Orland Park (Chicago, Bridgeport: middle-class, apartments, condos)

[Chicagoland60426]

I live in the south suburbs and I notice that a lot of the south suburban towns are going downhill meaning their are a increase in crime, lack of retail, and schools going bad. Orland Park seems different and sort of the premier south suburban town with one of the largest automobile strip in the country and the retail/commercial capital of Chicago southland. The suburb was shown on best living towns in america in money magazine in 2005 & 2007. With alot of the other south suburbs going down hill, do you think Orland Park will to stay as a power house of the south suburbs with all the retail or do you think it will go down hill like some of the other south suburbs in the future ?

[Drover]

Orland Park isn't going anywhere because they have effectively zoned out everyone below standard middle-class. It's easier for other towns to "turn" because they have modest housing that is within reach of the lower middle-class and, eventually, the lower class. Orland Park has basically made it against the law to build affordable housing within its borders.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

Orland Park isn't going anywhere because they have effectively zoned out everyone below standard middle-class. It's easier for other towns to "turn" because they have modest housing that is within reach of the lower middle-class and, eventually, the lower class. Orland Park has basically made it against the law to build affordable housing within its borders.

Drover knows what he's talking about here. It would take a tremendous shift in our economy and transportation system for Orland Park to decline.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by Drover

Orland Park isn't going anywhere because they have effectively zoned out everyone below standard middle-class. It's easier for other towns to "turn" because they have modest housing that is within reach of the lower middle-class and, eventually, the lower class. Orland Park has basically made it against the law to build affordable housing within its borders.

They're sure clever aren't they?

And this is true about effectively zoning out all lower class housing, Orland won't even allow any more apartments to be built in the town, ANYWHERE. Only condos are allowed to go up now, and the condos now must be elevator buildings (if being built today) which means, automatic higher price tag, then the condos themselves are like mini-houses up in the air. Heck, the condos on 143rd and Will Cook that now sell for about $350,000 a piece, in many cases are larger and nicer than the single family homes that surround the buildings, not to mention the buildings themselves are built like fortresses constructed of all concrete, brick, and rock.

Lastly, Orland Park has been ranked number 92 in Money Magazine's best places to live again in 2008. It will be listed in the August issue. I just got news in my mail yesterday when I got home. Breaking News: Orland Park named among Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live: The Orland Park Prairie - Orland Park's Local Newspaper

[ParkForester]

Originally Posted by Drover

Orland Park isn't going anywhere because they have effectively zoned out everyone below standard middle-class. It's easier for other towns to "turn" because they have modest housing that is within reach of the lower middle-class and, eventually, the lower class. Orland Park has basically made it against the law to build affordable housing within its borders.

Sorry if this is a little off topic, I don't know much about zoning laws, but how did Orland Park zone out the lower class? By making it a law not to build affordable housing?

[Irishtom29]

"Single family home", is that the thing that used to be called a "house"?

I know lots of working class people in Orland; boilermakers, pipefitters, carpenters, millwrights and such.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

"Single family home", is that the thing that used to be called a "house"?

I know lots of working class people in Orland; boilermakers, pipefitters, carpenters, millwrights and such.

I know a few too. They are effectively grandfathered in -- they bought in back when Orland was a dot in the cornfields and home prices were perfectly reasonable. Either that or they retired from CPD/CFD, cashed out the $350K equity in the Bridgeport three-flat they've been holding on to since 1987, and beat a path for greener pastures.

Whether your collar is white or blue doesn't matter as much as whether you can pay the cover charge to get into Club Orland. A retired cop's and a pipefitter's money is green too.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by ParkForester

Sorry if this is a little off topic, I don't know much about zoning laws, but how did Orland Park zone out the lower class? By making it a law not to build affordable housing?

The zoning laws specify minimum lot and house sizes. If all of the houses have to be large houses on large lots, it limits the affordability. Also, they've made it almost impossible to build new apartment buildings.

It's not just Orland Park... Most newer suburbs are doing this.

[ParkForester]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The zoning laws specify minimum lot and house sizes. If all of the houses have to be large houses on large lots, it limits the affordability. Also, they've made it almost impossible to build new apartment buildings.

It's not just Orland Park... Most newer suburbs are doing this.

Ah, I see. Thanks.

Is that something that is voted upon by the Village?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by ParkForester

Ah, I see. Thanks.

Is that something that is voted upon by the Village?

I don't know what form of municipal government they have in Orland Park, but it's something that's passed into law by the city council or village council or whatever they call it there.