So, What's wrong with Joliet? (Chicago, Aurora: gated, landscaping, apartment)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

Are you saying Houston is highly rated? ...maybe the burbs are better

Id have to disagree with you there. Dallas had some nice burbs, but what I saw in Houston was scary, filthy, and downright boring. And yes, I saw many suburbs while there. I didnt see a single one that was standout, nothing dropped my jaw. Not even close. In fact, most I saw had me gritting my teeth. Im sure there are some nice burbs in Houston somewhere, but I didnt see any in my travels. Im gonna have to go back down there sometime and really explore. I left the area with a BAD taste in my mouth.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Houston .... I left the area with a BAD taste in my mouth.

You must not have had one of their fabulous marquaritas.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Id have to disagree with you there. Dallas had some nice burbs, but what I saw in Houston was scary, filthy, and downright boring. And yes, I saw many suburbs while there. I didnt see a single one that was standout, nothing dropped my jaw. Not even close. In fact, most I saw had me gritting my teeth. Im sure there are some nice burbs in Houston somewhere, but I didnt see any in my travels. Im gonna have to go back down there sometime and really explore. I left the area with a BAD taste in my mouth.

I wasn't saying Houston had good burbs...I was saying I didn't really know but based on what I saw of the 'city' I wouldn't even consider it.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by desert student

Well let me just "poke" a little bit of humor towards Chicago's famous burb GARY!!!!!!! Which by the way, stacks right up there with Compton in the 'dangerous' category. Give me Compton anyday over filthy, industrial polluted, horribly decayed Gary. At least Compton has near perfect weather. Really, don't attack a bad section of LA, when Chicago has NOOOOOO! room to talk! Have you ever heard of Harvey, Illinois or that nice little burb of MARKHAM?! Things are so bad there it makes Compton look like Lake Forest!

Yes, I live right near there. Well 20 minutes away, but still. I have been in both towns many times and while yes Harvey is a $#!T hole, Markham isn't terrible. It's a black community mostly, but that doesn't mean its bad. It's not like you are going to get shot the moment you enter into the town. Its just a poor African American community and thats about all really. Gary... Well, I know it is a suburb of Chicago, but then again not really. The city is so darn far away, its like saying Escondido is a suburb to LA! Gary just kind of stands in it's own little class out there in IN and well... I don't really know what to say about that city other than it needs help.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Yes, I live right near there. Well 20 minutes away, but still. I have been in both towns many times and while yes Harvey is a $#!T hole, Markham isn't terrible. It's a black community mostly, but that doesn't mean its bad. It's not like you are going to get shot the moment you enter into the town. Its just a poor African American community and thats about all really. Gary... Well, I know it is a suburb of Chicago, but then again not really. The city is so darn far away, its like saying Escondido is a suburb to LA! Gary just kind of stands in it's own little class out there in IN and well... I don't really know what to say about that city other than it needs help.

The thing is, like it or not, in off traffic times you can get downtown from Gary in about 30 minutes...so it is pretty close to Chicago...just as close as a lot of what others consider to be 'real' burbs.

[aragx6]

Sure but honestly if we consider Joliet and Aurora burbs (even if we don't like them) then how is Gary not a suburb? It's closer to Chicago than the other two.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

The thing is, like it or not, in off traffic times you can get downtown from Gary in about 30 minutes...so it is pretty close to Chicago...just as close as a lot of what others consider to be 'real' burbs.

Ya since the roads have been widened I realize the travel times have been greatly reduced, but in terms of miles, it is kind of far, not out in the "boonies" but not close like some of the burbs in IL.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Ya since the roads have been widened I realize the travel times have been greatly reduced, but in terms of miles, it is kind of far, not out in the "boonies" but not close like some of the burbs in IL.

Well less than 20 miles to the South Side and less than 30 miles to downtown taking the Skyway.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Sure but honestly if we consider Joliet and Aurora burbs (even if we don't like them) then how is Gary not a suburb? It's closer to Chicago than the other two.

To me its the simple fact that Gary is in a different state altogether. I consider it part of Chicagoland, sadly, but not a suburb just based on boundaries alone. Just my silly .02.

[Daveposts]

I believe the reason Chicago has not produced a suburb on a national level that is known as a positive town, and everything else you have said, is because our most notable towns are small. If a cluster of little towns in DuPage County were incorporated as one city, say with at least a population of 220,000 like Scottsdale, AZ then this fictitious city would undoubtedly be known through out the country. The same can be said about some areas in the North Suburbs, Northwest, and yes even the Southwest.