Auburn Gresham (Chicago, Oak Lawn, Washington: 2009, foreclosures, high crime)

[mlogan0301]

Looking for information on the neighborhood of Auburn Gresham. Good? Bad? Safe? Kid-friendly?

Also, does anyone know anything about Scott Joplin School?

[southmichiganave]

I'm also looking for more information about this community. I know its 99% african-american but it looks working class. Is it safe? How are the schools? How does it compare to Woodlawn, Bronzeville, Pilsen (in terms of safety?

[ajolotl]

If you haven't seen this article you should find it interesting:
Auburn Gresham renewal off the ground - News and articles - New Communities Program

I'm no expert on the area but I've walked around it quite a bit (I live nearby in Beverly). The first thing you notice is that the commercial districts totally suck, but the residential areas are mostly well kept -- modest brick homes with a few large frame houses mixed in, one or two foreclosures every few blocks. Its reputation for gang activity is more on par with Washington Heights or Chatham vs. more violent areas like Roseland, Englewood, or West Pullman. Still, the crime blotter is more than most people who have a choice would be willing to put up with in the absence of the type of culture or urban services that make city living so appealing. Also, section-8 and the demolition of the projects seems to have caused a reshuffling of power on the south side that has transformed previously quiet, working class black areas into occasional battle zones. Overall, it's probably not the worst place, but there are far better choices if you have any financial flexibility at all.

Pilsen, Bronzeville, and Woodlawn all have more upside and are likely to continue improving. They also are probably more dangerous and blighted in areas, especially Woodlawn east of Cottage or Bronzeville along 47th street west of Cottage. Pilsen, Bronzeville, and Woodlawn all have some white people. Other than the Reverand A-G has essentially none.

[ajolotl]

Meant to say Woodlawn *west* of Cottage. There are some blocks that are entirely foreclosed properties. It is a total mess. East of Woodlawn (particlarly east of Drexel) is another world.

[Avengerfire]

"2 brothers wounded in South Side shooting
May 6, 2009 6:19 AM

Two brothers were hurt in a shooting early this morning near their South Side home, Chicago police said.

The brothers, ages 17 and 20, suffered non-life-threatening wounds and were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn..."

2 brothers wounded in South Side shooting - Chicago Breaking News

[Intergalactic]

According to this map, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._crime_map.png

Auburn Gresham is about is safe as the South Shore, Roseland or West Pullman Community Areas. It is not as safe as Bronzeville or Pilsen, but safer than Woodlawn.

If you really want to live in that area, Washington Heights, Ashburn and Chicago Lawn are safer. A bit to the east, Avalon Park is very safe, but perhaps not as affordable.

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by Intergalactic

According to this map, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._crime_map.png

Auburn Gresham is about is safe as the South Shore, Roseland or West Pullman Community Areas. It is not as safe as Bronzeville or Pilsen, but safer than Woodlawn.

If you really want to live in that area, Washington Heights, Ashburn and Chicago Lawn are safer. A bit to the east, Avalon Park is very safe, but perhaps not as affordable.

I wouldn't call Avalon Park "very safe". There are some parts that are not safe at all, there are some OK parts, and there are some safe parts.

[ajolotl]

Avalon Park is very safe. That's hilarious.

I think you're taking it a little too far with that crime map. It's nice to get a general sense of what's going on but it has its limits. Anyhow each neighborhood only gets one color when in fact there are huge variations within each.

[Intergalactic]

"According to this map" conveys all that is needed to describe the situation. First, it stands to reason that the graininess of the map is set to the Community Area level. No better map exists. Second, there are "variations" within everything in the Universe, even the speed of light is not constant, as, for example, it slows down to about 75% in water and to about 41% in diamonds.

Since the OP was inquiring at the Community Area level, I answered at that level. Perhaps if the OP was more specific we could answer more specifically.

[ajolotl]

It is not a criticism of the map, just a caution not to misinterpret the data or pretend that it means more than it does.

For example Morgan Park covers two completely different areas -- a safe, prosperous western part and a blighted and unsafe eastern part. It's not just a question of small variability -- they are two logically distinct neighborhoods that happen to have the same name. A person interested in Morgan Park should know more than "it has moderate to high crime". That is the purpose of someone asking the question on this forum vs. just reading the averaged statistics.

Also, small areas will have poor statistical convergence properties, and other areas (such as the Loop) will appear more dangerous than they are because of the huge numbers of visitors.

I think you are using the map to draw conclusions that are not very useful to a person who is choosing a neighborhood. Recommending Avalon Park as very safe is a good example.