Urban Decay: Am I the only one who can't take it? (Chicago: best city, transfer)

[supernerdgirl]

the cars in that NY photo don't look too terribly old.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

NYC is still a lot dirtier than Chicago, but that happens when you have millions more people and NO ALLEYS! (Or, in the case of the loop, underground areas for trash collection). That makes a huge difference. Our garbage isn't on the street.

As for urban decay, its sadly part of urban life in any city. Newer Sunbelt cities haven't had to deal with it as heavily because they haven't had time to decay. Not like cities in the Midwest and Northeast.

It sucks that so many people from the east and south of Chicago come in through the most unattractive areas of town. Gary. Then the far southside. Smokestacks. Landfills. Gross stuff that the byproduct of development. Then again, we never want to SEE the gritty underbelly of progress, do we? Coming into town from the north or west is a totally different experience, imo.

[Chicago60614]

Wow, I moved here from Iowa a few years ago and was amazed at how nice downtown and the whole north side are. I go all over in Lincoln Park and Lakeview and "decay" is certainly the FARTHEST word to describe the neighborhood. Sure the housing is OLD, but not decaying.

[andrew61]

Hey, if you think Chicago's "urban decay" is depressing, spend some time in Detroit or Cleveland. Then when you return to Chicago, you'll think it's Paradise.

[rgb123]

tootsie wootsie...I do understand exactly what you mean....and have lived in several places too. But saying anything negative about Chicago will surely be ....well plainly attacked on this board.

It is how you see it, and it is your opinion....and no you are not alone.

There are nicer places in the world than Chicago...well lots of them actually. I would not call it "urban decay" here but it sure can get gray and gloomy, and depressing.

My belief is that chicago is a nicer place is you have more money...no it is not always true, but it is harsh place to be if you can't afford it....and it can bring you down as well if you are the type that needs a gentler enviorment (its too hot and sticky in the summer and too cold and harsh in the winter), and if you are easily affected by the reality that there is a lot of despair in the city....

Its the perfect place for some people....but I think, if you just dont feel it for Chicago, then don't force yourself to like it just cause someone else can write 20 reasons why you should...

kinda like dating...it may look good on paper..but.....hey its your life. Its not worth it to be in a place that makes you miserable....even if its supposedly so wonderful to someone else.

I for one can relate to you, depsite your choice of words. Personally, I would probably like Chicago more if I had a lot more positive experiences there, and if I hadn't lived there when I Was young and poor.

I'm considering moving back to the city now that I make more money, maybe I'll have better experiences and things will bother me less (weather, gloom, crime, etc) but maybe I will move back and wish I just went back to California or Florida....and say, well too bad I listened to all those people who think its the most wonderful place on the planet.

and by the way....I've lived in some dingy European cities too.....got lost in Paris...London.....its only here you have to worry so much about walking alone, guns, etc. Older European cities are not so dingy...not so gray...not so cold...and it took me awhile but I soon realized you also dont have to fear so much walking alone, of guns...etc....and they have had lots of time to build great transportation networks, and you can ride a bike without getting hit by a car......can't compare Chicago to truly old cities....

I love Chicago, but I guess I'm not infatuated.....it does seem to be doing better, going in the right direction (besides our police force...) but even that is kinda annoying maybe I will return when I'm way to old to be bothered anymore by the people my age and younger that just moved in and are just wayyyyyy too cool.......

I was impressed with the rooftop gardens I just saw on tv, on top of city hall!! I had no idea...

[j33]

rgb123 - nice post. Being that I've grown up in around chicago and have traveled the world, I don't see it through rose colored glasses, I know the good and the bad, and have no problems discussing both, and I certainly don't think I come off as a homer, the sort of person who cannot accept that they don't live in the greatest city on the planet and go berserk whenever someone says something less than glowing about their experiences in said city.

I do however, find histrionics of certain people loathing to the point of absurdity wherever it is they happen to blame for whatever is ailing them that day leaves a bit to be desired, and will occasionally comment on it. It is just a silly as those who cannot admit the failings of a city (all cities have failings, some more than others, and Chicago has quite a few).

I recall coming back from Europe (Germany and Austria mostly) and in thinking about how Chicago compared to Western European urban areas, quite frankly, found it depressing.

[coldlady]

It is grey when it's cold. I'm trying to relocate to the South where it is warm in the winter.

[j33]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Then again, we never want to SEE the gritty underbelly of progress, do we?

So very, very true.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by rgb123

tootsie wootsie...I do understand exactly what you mean....and have lived in several places too. But saying anything negative about Chicago will surely be ....well plainly attacked on this board.

It is how you see it, and it is your opinion....and no you are not alone.

There are nicer places in the world than Chicago...well lots of them actually. I would not call it "urban decay" here but it sure can get gray and gloomy, and depressing.

My belief is that chicago is a nicer place is you have more money...no it is not always true, but it is harsh place to be if you can't afford it....and it can bring you down as well if you are the type that needs a gentler enviorment (its too hot and sticky in the summer and too cold and harsh in the winter), and if you are easily affected by the reality that there is a lot of despair in the city....

Its the perfect place for some people....but I think, if you just dont feel it for Chicago, then don't force yourself to like it just cause someone else can write 20 reasons why you should...

kinda like dating...it may look good on paper..but.....hey its your life. Its not worth it to be in a place that makes you miserable....even if its supposedly so wonderful to someone else.

I for one can relate to you, depsite your choice of words. Personally, I would probably like Chicago more if I had a lot more positive experiences there, and if I hadn't lived there when I Was young and poor.

I'm considering moving back to the city now that I make more money, maybe I'll have better experiences and things will bother me less (weather, gloom, crime, etc) but maybe I will move back and wish I just went back to California or Florida....and say, well too bad I listened to all those people who think its the most wonderful place on the planet.

and by the way....I've lived in some dingy European cities too.....got lost in Paris...London.....its only here you have to worry so much about walking alone, guns, etc. Older European cities are not so dingy...not so gray...not so cold...and it took me awhile but I soon realized you also dont have to fear so much walking alone, of guns...etc....and they have had lots of time to build great transportation networks, and you can ride a bike without getting hit by a car......can't compare Chicago to truly old cities....

I love Chicago, but I guess I'm not infatuated.....it does seem to be doing better, going in the right direction (besides our police force...) but even that is kinda annoying maybe I will return when I'm way to old to be bothered anymore by the people my age and younger that just moved in and are just wayyyyyy too cool.......

I was impressed with the rooftop gardens I just saw on tv, on top of city hall!! I had no idea...

That's a good post

I've definitely lived much towards the "top" of the Chicago experience, and I'm sure it's why I've enjoyed the city so much. My old roommate was in the other situation though, saw the city as depressing, no friends, hopeless debt, horrible job. I tend to forget it's such a diverse and LARGE city. I came from a place where you could drive across town in 25 minutes or less and everyone is the same. I would go with her to visit friends around 93rd and Stony Island and her job at Central and Jackson. There are so many different cities within this one city...

[M TYPE X]

Entering Chicago, Cleveland, AND Detroit all from their southsides is Introduction to Grit 101.

I just love how the Chicago forum needs to deal with all these sunbelt types that whine it's not Los Angeles or Phoenix. I don't think of LA as clean, and lots of sunbelt cities are basically built on deserts and swamps.