New Lenox - Why we love it! (Chicago, Joliet: section 8, apartment)

[Mamama Mia]

[quote=HighPlainsDrifter73;5870907]

Originally Posted by Mamama Mia

I'm fine with New Lenox the way it is. I like leaving well enough alone.

Frankfort is 94.8% white, New Lenox is 97.7% white. Certainly not the real world. but to each his/her own.

[BRU67]

As the thread has (surprise surprise) twisted its way to demographics, there's more to living around others like oneself than just the raw demographic numbers. There’s also the concept of like values. My wife and I have friends in that area and spend time there socially from time to time, so I feel I somewhat understand the pulse there. Not saying they aren’t educated or don’t make a good middle class salary. They sure do and are usually very happy to let you know it (whether you want to or not, hehe). But the level of intellectualism (not the same thing as that piece of gold-lined paper from NIU on the office wall), attitudes and views, and level and intensity of consumer-based competition are very different than what you get in the middle/upper middle class parts of urban areas. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It just is what it is. They are two entirely different cultures.

That, as well as the lengthy distance from the City, would keep me from moving there, even though I’m technically in the same demographic group on paper. We have much more in common with the educated non-whites in our community than we do with the middle class whites in the southwest suburbs even though, superficially, you would think it would be the other way around. I’m also concerned about what will happen when lower income minorities begin moving in down there and the demographics start to shift (which is probable given population growth and migration patterns).

This is not meant to bash those who are living in that area. Their priorities and view of the world are just different. And I’m sure they like it that way just fine as this thread is indicating. And that’s cool. But I don’t think you can just say that whites want to live around whites, blacks around blacks, etc. and be done with the discussion. It’s a bit more complex than that. People put more thought into where they go than what is on a stat sheet.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by BRU67

As the thread has (surprise surprise) twisted its way to demographics, there's more to living around others like oneself than just the raw demographic numbers. There’s also the concept of like values. My wife and I have friends in that area and spend time there socially from time to time, so I feel I somewhat understand the pulse there. Not saying they aren’t educated or don’t make a good middle class salary. They sure do and are usually very happy to let you know it (whether you want to or not, hehe). But the level of intellectualism (not the same thing as that piece of gold-lined paper from NIU on the office wall), attitudes and views, and level and intensity of consumer-based competition are very different than what you get in the middle/upper middle class parts of urban areas. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It just is what it is. They are two entirely different cultures.

That, as well as the lengthy distance from the City, would keep me from moving there, even though I’m technically in the same demographic group on paper. We have much more in common with the educated non-whites in our community than we do with the middle class whites in the southwest suburbs even though, superficially, you would think it would be the other way around. I’m also concerned about what will happen when lower income minorities begin moving in down there and the demographics start to shift (which is probable given population growth and migration patterns).

This is not meant to bash those who are living in that area. Their priorities and view of the world are just different. And I’m sure they like it that way just fine as this thread is indicating. And that’s cool. But I don’t think you can just say that whites want to live around whites, blacks around blacks, etc. and be done with the discussion. It’s a bit more complex than that. People put more thought into where they go than what is on a stat sheet.

When visiting friends in Frankfort the conversation often turns to where the residents lived prior to moving there (since in the greater scheme of things, this is considered to be a newly developed area). The answer is most often South Holland, Homewood, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Matteson. Do you have a different experience?

[At1WithNature]

[quote=Mamama Mia;5874067]

Originally Posted by HighPlainsDrifter73

Frankfort is 94.8% white, New Lenox is 97.7% white. Certainly not the real world. but to each his/her own.

Obviously, you do not know what is real and what isn't. You have pre-conceived notions in your noggin that developed over decades of prejudices. Don't ruin this thread with your tired and bias diatribe. You do know that Frankfort, Mokena, and New Lenox just didn't pop up last year? You do realize that these communities have been around since the 1860's? Don't you? Many families have lived in these towns for generations! And these towns remain safe, with nationally acclaimed parks, great schools (better schools than where you live and where you went to school), low crime, and great neighborhoods. It's not their fault that mostly black towns are ruins in comparison to Frankfort, New Lenox, and Mokena. That's the black population's fault. Unfortunately, they don't have any answers. So, forbid the roughly 85,000 residents of these communities if they are majority white. Name a majority black town that has comparable crime rates, education levels, and school grades as Frankfort, New Lenox, Mokena, and the Lincoln Way school district. You can't!

there is no such thing as diversity in the souhtern suburbs unless the town has a large population such as Joliet. The only thing you have in the southern suburbs is towns that appear to be diverse because they were once simply white towns that are slowly becoming majority black due to white flight (which is caused by higher crime and lower school scores + higher truancy and drop out rates). There are not diverse towns in the southern suburbs (there are a few, but they are very rare), just towns in transformation.

*crickets*

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by BRU67

. I’m also concerned about what will happen when lower income minorities begin moving in down there and the demographics start to shift (which is probable given population growth and migration patterns).

What part of Frankfort and Mokena do you not understand? Lower income...LOL...you got the wrong towns buddy! Try Berwyn.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Mamama Mia

When visiting friends in Frankfort the conversation often turns to where the residents lived prior to moving there (since in the greater scheme of things, this is considered to be a newly developed area). The answer is most often South Holland, Homewood, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Matteson. Do you have a different experience?

The ones I know are younger people from Tinley/Orland/Palos who bought their first house there. Not a "white flight" situation. It's a lot cheaper in New Lenox, Frankfort, Lockport, et al., and you could get a brand new townhome for a reasonable price (might not seem so reasonable now though due to the crap RE market). It's similar demographics so they're comfortable there. It was a natural fit.

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by BRU67

The ones I know are younger people from Tinley/Orland/Palos who bought their first house there. Not a "white flight" situation. It's a lot cheaper in New Lenox, Frankfort, Lockport, et al., and you could get a brand new townhome for a reasonable price (might not seem so reasonable now though due to the crap RE market). It's similar demographics so they're comfortable there. It was a natural fit.

You can't compare Frankfort to Lockport. that shows a lack of knowledge on your part.

Frankfort's residents are twice as educated as Lockports (based off of city data's information when it comes to Bachelor degrees) plus Lockport is faaar less expensive. This includes the homes. Not to mention the Lockport's schools don't rank as high as Lincoln Way's. You can compare Frankfort to Mokena or New Lenox but not to far away suburbs such as Lockport.

According to City Data, the most common jobs for males in Lockport is mechanics and truck drivers compared to Frankfort where the most common jobs for males are Managers and Executives. Check city data, it's right there.

it's Frankfort people! It's nearly bullet-proof. Try picking on Cal City, it's a lot easier.

[kaedebonsai]

Yea, that 1 hour drive to the city is just way to far...What are they thinking?
Shame shame on you for living in a nice area with good schools and excellent shopping!

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

What part of Frankfort and Mokena do you not understand? Lower income...LOL...you got the wrong towns buddy! Try Berwyn.

.

What part of my post did you not understand? I was talking about the prospective future. Frankfort and Mokena, insofar as I can tell, are solidly middle class, today. From the tone of your post, you presumably wouldn't welcome that. Might be unavoidable though.

[kaedebonsai]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

What part of Frankfort and Mokena do you not understand? Lower income...LOL...you got the wrong towns buddy! Try Berwyn.

Careful now...last time I made a comment about Berwyn I got accused of being a racist white boy...Which, I am neither white nor racist.