Tell me about Park Ridge (Chicago, Niles: city hall, buying a home, neighborhood)

[Eusibius2]

Originally Posted by thePR

You said you lived in Arlington Heights so you should know that it's downtown is fairly built up and urban. Park Ridge's uptown is like a mini Arlington Heights. There is also a downtown a few miles South. It is a fairly walkable city although it's layout is undeniably suburban.

The education in Park Ridge is very good, especially at the high school level.

Arlington Heights downtown area is urban? By urban, do you mean it has business, apartments, and condos all in compact, busy area? Sure, but urban by any other means I don't really think so. Having used to live in downtown Chicago for 15 years and now living in AH, I think there's a a great disperity between the two types of urban...

Nevertheless, to the OP, Park Ridge is a great town. I have a friend who lives there and he loves the place. He tried to convince me to move there but my wife and I had other plans.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Eusibius2

Arlington Heights downtown area is urban? By urban, do you mean it has business, apartments, and condos all in compact, busy area? Sure, but urban by any other means I don't really think so. Having used to live in downtown Chicago for 15 years and now living in AH, I think there's a a great disperity between the two types of urban...

Nevertheless, to the OP, Park Ridge is a great town. I have a friend who lives there and he loves the place. He tried to convince me to move there but my wife and I had other plans.

That's pretty much it and for a suburb around here that's pretty good.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by Cindy1971

The schools are very good. I won't say amazing but I think most children will do quite well. One might even grow up to be, say Secretary of the State after graduating PR public schools.

Haha nice Hilary Clinton reference. But actually, she attended Maine East for her Freshman-Junior years, so Maine South had little to do with her success.

Originally Posted by BRU67

Yet, it's somehow a-ok to base a negative opinion on race so long as it involves whites. I wonder if that will remain the case once Caucasians become a minority in this country (probably by the end of the coming decade).

Not to be preachy today but this is a huge pet peeve of mine.

It's only okay to say these things towards Caucasians because they've been the majority for so long. All this talk of Caucasians become a minority is an over exaggerated scare tactic in my opinion. Whites will still make up the largest group, they just won't be the largest percentage wise. Minorities will be over 50% in total, they'll still be the smaller groups individually.

As for Park Ridge, it's a nice area, but its nothing special. It's homes could be found a lot of places on the North Shore, but it has one thing going for it. Maine South. Maine South, like many North Shore schools, has excellent test scores.

You could send your kids to schools elsewhere in the area (except for maybe Maine East) and they'll do just as well. They won't be behind in life because they didn't graduate from Maine South. I suggest you look elsewhere, Des Plaines, Glenview, Morton Grove, etc. If you really want to get into the area, prepare for some very pricey real estate.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Dncr

You could send your kids to schools elsewhere in the area (except for maybe Maine East) and they'll do just as well. They won't be behind in life because they didn't graduate from Maine South. I suggest you look elsewhere, Des Plaines, Glenview, Morton Grove, etc. If you really want to get into the area, prepare for some very pricey real estate.

Glenview is more expensive.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by thePR

Glenview is more expensive.

At first I thought you were crazy, but then I looked it up and you're right haha. Well s/he should at least look around. It's not like a great educate can only be found in Park Ridge. I've just never understood the awe of Park Ridge, so even now I'm biased.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Dncr

As for Park Ridge, it's a nice area, but its nothing special. It's homes could be found a lot of places on the North Shore, but it has one thing going for it. Maine South. Maine South, like many North Shore schools, has excellent test scores.

Park Ridge is somewhat special because of it's nice, walkable downtown centered around a Metra stop. And there are still older, walkable residential areas as well (though much of Park Ridge is standard post-war suburbia on smaller lots and marred by out-of-scale teardowns). I do realize that many of the North Shore communities offer this as well, but the North Shore is still quite a bit more expensive than Park Ridge. I'd pick Wilmette over Park Ridge any day, but Wilmette adds a significant price to the real estate. You can still find many decent homes under $500K in Park Ridge.

[linicx]

Moderator: Please Stay on TOPIC! The OP did NOT ask for racial or political comments. Let's keep it friendly and informative.

[rocketeer]

Someone please close this thread.

[pvande55]

According to news reports, Park Ridge is planning cuts in city services due to poor economic conditions. This time the cuts will extend to the fire department.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by rocketeer

Someone please close this thread.

It had been dead since December until you dug it up today.