not familiar with it.

How does she like teaching at Memorial? How long has she taught there? I've heard good and bad things about it.

The demographics of the school district has changes and a higher mobility rate has made day-to-day teaching and learning more of a challenge, but she truly loves the school and her students. (I believe this is her 15th year.) I have assisted her with special projects and have gone on a field trip with one of her groups - it was a great experience!

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

I don't see Lansing as a dump, well at least right now. In my opinion Lansing is your average middle class suburb and the crime rate is below the average for the country. I don't see the graffiti on walls and buildings and the litter that some people claim that is in Lansing. Lansing is not a Naperville and I think people are trying to compare Lansing to Naperville/West suburbs and North/Northwestern suburban standards. I'm from Harvey and Lansing is nothing compare to some run down parts in other south suburbs. In the city, I bet Logan Square and Wicker Park have more crime than Lansing and those suppose to be the gentrifying areas.

Lansing has always been a mostly middle class suburb, I don't think that has changed, do you?