Did Boystown have problems last summer? (Chicago, Buckingham: sales, safe neighborhoods, live in)

[TBideon]

I know 2011 was a rough time for folks in Boystown due to ghetto thugs. Was 2012 any better?

[Link N. Parker]

My understanding was that 2012 was actually worse than 2011, but sometime towards the end of the summer, the Halsted Street Chamber of Commerce paid a security company to put security guards to walk up and down Halsted at night. Apparantly, hardly anyone was going to the bars there anymore due to the fear of muggings, and the bars' bottom lines were taking a hit. This move seemed to have some positive effect. I hardly go to the area anymore, but I did walk up there last month and was looking around; things seemed pretty calm, but you have to remember it was December and very cold, so things were probably quiet for that reason. But, from checking police reports lately, it appears that the area is once again having problems with people being robbed at gunpoint, purse snatchings, etc. The city needs to hire more police and have them be permanently stationed there, as well as in places like the CTA stations and the Lakefront path, in order to get the thugs under control and prevent them from coming into the area.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by Link N. Parker

My understanding was that 2012 was actually worse than 2011, but sometime towards the end of the summer, the Halsted Street Chamber of Commerce paid a security company to put security guards to walk up and down Halsted at night. Apparantly, hardly anyone was going to the bars there anymore due to the fear of muggings, and the bars' bottom lines were taking a hit. This move seemed to have some positive effect. I hardly go to the area anymore, but I did walk up there last month and was looking around; things seemed pretty calm, but you have to remember it was December and very cold, so things were probably quiet for that reason. But, from checking police reports lately, it appears that the area is once again having problems with people being robbed at gunpoint, purse snatchings, etc. The city needs to hire more police and have them be permanently stationed there, as well as in places like the CTA stations and the Lakefront path, in order to get the thugs under control and prevent them from coming into the area.

A lot has happened in the area. Last time I was in the area a group of 10 guys jumped on one guy and stabbed him. It was an awful sight.

I don't do boys town. Its not my cup of tea. It is a destination gay yuppie neighborhood that known for drinking, prostitution, drugs and now thugs. What a mix!

[bostonguy1960]

I visited the area on my quick trip to Chicago in April 2012. Parked, walked around at 2 am on a Sunday, and then 9 am that Sunday. Seemed lively and fun. Had no idea what was to happen a few months later, and apparently now. Makes me sick.

Just another reason I've lost my enthusiasm somewhat for your city and likely won't relocate.

By the way, regarding crime, Boston just had a 13 yo boy shot while walking to church choir at 7 pm -- in the Roxbury section, just a few miles from Mass. Avenue and Symphony Hall. So it's not just Chicago's problem, but overall it seems much safer in Boston than Chicago.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

I visited the area on my quick trip to Chicago in April 2012. Parked, walked around at 2 am on a Sunday, and then 9 am that Sunday. Seemed lively and fun. Had no idea what was to happen a few months later, and apparently now. Makes me sick.

Just another reason I've lost my enthusiasm somewhat for your city and likely won't relocate.

Chicago is still a great city with many safe neighborhoods. As with Boston or any other place you have to pick and choose the area you live in and only deal with hard facts when making your decision.

[Tenzo]

Twenty years ago I did gaurdian angels in the area.
The highlight was chasing down a guy running down the alley with a drag queens purse.

It's actually gotten a lot better since then.

[chrawnick]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

I visited the area on my quick trip to Chicago in April 2012. Parked, walked around at 2 am on a Sunday, and then 9 am that Sunday. Seemed lively and fun. Had no idea what was to happen a few months later, and apparently now. Makes me sick.

Just another reason I've lost my enthusiasm somewhat for your city and likely won't relocate.

By the way, regarding crime, Boston just had a 13 yo boy shot while walking to church choir at 7 pm -- in the Roxbury section, just a few miles from Mass. Avenue and Symphony Hall. So it's not just Chicago's problem, but overall it seems much safer in Boston than Chicago.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

I don't do boys town. Its not my cup of tea. It is a destination gay yuppie neighborhood that known for drinking, prostitution, drugs and now thugs. What a mix!

I suspect, by your comments, that you've never visited the neighborhood.

[Chicago60614]

My BF lives right at Halsted and Buckingham and I stay there most nights of the week, go out in Boystown a few times a week and two of my best friends own a bar and a restaurant on the strip. 2011 was pretty bad in the spring, but actually 2012 was a LOT better from talking to them and just getting the feeling walking around nightly on Halsted and talking with friends who are cops.

Still issues of course just having thousands of drunk people on the street and a lot of people from other neighborhoods who came in, but not the rash of robberies like there were in 2011. Things really seemed to calm down in the fall of 2012.

My friends said the restaurant business is still doing great, but he said the street saw a dropoff of sales in the fall at the bars. No one is quite sure, there's nothing really scaring people away. He honestly thinks it's because it got up into the 80's in March and the "summer" season at the bars started pretty early this year. They went from record sales all summer to trailing off around September. The thought is people might have just gotten tired of the heavy partying after starting so early this year. It picked back up to normal around December.

I certainly don't have the unease there I did a few years ago. Not a huge champion of boystown or anything, I mean I go out there but it's not my favorite thing in the world. I like the restaurants much more than just pissing money away at the bars. I'm also in my early 30's now and fighting the huge crowds at the bars every weekend seriously lost its luster.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Link N. Parker

My understanding was that 2012 was actually worse than 2011, but sometime towards the end of the summer, the Halsted Street Chamber of Commerce paid a security company to put security guards to walk up and down Halsted at night. Apparantly, hardly anyone was going to the bars there anymore due to the fear of muggings, and the bars' bottom lines were taking a hit. This move seemed to have some positive effect. I hardly go to the area anymore, but I did walk up there last month and was looking around; things seemed pretty calm, but you have to remember it was December and very cold, so things were probably quiet for that reason. But, from checking police reports lately, it appears that the area is once again having problems with people being robbed at gunpoint, purse snatchings, etc. The city needs to hire more police and have them be permanently stationed there, as well as in places like the CTA stations and the Lakefront path, in order to get the thugs under control and prevent them from coming into the area.

Are you ever on that street??? I moved here 11 years ago and Halsted is WAY more packed now than it ever was back in the early 2000's. There are also many more bars open then there were just a few years ago. I get sick of the crowds very easy. I'd rather have a dive bar.