Maywood, Illinois (Chicago, Oak Park, Elmwood Park: fit in, violent crime, houses)

[kindrakindra]

LK

I think you mean OP Avenue on the east? Even kids west of Ridgeland on the NE corner goto Hatch, not Mann. Hatch is good, by the way.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by kindrakindra

LK

I think you mean OP Avenue on the east? Even kids west of Ridgeland on the NE corner goto Hatch, not Mann. Hatch is good, by the way.

I should have been more clear. I didn't mean to imply that the "sweet spot" I was talking about was the same as the Mann attendance boundaries... I was just saying that Mann is within this "sweet spot" in Oak Park.

[Venom]

Maywood representing.

Whoever said take away Maywood and Melrose would be a better place is wrong.

[BigTed]

Melrose Park still would have its problems because the village officials are corrupt Italians but I think that crime would be down at least 25% if it didn't border Maywood. I say that it would only be down 25% because Mexicans, illegal and legal, account for much of the crime in Melrose and there are few Mexicans in Maywood likely because the majority black population scares them away. I have a friend who lives in Melrose and he said that it has been taken over by Mexicans, many of whom don't do their part to make sure that their property is kept nice i.e. cutting the grass when it gets high, letting weeds grow out of control etc.

[Chinolala]

I drive through Maywood on my to and from work and I will say, in the summer, I have seen 2 women that HAVE TO BE prostitutes. They hang out at southwest corner of St. Charles and 9th. The area in winter is pretty quiet, but I've seen my share of questionable characters in the summer. I'm always there in rush hour and feel safe. Lots of Oak Parkers and River Foresters use St. Charles has a east/west cut through street.

To answer the OP's question, I don't know what the answer is for Maywood. The north area has come great homes and it's location is really awesome. I hope it turns itself around.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by BigTed

Melrose Park still would have its problems because the village officials are corrupt Italians but I think that crime would be down at least 25% if it didn't border Maywood. I say that it would only be down 25% because Mexicans, illegal and legal, account for much of the crime in Melrose and there are few Mexicans in Maywood likely because the majority black population scares them away. I have a friend who lives in Melrose and he said that it has been taken over by Mexicans, many of whom don't do their part to make sure that their property is kept nice i.e. cutting the grass when it gets high, letting weeds grow out of control etc.

How do you know these village officials are corrupt Italians? Do you work for the FBI? And believe me, Maywood is the ruination of Melrose Park. The majority of the crime at Winston Plaza,The Target and Jewel, is Maywood trash committing thefts. And go to the Cinemark movie theater is Melrose Park on a Friday or Saturday night, and you will feel like you are in Maywood. Honestly, the Mexicans are not the big problem. The majority of them do work-they should be legal though. I can honestly say that when Melrose Park was predominately Italian- say 15-20 years ago- it was a safehaven. Maywood residents stayed out for the most part and everyone knew their boundaries. I know many former residents of Melrose that did not even lock their house doors 20 years ago. Good luck not locking your doors now.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by Chinolala

I drive through Maywood on my to and from work and I will say, in the summer, I have seen 2 women that HAVE TO BE prostitutes. They hang out at southwest corner of St. Charles and 9th. The area in winter is pretty quiet, but I've seen my share of questionable characters in the summer. I'm always there in rush hour and feel safe. Lots of Oak Parkers and River Foresters use St. Charles has a east/west cut through street.

To answer the OP's question, I don't know what the answer is for Maywood. The north area has come great homes and it's location is really awesome. I hope it turns itself around.

Prostitution has always been a problem on St. Charles rd. from 9th ave.-19th ave. I hope you keep your doors locked and your windows up when driving this strip in nice weather. There have been multiple murders that occurred on this strip- in fact last year there was 2 murders on the corner of 19th/St. Charles. Do not be foolish feeling too safe there.

[Lookout Kid]

I don't "feel" safe anywhere in Maywood. I'm routinely in more dangerous city neighborhoods, but something about Maywood gives me the creeps. At least in Chicago you might get a CPD cop to get your back in a pinch--if they respond.

[Venom]

Yeah, Maywood is super lonely at night compared to the city.
Lol @ the prostitutes.
They're ugly. :\


North Maywood is not bad at all. Like around Chicago ave. and up between 1st and 9th

[meatpuff]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Oak Park's crime troubles peaked in the 80s-early 90s, and have been on the decline every since. This past year wasn't a particualrly bad year in Oark Park, but armed robberies were WAY up for some reason (and this has been widely reported on the local papers). River Forest experienced a similar spike this year. While eastern Oak Park has more problems, living north of the Ike won't do you much good.
...

Originally Posted by promis1

Oak Park borders the highest crime area of the city-zip code 60651. I work in this Austin area of the city and can honestly tell you that from what I see happen daily just a few blocks away from Oak Park in this slum-its quite scary. Good police or not-Oak Parks crime will continue to be a significant risk due to its urban location- in fact from my experience in the area-I personally would not feel safe for my children to play anywhere in that area. Its just too close to garbage.

http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=133 31&TM=13418.54
http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=134 96&TM=13418.54

The armed robberies continue in Oak Park. I don't have a good way to say how much or whether this is worse than usual. But doesn't violent street crime usually slow down when the weather gets too bitter to be on the street, as a rule?

The second article mentions problems in Austin. I tried to use the crime summaries at gis.chicagopolice.org to see if things are worse recently, and Austin has 1145 robberies in the last 365 days and 339 in the past 90. So the last 3 months have been out of proportion. Another way, that's 8.5X the median for Chicago community areas in the past 365 days and 11.7X the median in the last 90 (not normalized for population; Austin is easily the most populous area of the city). These show quite a busy time for Austin robberies, which doesn't help.

Also, six Green line robberies in Austin in 12 December days? Eesh. That has to constitute a crime wave, and probably of almost all OPers.

Hope it quiets down soon over there. Man, I thought Austin was already about as bad as it could get?