Chicago Heights? (neighborhoods, gangs, activity)

[deechee]

Originally Posted by skyeINIL

^^Ick.

MMmmhmm.

*nods head*

[SlickPoetry]

I've lived in chicago heights for 3 years (2 in an apartment bordering on the ghetto, 1 year in my new house) and I like it here enough--because of the neighborhood I'm in. You definitely want to be north of Lincoln Highway and west of Dixie Highway. Everything else is trash.

My neighborhood uses the fantastic Flossmoor school system, so my kids won't have to deal with crappy Chicago Heights schools

[deechee]

Originally Posted by SlickPoetry

I've lived in chicago heights for 3 years (2 in an apartment bordering on the ghetto, 1 year in my new house) and I like it here enough--because of the neighborhood I'm in. You definitely want to be north of Lincoln Highway and west of Dixie Highway. Everything else is trash.

My neighborhood uses the fantastic Flossmoor school system, so my kids won't have to deal with crappy Chicago Heights schools

That's so true about location. You still may feel the stigma of living there. And your kids may get some flack about being Chicago Hts. kids....just a warning, not trying to be mean! Glad you live somewhere you and your family are comfortable

[urza216]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

well if you need crack, powder cocaine, blunt weed, "hydro", or prostitutes feel free to visit Wentworth and Lincoln Highway. Or you can turn south on Division and choose any of the blocks that have the dope boys on the corners for your drug/hooker of choice.

I used to work in sales and had to travel through and to the heights for business...it is straight ghetto! i'm confident the crime statistics of the Chicago Heights/Ford Heights area is much worse than many large cities across America. Murders, corrupt police forces, inept mayors and government structure...be prepared for the absolute worst. That area is littered with 4CH (4 corner hustlers) and GD's (gangster disciples). the drug areas i mentioned have buildings littered with their gang grafitti. it is usually a star with pitch forks or something like that.

if i had to live in that area...i wouldn't get attached to anything because it could be gone in a flash and i would obviously own a gun or two and just station them around the house in different rooms. The worst suburbs in all of Chicago are Gary, Chicago Heights, Harvey, and Ford Heights. Ford Heights is Chicago Heights' neighbor to the East. Their police force is so corrupt that on multiple occasions the State of Illinois shut down their police department and was forced to patrol their city with State Troopers. The dope boys own that area. Be super careful and don't start anything with anyone. Even looks because most those people in those areas aren't playing with a full deck because of one reason or another but more than likely because of a drug problem.

the only businesses that do well in Chicago Heights are Strip Clubs like Jimmy's or Liquor stores. It's both sad and pathetic. I'd be on my way to a meeting at 9am and the Liquor Stores off of Lincoln Highway would have a steady flow of people in and out...at 9am...it's a terrible town. The roads are horrible too since the government is so inept and when city/street workers do work that area it is common for them to be robbed. Litter lines the streets. There are boarded up homes. I can take some pictures if you would like...

Excuse me? I signed up for an account here just to say something.

First off, it depends WHERE in Chicago Heights you are. Obviously, the East Side is pretty run-down and dilapidated. But Chicago Heights is a big town (or more accurately, a small city). Just because one neighborhood in the Heights is a certain way, it doesn't mean the whole town is like that.

Marcus Cinema is in the Heights.. People from Park Forest, Matteson, Glenwood, Homewood, Flossmoor, Hazelcrest, Olympia Fields, Richton Park, Sauk Village, Monee, University Park, Creet, ect. ect. ALL go there to see movies. In my area, it is referred to as "THE movie theatre". Not to mention Ultra Foods, Pepe’s, several fancy restaurants, a limo service and PRAIRIE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (young people all around the South Suburbs go there) are all in The Heights. And yes, these are business that do well. I can take pictures if you’d like. ;-)

Actually, I will gladly take a bunch of pictures on Lincoln Highway. Borders, Blockbuster, Bank Financial, Tobacco Plus, the Sprint Store, the Verizon Wireless store, Jewel, Starbucks, Best Buy, Panera Bread, Gamestop, Lincoln Mall and my mom’s office are all on Lincoln Highway. I used to ride my bike to the mall, the Blockbuster and the Borders on Lincoln Highway when I was fourteen years old without a care in the world.

Be careful? Don't look anyone in the eye? Maybe you have problems because you come around acting like a racist douche-bag... And yes, I am willing to bet my entire next paycheck that At1WithNature is white. Only a racist white person could possible be so paranoid and so full of it.

I’m 23 year old white male who was raised in the neighboring town of Park Forest, btw. I’m also about to get in the shower and then head out to the Best Buy on Lincoln Highway to pick up some CD cases. After that, I’ll prabobly swing by the Borders on Lincoln Highway and hang out in the Café for a couple hours. No, seriously.. It's a Saturday afternoon and I really have to get off the damn computer and go do something else. ;-)

p.s. Photographs rarely tell the compete truth. You're right. You could easily to take a few pictures on Lincoln Highway and make it look like run-down ghetto. And I would gladly respond by taking a few pictures of Lincoln Highway and make it look like a thriving metropolis. The truth, however, is somewhere in between.

[jason02]

Originally Posted by urza216

Excuse me? I signed up for an account here just to say something.

First off, it depends WHERE in Chicago Heights you are. Obviously, the East Side is pretty run-down and dilapidated. But Chicago Heights is a big town (or more accurately, a small city). Just because one neighborhood in the Heights is a certain way, it doesn't mean the whole town is like that.

Marcus Cinema is in the Heights.. People from Park Forest, Matteson, Glenwood, Homewood, Flossmoor, Hazelcrest, Olympia Fields, Richton Park, Sauk Village, Monee, University Park, Creet, ect. ect. ALL go there to see movies. In my area, it is referred to as "THE movie theatre". Not to mention Ultra Foods, Pepe’s, several fancy restaurants, a limo service and PRAIRIE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (young people all around the South Suburbs go there) are all in The Heights. And yes, these are business that do well. I can take pictures if you’d like. ;-)

Actually, I will gladly take a bunch of pictures on Lincoln Highway. Borders, Blockbuster, Bank Financial, Tobacco Plus, the Sprint Store, the Verizon Wireless store, Jewel, Starbucks, Best Buy, Panera Bread, Gamestop, Lincoln Mall and my mom’s office are all on Lincoln Highway. I used to ride my bike to the mall, the Blockbuster and the Borders on Lincoln Highway when I was fourteen years old without a care in the world.

Be careful? Don't look anyone in the eye? Maybe you have problems because you come around acting like a racist douche-bag... And yes, I am willing to bet my entire next paycheck that At1WithNature is white. Only a racist white person could possible be so paranoid and so full of it.

I’m 23 year old white male who was raised in the neighboring town of Park Forest, btw. I’m also about to get in the shower and then head out to the Best Buy on Lincoln Highway to pick up some CD cases. After that, I’ll prabobly swing by the Borders on Lincoln Highway and hang out in the Café for a couple hours. No, seriously.. It's a Saturday afternoon and I really have to get off the damn computer and go do something else. ;-)

p.s. Photographs rarely tell the compete truth. You're right. You could easily to take a few pictures on Lincoln Highway and make it look like run-down ghetto. And I would gladly respond by taking a few pictures of Lincoln Highway and make it look like a thriving metropolis. The truth, however, is somewhere in between.

I dont think anyone is talking bad about Lincoln Highway...

Most of those places you are referring to such as:

Jewel(Olympia fields).
Lincoln Mall, Borders, Best Buy(Matteson).

Arent in chicago heights.

Me personally, i wouldnt touch chicago heights. Just listen to the kids in here talking about gd's and 4 ch's in chicago heights. You're hearing it straight from the horses mouth there.

And on top of that, Chicago Heights is too close to Ford Height for my liking. That place looks worse than some of the worst areas in Chicago. Its unbelivable.

Bottom line to the Original Poster, drive around Chicago Heights(preferably in the daytime) and you will see that it really isnt the best place to live. Dont take our word for it, see for yourself.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by jason02

Me personally, i wouldnt touch chicago heights. Just listen to the kids in here talking about gd's and 4 ch's in chicago heights. You're hearing it straight from the horses mouth there.

Well, there are GDs in Matteson too.. I once hung out at a GD's house in Matteson for an hour and bought an ounce of weed. This was about a year and a half ago. As hard as it is for some people to comprehend, gang presence and high crime rates are not one and the same.

[adeltagirl]

To the original poster: I wouldn't recommend Chicago Heights (at all). I personally live in Homewood. I agree with an earlier post regarding Orland Park or even Oak Forest. They both have excellent schools, proximity to every thing one would need, great parks and a safe living environment. Oak Forest and Orland are both about 15 minutes north west of Chicago Heights. Homewood / Flossmoor is nice as well, although Homewood is on the decline. I personally live in Homewood and I can't say that I see myself here beyond the next 3 years. But check out the towns mentioned in my post and I'm sure you will find that you would fit in. I will say that race is an issue in Oak Forest. Unfortunately it is not very diverse if that is something you are looking for in a place to settle.

[Careless]

Originally Posted by urza216

As hard as it is for some people to comprehend, gang presence and high crime rates are not one and the same.

Now that's a new one.
edit: quick search... "This city is safer than 17% of the cities in the US." Bottom quintile

[deechee]

I personally could see myself traveling through, living in, and feeling comfortable in Homewood for a long time. I don't see the danger that a previous poster mentioned. Homewood is still a safe bet for a homeowner looking to stay put for a while.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Careless

Now that's a new one.

Well, it shouldn't be a new one.

It depends on what activity a gang is particpating in. If gangbangers are on the street commiting crimes, that means a higher crime rate. If gangs are out of sight out of mind, they're prabobly contributing to crime elsewhere but not in the town that they just happen to reside in.

Remember: Drug dealers don't like cops. And good drug dealers don't like neighborhoods filled with activity that draws the attention of cops.