When and why did Waukegan become a mini-Detroit? (In chronological order) (Chicago: section 8, real estate market)

[cuba libre]

A drive down Sheridan Rd. will tell you that the city used to be an affluent lakeside metropolis of industry. In what order did Waukegan become the dump that it is?

1)First, jobs left town, then qualified labor left, then unqualified labor moved in.

2)Newcomers 'scared away' existing population, forcing companies that employed existing population to move elsewhere.

3)Or was it Lake County's fault by building a myraid of Lake County institutional buildings in the 1960's and 1970's that attracted 'dependent' types, ie Welfare moms, McDonalds junkies, and criminals?

I think it was a combination of #2 and #3 that made Waukegan the cesspool it is today. The sole purpose of many of the infrastructure buildings in downtown Waukegan is to give targeted and quota-based segments of Lake County's population 'useless' jobs simply because they can't find employment in the private sector.

[Chicagoland60426]

You got to be kidding. Waukegan is no mini Detroit. Sometimes I wonder what some of you consider bad.

[Anthera]

Obviously this poster has never been to Detroit.

[cuba libre]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Obviously this poster has never been to Detroit.

I have been to Detroit, I bought my Chevy there... I find the negative symptoms of Waukegan - high unemployment, a blossoming minority population, urban decay, incompetent leadership, and decades of white flight very similar to Detroit's past history. Thus, "mini" Detroit.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Obviously this poster has never been to Detroit.

Or the south side of Chicago like Englewood...

[cuba libre]

You guys are being unreasonable. Have you ever been to Waukegan???

Most of Waukegan's great Victorian mansions are filled with illegal immigrants and section 8-ers. What happened???

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

You guys are being unreasonable. Have you ever been to Waukegan???

Most of Waukegan's great Victorian mansions are filled with illegal immigrants and section 8-ers. What happened???

I can look at the crime stats and tell its nothing like a mini Detroit or not even where I live; Harvey, IL.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

You guys are being unreasonable. Have you ever been to Waukegan???

Most of Waukegan's great Victorian mansions are filled with illegal immigrants and section 8-ers. What happened???

If it were Detroit the house would have been burnt and someone would be dealing coke outside. The section 8 people & immigrants would be rotting corpses lying on the ground.

Start a new thread something like "What has happened to Waukegan" and you might get some good responses. Comparing it to Detroit is too overly dramatic and you won't get the thoughtful responses you want.

And yes I have been to Waukegan. There is a nice harbor where many NW suburbanites keep their boats.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

You guys are being unreasonable. Have you ever been to Waukegan???

Most of Waukegan's great Victorian mansions are filled with illegal immigrants and section 8-ers. What happened???

There are hardly any Hispanics in Detroit. The city is about 90% black. Waukegan is NOTHING like Detroit.

I'd compare Waukegan to Elgin or Joliet--not Detroit.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There are hardly any Hispanics in Detroit. The city is about 90% black. Waukegan is NOTHING like Detroit.

I'd compare Waukegan to Elgin or Joliet--not Detroit.

Exactly. Waukegan has changed since its heyday, but it still has its proximity to the lake, transportation, and employment. In addition it is surrounded by solid real estate markets. There has been a great deal of money spent in cleaning up the harbor too.

I would not be surprised to see Waukegan improve significantly when the next real estate boom cycle hit (whenever that happens).