Country Club Hills (Orland Park, Tinley Park, Mokena: neighborhoods, bankruptcy, high school)

[Paula Lynn]

I grew up there in the late 60's, early 70's. Anyone live there now, what's it like?

[ZishanMalik]

I have a friend who used to live there. He descirbed it as "ghetto" and said it has fallen into crime.

[prairiestate]

A few weeks ago a student was stabbed during a high school basketball game, then after the game two more students were shot outside the school. The fire department was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy a few years ago. On the bright side, there is a new shopping center on 167th and Crawford, anchored by a Wal Mart Supercenter.

[Paula Lynn]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

A few weeks ago a student was stabbed during a high school basketball game, then after the game two more students were shot outside the school. The fire department was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy a few years ago. On the bright side, there is a new shopping center on 167th and Crawford, anchored by a Wal Mart Supercenter.

Was that Hillcrest HS?

[prairiestate]

Yup Hillcrest

[Paula Lynn]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Yup Hillcrest

Wow - I graduated there in '73. I think the school was only 6 or 7 years new. That's when all those developements were building. I was at 175th & Crawford?? Not too sure, it was so long ago. It was west of South Suburban Hospital. I-80 was being built one block norht of me ........

[deechee]

Originally Posted by ZishanMalik

I have a friend who used to live there. He descirbed it as "ghetto" and said it has fallen into crime.

I wonder what Country Club Hills he lived in?

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by deechee

I wonder what Country Club Hills he lived in?

Maybe the one with periodic shootings in the neighborhoods and the high school.

The one with almost more vacant storefronts than occupied ones.

The one where the fire department threatened to shut down a few years ago from lack of funds.

The one where property tax bills tripled or quadrupled last year to cover a staggering revenue shortfall.

The one where there are armed guards at the Wal Mart.

Maybe he's in that CCH.

Which one are you in that these problems don't exist?

[deechee]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Maybe the one with periodic shootings in the neighborhoods and the high school.

The one with almost more vacant storefronts than occupied ones.

The one where the fire department threatened to shut down a few years ago from lack of funds.

The one where property tax bills tripled or quadrupled last year to cover a staggering revenue shortfall.

The one where there are armed guards at the Wal Mart.

Maybe he's in that CCH.

Which one are you in that these problems don't exist?

I live here too. I don't go to that Walmart, actually.

This is a middle class small town, not Winnetka! Of course we needed a tax increase after all the white folks left for Tinley Park, Orland Park, Mokena, etc.

[prairiestate]

There are plenty of ordinary towns that aren't Winnetka that don't have shootings. They may have budget issues, but they don't need to quadruple property taxes in one year. They have business districts that aren't half empty.

And you said you don't shop at that Wal-Mart. Does that mean you shop at another one? Why not support your community by keeping your tax dollars in town?