Skokie info (Evanston, Wheeling, Albany: condos, crime, buying a home)

[mike3512]

Originally Posted by NYrules

God schools? Are those like Satan schools? So thats what God has been up to these days... Playing super intendent. LOL! J/K Too much Leno's Headlines for me last night.

i

i meant GOOD schools lol!

[Keith S]

Skokie is a dump with an ever-increasing crime rate and taxes and ever decreasing services. It used to be mostly Jewish but that has changed dramatically.

[jaynetarzana]

Just curious, what are you basing the increasing crime statement on? We're moving to the Chicago area and have never been to Skokie, but if there is increasing crime, we won't consider it at all.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Keith S

Skokie is a dump with an ever-increasing crime rate and taxes and ever decreasing services. It used to be mostly Jewish but that has changed dramatically.

This is just ridiculous. Crime is increasing from what? From two robberies a year to four?

Skokie isn't a dump at all. It's a nice, post-war suburb with good retail options. The housing stock is aging (mostly post-war ranch houses), but there isn't really any poverty to speak of.

[SloopyJ]

Skokie has the nice tax benefit of being home to Old Orchard mall (upscale outdoor mall). Evanston, on the other hand, has relatively high taxes in part because Northwestern University doesn't pay any.

[jer2911]

My Friend keeps telling me over and over that alot of the Cabrini Residents were moved to Skokie, and this is causing some serious crime issues, etc.

[middle-aged mom]

Most of the crime in Skokie is retail theft related.

The area around the Skokie Swift is increasing getting more and more run down and thus is the most affordable and diverse in population.

Former Cabrini residents were not moved anywhere, by anyone. Section 8 recipients are free to live anywhere and they do. Most folk would be very surprised to learn just how many Section 8 reciepients live in their community. It's not like they wear arm bands so that they can be spotted.

[chitown85]

Section 8 residents have moved to Skokie, but they have moved everywhere. Skokie is more urban than further outlying suburbs. There is a varied demographic mix, both economically and ethnically. At one point, Skokie was 75% Jewish, though that has changed. Now, the Jewish population is around 25% and consists of retirees and Orthodox.

There is a large Asian and Indian community in Skokie now, which borders Devon Avenue.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by chitown85

...There is a large Asian and Indian community in Skokie now, which borders Devon Avenue.

Skokie does not border Chicago on Devon. Lincolnwood does.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by NUman

I actually run a company that builds new construction homes in Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, and Skokie/Evanston. I can say that the real estate market is great in Skokie and Skokie/Evanston. New Construction is selling very well. We currently have four new construction projects underway and prices range from $1,199,000 to $1,450,000. The higher end homes are going to be found in Skokie/Evanston, because of the Evanston postal address and schools. The homes are 4500 to around 6000 Square Feet. You do get plenty for your money in Skokie. A steo up from Skokie would be Lincolnwood but new construction there starts in the $1.3 range. Taxes in Skokie are not high at all compared to the surrounding communities. You also get odd services with your taxes, like free sidewalk and street snow removal. Skokie is the most diverse community in Chicagoland. It is not segregated like many of the other 'diverse' towns. It is getting to be a busy town and it has a strong self-sustained economy and it is only 15 to 20 minutes from the loop.

Ah so you're one of the guys that plops ridiculous looking mega-sized houses on the small lots. Don't forget the garden on the roof so there's room for a swing set. And 6000SF homes are still selling?! Oh well, God Bless you for succeeding in our free-enterprise system. It's just that the over-indulgence bordering on absurd really aggravates me(not that you could tell by this post) Are the garages over-sized for the luxury SUV's that never see gravel/dirt roads?

The services Skokie provides are wonderful. The sidewalk snow removal, the curbside pick-up of leaves in the fall and the library to name a few.