Top 5 Worst Neighborhoods in Chicago (Winnetka, Humboldt: credit, gated, gangs)

[memo92]

pilsen can get wild too

[Humboldt1]

There is a big difference between Humboldt Park and West Humboldt Park. The vast majority of crime in Humboldt Park happens south of Grand. Chicago Avenue west of the Park simply is not safe. I drive up Independence from the Eisenhower quite often and blast my Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw quite I would much rather listen to this than the R and B and rap crap the residents blast in their cars and from their apartment windows.

[mel2000]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

I drive up Independence from the Eisenhower quite often and blast my Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw quite I would much rather listen to this than the R and B and rap crap the residents blast in their cars and from their apartment windows.

I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Originally Posted by Drover

I don't really have a "top five" because, while I'm not quite as emphatic about it, I'm pretty much with Maginault on this. We all have a pretty good idea where the good parts and the not-so-good parts of town are, and I don't see a lot of value of singling out five for particular scrutiny. Doing so is not necessary to the discussion of what, if anything, can be done about the places that are candidates for any such list.

I don't live in Chicago, but someone moving to the area might find this useful. It might be mean to signal out certain neighborhoods, but if someone is moving here and a neighborhood is dangerous you don't want to give them the idea that it's not. I'd rather warn them of the risks than present everything as peachy keen then hear about their bad experience there.

[Drover]

But that wasn't the purpose of this thread. That discussion has already been had here at least half a dozen times and we can always point new inquiries to any of those threads and leave it at that. Or we respond by saying "tell us what your needs are and we'll make recommendations" because that's a lot more efficient than trying to spell out all the areas to avoid.

The OP already knows full well where the shady neighborhoods are. Hell, he lives in one of them. The purpose of this thread was to point and stare. I'm not interested in doing that.

[Humboldt1]

I have a pretty good idea on the west side the areas to avoid. I don't know the south side as well north of Washington Park or west of the Ryan. Any idiot knows Englewood has its problems.

My point is what areas are bad and is there anything that can be done about it. Until the residents start caring about themselves and taking responsibility for themselves instead of looking for a handout, these areas are doomed to fail.

Areas like Humboldt Park may not be the best, but at least they have hope. Some of the other areas may have hope, but it will take a lot more for these areas to become more livable. I think areas like Logan and WestTown/Ukranian Village have far more potential and I will look further east to buy my next building. I have lost confidence in East Garfield Park. I almost bought a place near Sacramento and Walnut a few years ago and hesitated as the realtor and I did not feel safe getting out of the car at 12pm on a Saturday afternoon during a nice summer day. Though there is a lot of new construction, values have dropped big time and I don't know if I would feel safe living there (and I live near north and pulaski in Humboldt).

It is true that all the bad neigbhorhoods in Chicago has significant poor and black/hispanic populations. The fact that these residents are black or hispanic has nothing to do with why these areas are bad but poverty and a culture of entitlement. Pilsen and Little Village have their challenges but they are vibrant compared with some areas. You guys can slam me all you want but the worst areas in Chicago all have significant black populations. Because of a culture of entitlement, these areas are doomed to fail unless black leaders can come together and enact change. Gentrification is only going to save so many areas (I believe Bronzeville will be one of these areas). Those moving in are buppies (black yuppies). It has nothing to do with race but education and culture. Some blacks were raised to go out and get an education and a good job while others were not.

It is a viscious cycle of poverty, which I have also seen in my native Indiana among poor whites, but there it is not as concentrated and most of the crime is domestic with virtually no gang activity. Until the best and the brightest stop fleeing these areas for greener pastures or until some of the best and brightest return, these areas will flounder.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Until the residents start caring about themselves and taking responsibility for themselves instead of looking for a handout, these areas are doomed to fail.

What do you think gangs are? They certainly represent an effort towards "self-reliance", but self-reliance without opportunities and a sense of personal morality can lead to some pretty large criminal empires.

[Equestrienne]

I think Rogers Park is creepy.

[Drover]

Rogers Park is Winnetka compared to some neighborhoods.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

It is true that all the bad neigbhorhoods in Chicago has significant poor and black/hispanic populations. The fact that these residents are black or hispanic has nothing to do with why these areas are bad but poverty and a culture of entitlement.

You see, now you are getting illogical. What about the neighborhoods with significant black/Hispanic populations which are not 'bad'? How has this alleged 'culture of entitlement' affected them? Maybe they have greater resistance, huh?

But, if you had socio-economic views and were trying to make a point about them, why are you posting in a neighborhood thread? Put it in politics where it belongs.