Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago Suburbs
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 12-08-2008, 06:45 PM
 
Location: Chicago, Tri-Taylor
5,014 posts, read 9,390,551 times
Reputation: 3987

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lookout Kid View Post
There were some in Oak Park who wanted to build a wall along Austin and North Avenues in the 1970s. Desirability and real estate prices took care of this, however. People who complain about real estate prices in Oak Park don't realize that this is what has saved the community from ghetto-hood. And real estate prices (which do depend on schools to some degree) are what could hurt Elmwood Park and River Grove in the future. They need to capitalize on their location and Metra access to lure in a more upscale crowd if they want to survive the demise of the working class.
Very wise words my brother. It isn’t like 1958 when you could make today’s equivalent of $90k per year in a highly secure union job with a fully funded pension slapping rotary dials on telephones at Western Electric. Most of today’s working class earn a considerably lower wage than their blue collar predecessors did and tend to be employed in less stable industries like food service, construction, lawn care, and light manufacturing – industries that are first to hit the canvas when the economy turns south.

The key to future success in most formerly working class communities is to attract upper demographic groups. Black, white, yellow, or brown it really doesn’t matter. The key is income and education. Some people in these communities don’t get the concept and tend to take it very personally when the need to attract young educated professionals into the community is discussed. But it’s not that anyone’s hostile to the ideal of the blue collar paradise that most inner ring communities once were, it’s just that it’s simply unsustainable now.

Places like Elmwood Park, Berwyn and even Cicero have an advantage over many other suburbs on this score due to their housing stock, public transit access, and proximity to the Loop and the job corridors in the western suburbs. Hopefully they will be able to market and capitalize on those advantages as Oak Park did.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 12-08-2008, 11:22 PM
 
11,973 posts, read 31,631,358 times
Reputation: 4641
Quote:
Originally Posted by BRU67 View Post
Hopefully they will be able to market and capitalize on those advantages as Oak Park did.
I just saw another Berwyn booster billboard this past weekend in Lakeview. I give them credit for trying! Have you heard about these? Here's a story about them (and Berwyn) for anyone who's interested:

http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=15285 (broken link)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-11-2008, 06:48 PM
 
Location: #
9,598 posts, read 16,500,660 times
Reputation: 6323
Quote:
Originally Posted by potter View Post
You are so wrong about everything you just posted. First of all, Berwyn cannot compare to Elmwood Park in many aspects. Berwyn is becoming increasingly Hispanic and gangs are rampant there. Elmwood Parks gang problem is minor to Berwyns. Parking is no better in Berwyn and Elmwood Park has many bars open till 2 a.m. including Baciami, Capos lounge, Inari Sushi on weekends, Circle Inn, and K and M. You are so wrong LOvinlife. Get a Clue.
What gangs are in Berwyn? Name some please. Otherwise I'm thinking you are the one that needs to get a clue. And "4 Mexicans kids on the corner peddling crappy pot to some white kids from Western Springs" doesn't count.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-12-2008, 08:42 AM
 
111 posts, read 379,619 times
Reputation: 84
I like Berwyn--I think it is an interesting town, with some excellent housing stock and an ideal location to the city. That said, there are gangs in Berwyn, although I wouldn't call them rampant. A few months back, the Berwyn PD busted up a gang party in one of the nicer areas of Berwyn--you can probably run a google search to find the info. These guys were 12th Street Players, a predominantly white gang. There's probably a few others claiming Noble Knight (again, a white gang), and I know there's a Latin Count set around 16th street. I think there's also the usual Latin King and Satan Disciple sets around as well, although I may be mistaken about the latter.

Again, Berwyn is not gang-infested by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a presence. However, this is nothing new--even when it was a 100% white ethnic community there were quite a few gangs around (Park Boys, Arch Dukes, and the ones mentioned above).

Last edited by johnm68; 12-12-2008 at 09:15 AM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-12-2008, 09:04 AM
 
Location: northwest side of chicago
72 posts, read 211,856 times
Reputation: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv View Post
What gangs are in Berwyn? Name some please. Otherwise I'm thinking you are the one that needs to get a clue. And "4 Mexicans kids on the corner peddling crappy pot to some white kids from Western Springs" doesn't count.
There are Spanish Disciples, Cobras, Latin Kings, 13s, and Laraza in Berwyn. Thats 5 more than Elmwood Park has for sure.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-22-2008, 05:52 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 102,722,835 times
Reputation: 29967
Quote:
Originally Posted by sukwoo View Post
This is definitely true. The only way to combat "white flight", which definitely did occur in Oak Park, is to generate "white demand" or at least affluent demand to counter it. OP did this through aggressively marketing itself as a place for open-minded affluent liberals. This resulted in the dramatic change of OP from a bastion of conservative Republicanism to its current Democratic (some people say Socialist) mind-set.
Don't forget the aggressive anti-blockbusting efforts OP engaged in, including banning real estate "For Sale" signs for a while. It wasn't just enough that it was "white and pricey" or that it had upper-end housing stock -- this didn't stop Austin from succumbing.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-22-2008, 10:19 PM
 
Location: Chicago, Tri-Taylor
5,014 posts, read 9,390,551 times
Reputation: 3987
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Don't forget the aggressive anti-blockbusting efforts OP engaged in, including banning real estate "For Sale" signs for a while. It wasn't just enough that it was "white and pricey" or that it had upper-end housing stock -- this didn't stop Austin from succumbing.
I'd say that's very true. A lot of people forget that, and the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, the Residence Corporation, the overnight parking ban, the landlord grants and incentives, and the very tight building code enforcement in Oak Park. All of these measures came about for the same fundamental reason. When you have a high concentration of apartments like Oak Park did (and still does), it takes a lot of effort to ensure that your community stays desirable.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-12-2009, 11:05 AM
 
Location: chicago
39 posts, read 234,507 times
Reputation: 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by potter View Post
You are so wrong about everything you just posted. First of all, Berwyn cannot compare to Elmwood Park in many aspects. Berwyn is becoming increasingly Hispanic and gangs are rampant there. Elmwood Parks gang problem is minor to Berwyns. Parking is no better in Berwyn and Elmwood Park has many bars open till 2 a.m. including Baciami, Capos lounge, Inari Sushi on weekends, Circle Inn, and K and M. You are so wrong LOvinlife. Get a Clue.

I am in TOTAL agreement with you on your quote. I am offended and shocked to be hearing that BERWYN of all places is better than river grove or elmwood park! I have lived in river grove my whole life and half of my friends live in Elmwood park. Berwyn CANNOT compare to these two towns and never will. The nightlife in both the summer and winter are great and just because the lawns are well kept and houses look tidy, people always have assumed that it must be "italian runned" Please, the majority of people living in these two towns are primarily of european decent...at least now. I love my area and agree that LOVINLIFE is SOOO wrong!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-12-2009, 11:11 AM
 
Location: chicago
39 posts, read 234,507 times
Reputation: 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicagogreekboy View Post
I recently drove down Grand Ave. all the way from the Chi. Loop (where I currently live), through Cragin, and into Mont Clare, Elmwood Park, and River Grove. I really liked what I saw in these areas, but I hardly know anything about them.

I grew up in LaGrange, so these northern parts are a mystery to me. They remind me of the urban-like Berwyn/Lyons/Cicero areas, only nicer. I'm a solo and collaborative musician with a steady restaurant gig, I'm single, and on a decent income, but I'm sick of the noise of the city, the high rent, and the trendy neighborhoods. The only thing holding me to the city right now is school and work, which coincide marvelously.

To live in a pleasant town near the city with a swift commute and a safe, clean neighborhood would be great. I'm a white male in my late 20's. Would this be a decent next move or am I out of my mind?
Okay, I will give you a quick run down of both towns due to the fact that ive lived here my whole life. You will be welcomed in both communities but pricing on apartments is a little higher in Elmwood Park, not by much though. You have the metra train that runs through both towns and the 90/290 is only 15min away from both towns. I have never seen a problem with commuting to the city a problem and I would recommend these to neighborhoods to anyone. The neighborhoods are clean and well kept and there are plenty of places open late. Now, c'mon, these are small suburbs so yes there are only limited things open after 2am, but you are only minutes away from the city to find something to do. When I commute by car from River Grove to downtown chicago, I am only looking at a 20min drive! You cant beat that. River Grove is going through renovation processes to make the town look more "chic" and Elmwood Park is constantly maintaining its atmosphere. I love it here and would highly recommend the relocation!

we would love to have you and good luck!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-12-2009, 03:45 PM
 
333 posts, read 1,142,299 times
Reputation: 186
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeepgrl015 View Post
I am in TOTAL agreement with you on your quote. I am offended and shocked to be hearing that BERWYN of all places is better than river grove or elmwood park! I have lived in river grove my whole life and half of my friends live in Elmwood park. Berwyn CANNOT compare to these two towns and never will. The nightlife in both the summer and winter are great and just because the lawns are well kept and houses look tidy, people always have assumed that it must be "italian runned" Please, the majority of people living in these two towns are primarily of european decent...at least now. I love my area and agree that LOVINLIFE is SOOO wrong!
First of all,Elmwood Park is Italian run and has been for over 40 years. The Mayor, the village manager, the police chief, the fire chief, and the head of zoning and public works are all Italian. And yes, the south end of Elmwood Park that borders River Forest is still predominately Italian American. The Northside of town, north of Fullerton, is predominately Polish, Spanish, and other Eastern Europeans. Elmwood Park will remain run by Italians, at least until all of the illegal Eastern Europeans and Spanish, become legal and register to vote. The south side of town is also the more expensive part, with beautiful brick georgians, english tudors, ranches, and colonials. and yes, this side of town has mostly perfect landscaping and appears very clean, thanks to those meticulous Italian Americans. FYI, the last census to be posted in 2000, lists Elmwood Park as having the most Italian Americans in Illinois-with over 25%
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago Suburbs
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top