The Urbanophile's "State of Chicago" Series (Evanston, Skokie: tax, housing market)

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Definitions of irony aside, Chicago is actually adding middle class people (primarily young people) and has been for awhile. It's bleeding poor people, not middle class. Cost of living has been going up, not down as it has in South Bend. There's no comparison.

I thought you liked ''socioeconomic diversity''.

[tribecavsbrowns]

Kamms, go away.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Correct. No one would say Brooklyn is in decline since it is growing and is well on its way to its previous population peak. Manhattan is not in decline because its population is growing as well. Chicago's is in decline. NYC's population growth is not confined to Staten Island and the ''outer'' reaches of Queens. Also, Chicago's population loss has been rationalized as ''all those project people'' (aka poor blacks) are leaving the city; at least they're getting out of those cramped project conditions I guess.

If you're going to break NYC into boroughs, at least break up Chicago a little.

Would anyone say population on the North Side is declining?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by rparz

If you're going to break NYC into boroughs, at least break up Chicago a little.

Would anyone say population on the North Side is declining?

Much of it is losing population. Some of that is gentrification.

Basically, the areas served by the Loop, Near Loop, Brown Line and Orange Line, plus some parts of East Garfield Park and between Hyde Park and the South Loop are gaining population. Nearly everywhere else is losing population, and losing it at a pretty rapid pace.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by rparz

If you're going to break NYC into boroughs, at least break up Chicago a little.

Would anyone say population on the North Side is declining?

All 5 NYC boroughs are experiencing population growth; therefore, there is overall growth. In Chicago, some areas are growing but not enough to offset the areas losing population; therefore, there is overall population decline.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by rparz

If you're going to break NYC into boroughs, at least break up Chicago a little.

Would anyone say population on the North Side is declining?

There could be population decline somewhere on the North Side; if you're referring to River North up to Lakeview, probably not.

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by Kamms

All 5 NYC boroughs are experiencing population growth; therefore, there is overall growth. In Chicago, some areas are growing but not enough to offset the areas losing population; therefore, there is overall population decline.

I would imagine that New York's growth is due to immigration. Chicago doesn't have anywhere near the massive immigrant population of New York. It's also not a major port of entry like New York. Mexican immigration was the only reason that Chicago grew in the 90's. The south and west sides continue to lose people. We won't see any overall net growth in the city for a long time.

[rparz]

Even with population loss, think there will be a trend of city property values rising, along with average resident income? Hopefully, that'll increase tax revenues as a side effect and hopefully get the city out of the red.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Kamms

I thought you liked ''socioeconomic diversity''.

Yes, and?

I didn't say it was a good thing that Chicago is losing low-SES people. I'm just pointing out what's happening, not giving an opinion on it.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Kamms

All 5 NYC boroughs are experiencing population growth;

This is true over the past couple of decades, but not when compared to 50 or 100 years ago.