Homewood vs. Flossmoor (updated information) (Chicago, Humboldt: crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

Ouch! Living with the Mother In Law.

Nope. She's awesome.

[ajolotl]

I wish my mother and law would move in. My wife and I could escape the kids more frequently.
At1: you'll appreciate MOL when you have some little ones. It's all about survival and sanity at that point.

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

It's all about survival and sanity at that point.

Tell me about it.

[Humboldt1]

Skye,

Regardless of my opinions and experiences on south suburban Chicago, good luck in your new home.

My brother lives with his wife in LaPorte and they love it. I also have some family in the Valporaiso area.

I have started looking at single family houses now, mostly foreclosures.

I am looking at LaGrange, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Itasca (already own there), Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove and to a lesser extent Naperville. All are relatively affluent with good schools and good transportation options (highway/train).

I hope you enjoy your new home. Which town?

[skyeINIL]

Dyer

[Humboldt1]

Growing area, lots of newer single family home construction.

I used to be commercial real estate underwriter for 5/3 in Merriville in 2003-2004, so I know a thing or two about real estate in the area, the region too.

I think you moved up, though you may not care about my opinion given our differences in the past. Either way, good luck in your new home. I am sure you made a wise choice.

[chicago_60611]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

I was robbed and nearly killed in 1998 in St. Louis by 4 black males "hanging out" near a street corner as I was walking to a McDonald's a few blocks east of Washington University. In St. Louis, it gets pretty bad quickly as you get east of the university (Clayton, University City).

In 2007 I was ripped off by my black trainer to the tune of $3,000, in Palatine. I still have a lien on his house, which from what I understand is in foreclosure.

In 2006-2008, I was nearly held hostage in a building I owned by the 3 black families that lived in there and ended up evicting all 3 and end up losing $15,000.

In all fairness, in 2009, I lost around $8,000 to a Puerto Rican family that I just evicted, $5,000 in lost rent and $3,000 in repairs.

It is fair to say I HATE GHETTO PEOPLE and wish they would be wiped off this planet.

Right or wrong, white teenagers are not seen as doing anything wrong, maybe at worst hanging out and skateboarding. They are not the ones selling drugs or doing other gang activity.

I would not have a problem with a group of black teenagers hanging out at that Starbucks, so long as they were clean-cut and not ghetto looking. Besides, if they were too ghetto looking I am positive the police would enforce no loitering ordinances and break them up. This might happen too if they were white if enough people complained as well.

10PM is not 2AM. And it is Starbucks, not some street corner in the city controlled by a gang.

Skye,

Just curious, why did you move from Lansing?

Wow you guys sure seem to be straying far, far away from the topic...But in replying to your joint comments people tend to feel (most times, but not all), at ease and comfortable around members of the same race--I see this at work every day! Which, in my Opinion, is a direct result of not spending enough time with individuals of other races period. Furthermore in regards to your “group of blacks comment,” I guess it’s safe to say you are white, and have had little interaction with blacks? I say this as you mentioned that the gathering of white teens on Longwood doesn't scare you. Question—what is it about black teens that scare you—are they bigger, taller, stronger?


Gotta tell you--I’m a grown Azz man, and the day I start running from a teenager (of any race), is the day I don’t run at all. It is true that most blacks out at 2am in the morning, when nothing is open, no buses are running, no clubs are nearby, or other, are probably up to something. (But that would also be true for any race of teenager). I don’t think singling out a group of individuals is the answer here. You need to get over your fears and embrace what is different—you might find that you have more in common than you think. (Oh yea I hate ghetto people too). But then again white or black, rich or poor, it sounds like you should have screened your associates/tenants better. FYI. I'm originally from NYC and grew up and Brooklyn Heights, not crime ridden by any stretch however, in order to get home you often had to walk or drive through some sketchy areas--which made for thick skin and even faster running shoes.

[ajolotl]

I was the one who made the comment about walking by groups of young black males. I agree with everything you say. In fact, I have always chosen to live in pretty much 50/50 white/black areas for the reason that you point out, and so my kids don't grow up with negative stereotypes.

I was just being honest. If it points to a defect in my character than so be it. The groups of young black males who pass my house almost always walk in the street and are talking very loud. Otherwise, they are doing nothing at all controversial. And i don't have any real reason to think that they are ghetto, though I wouldn't call them clean cut. That's just a style issue.

I don't feel this way about blacks in general. It's teenage black males who tend to rub me the wrong way for whatever reason. It's mostly in my head. Yes, hopefully I will get over it some day.

Originally Posted by chicago_60611

Wow you guys sure seem to be straying far, far away from the topic...But in replying to your joint comments people tend to feel (most times, but not all), at ease and comfortable around members of the same race--I see this at work every day! Which, in my Opinion, is a direct result of not spending enough time with individuals of other races period. Furthermore in regards to your “group of blacks comment,” I guess it’s safe to say you are white, and have had little interaction with blacks? I say this as you mentioned that the gathering of white teens on Longwood doesn't scare you. Question—what is it about black teens that scare you—are they bigger, taller, stronger?


Gotta tell you--I’m a grown Azz man, and the day I start running from a teenager (of any race), is the day I don’t run at all. It is true that most blacks out at 2am in the morning, when nothing is open, no buses are running, no clubs are nearby, or other, are probably up to something. (But that would also be true for any race of teenager). I don’t think singling out a group of individuals is the answer here. You need to get over your fears and embrace what is different—you might find that you have more in common than you think. (Oh yea I hate ghetto people too). But then again white or black, rich or poor, it sounds like you should have screened your associates/tenants better. FYI. I'm originally from NYC and grew up and Brooklyn Heights, not crime ridden by any stretch however, in order to get home you often had to walk or drive through some sketchy areas--which made for thick skin and even faster running shoes.

[chicago_60611]

Let me ask you this do you let your kids play with blacks? And why do you think your feelings toward black males is soo ingrained?

[ajolotl]

wow, that's amazing to even ask that question. My kids have so many black friends that I couldn't count them. I make no distinction at all about who is what race when it comes to people that I've met. My kids are completely blind to racial distinctions.

You should come see where I live. I wouldn't have chosen these areas if I were that prejudiced.

I'm just being honest about the fact that I'm not free from prejudice completely. I think most people aren't and those that think they are are fooling themselves.

No idea why I feel that way about black males. Could be bad experiences in junior high or even as a young man in Hyde Park.

Originally Posted by chicago_60611

Let me ask you this do you let your kids play with blacks? And why do you think your feelings toward black males is soo ingrained?