What is in the future of NWI? (Gary, Economy: crime, home)

[WildWestDude]

The good industry jobs are just about gone. The only things that remain are pollution, older runned down cities and suburbs that are nice but have the stigma of the "region".
So, what does the future hold for NWI? What can be developed? Will these SE Chicagoland suburbs keep sprawling into the cornfields? Will Gary be razed and rebuild? Can the lake be made a better tourist destination? Can the 'region" be made a major tranportation hub? Can casinos offer more and turn into something better? Can diversified industries be attracted.......?
I know this has been talked about sporadicaly but don't think I have seen one serious discussion. Any input?

[WildWestDude]

Either I asked a dumb question, or the future on NWI does not look that bright

[grmasterb]

The Indiana forum is not a particularly active one.

I travel through NWI regularly on business, so I can only give you my sense of things. The Region seems to be debating its identity right now. On on hand, you have the crowd that longs for a re-birth in manufacturing and seeks to keep Chicago at arm's length. On the other hand, there are those who see a bright future for NWI as a collection of Chicago bedroom communities with an infrastructure that allows for easy commute into Chicago for higher-paying jobs. The debate over the extension of the South Shore is emblematic of this. Personally, I would prefer to see NWI choose the latter route, but I don't live in NWI, so I don't get a vote.

As for Gary, it's really hard to see any hope there. Truthfully, it seems like much of it should be torn down and returned to nature. The airport there, however, would seem like a logical option for the 3rd Chicago airport IL officials so desperately want. I don't understand why IN and IL couldn't enter into a revenue-sharing arrangement that would allow this to happen.

[mountainman51]

I think more people would be willing to help Gary if the people of Gary seemed willing to help themselves. But they dont.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

The Indiana forum is not a particularly active one.

I travel through NWI regularly on business, so I can only give you my sense of things. The Region seems to be debating its identity right now. On on hand, you have the crowd that longs for a re-birth in manufacturing and seeks to keep Chicago at arm's length. On the other hand, there are those who see a bright future for NWI as a collection of Chicago bedroom communities with an infrastructure that allows for easy commute into Chicago for higher-paying jobs. The debate over the extension of the South Shore is emblematic of this. Personally, I would prefer to see NWI choose the latter route, but I don't live in NWI, so I don't get a vote.

As for Gary, it's really hard to see any hope there. Truthfully, it seems like much of it should be torn down and returned to nature. The airport there, however, would seem like a logical option for the 3rd Chicago airport IL officials so desperately want. I don't understand why IN and IL couldn't enter into a revenue-sharing arrangement that would allow this to happen.

It's such a fantastic idea - it's always been a great idea. It would do so much for the Region, Gary and NWI. Rail & road are already right in place - with only some minor modifications needed.

It's funny - Peotone is kicking & screaming ... and has been for years ... that they DON'T want the 3rd airport. And Gary has been begging for it.

Politics at work. Makes me sick.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by Chuckity

It's such a fantastic idea - it's always been a great idea. It would do so much for the Region, Gary and NWI. Rail & road are already right in place - with only some minor modifications needed.

It's funny - Peotone is kicking & screaming ... and has been for years ... that they DON'T want the 3rd airport. And Gary has been begging for it.

Politics at work. Makes me sick.

Couldn't agree with you more. The politics involved is ridiculous.

[Rich60]

I do not think that there is much hope for the area as a whole. There seems to be some kind of time warp where many of the plans seem to reflect an attempt to recreate the "good old days". The only real industry is dying (steel). The young folks leave for Chicago or elsewhere and the politicians really don't have a clue. The population base is aging and really seems to focus only on "keep taxes low". I am leaving myself in six months to a year. There is really no dynamism here.

[LIS123]

Originally Posted by Rich60

I do not think that there is much hope for the area as a whole. There seems to be some kind of time warp where many of the plans seem to reflect an attempt to recreate the "good old days". The only real industry is dying (steel). The young folks leave for Chicago or elsewhere and the politicians really don't have a clue. The population base is aging and really seems to focus only on "keep taxes low". I am leaving myself in six months to a year. There is really no dynamism here.

I'd agree here. I don't see things improving significantly. One of the largest draws to the area is that one can have a nicer life in a nicer community for less cost than many communities on the IL side of the border. While this is great, it's not really a reason for Economic expansion.

Many of the more talented people who grow up in the region leave, while many of the not-so-talented ones tend to stay (and live at home a lot longer than many others). A stronger local Economy is going to fluctuate with the skills of the workforce. NWI is not strong in either areas. It also lacks the University and industries that make Economic growth more likely.

[Lake County IN]

Originally Posted by mountainman51

I think more people would be willing to help Gary if the people of Gary seemed willing to help themselves. But they dont.

I have to disagree with you.

Either you have jobs that keep things going or you don't. When there's no jobs, there's poverty, and when there's poverty, there's crime. That's how it always works. When people have jobs and money, they don't commit crime.

Crime isn't some arbitrary thing where people wake up in the morning and decide whether or not they're gonna commit crime today. They're broke, uneducated, and live in a society that doesn't care about them, so they often turn to drugs or crime, just like they do in Detroit, or New York, or L.A.

The people of Gary are no worst than the people in those cities, they just have industries in those cities to keep enough people working, so that they don't turn into all bad places. If there was no Hollywood in L.A., what would L.A. look like? If there was no Wall Street in N.Y, what would N.Y. look like?


They'd look a lot like Gary.

As for what NWI's gonna look like in the future, I think they're gonna continue to let the jobs leave here, so that people keep moving out and crime continues, and the property rates keep sinking, then that's when you're gonna see all "fat cats" swoop in once there's nobody left, or very few people left, and kick out the remainder of citizens and start gentrifying the area, like they do other cities. Why do you think the taxes in Miller are so high? They're running people out.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by Lake County IN

I have to disagree with you.

Either you have jobs that keep things going or you don't. When there's no jobs, there's poverty, and when there's poverty, there's crime. That's how it always works. When people have jobs and money, they don't commit crime.

Crime isn't some arbitrary thing where people wake up in the morning and decide whether or not they're gonna commit crime today. They're broke, uneducated, and live in a society that doesn't care about them, so they often turn to drugs or crime, just like they do in Detroit, or New York, or L.A.

The people of Gary are no worst than the people in those cities, they just have industries in those cities to keep enough people working, so that they don't turn into all bad places. If there was no Hollywood in L.A., what would L.A. look like? If there was no Wall Street in N.Y, what would N.Y. look like?


They'd look a lot like Gary.

As for what NWI's gonna look like in the future, I think they're gonna continue to let the jobs leave here, so that people keep moving out and crime continues, and the property rates keep sinking, then that's when you're gonna see all "fat cats" swoop in once there's nobody left, or very few people left, and kick out the remainder of citizens and start gentrifying the area, like they do other cities. Why do you think the taxes in Miller are so high? They're running people out.

I don't think there's an easy answer BUT ... the South Shore station has two stops in Gary with an hour ride (or less) to Randolph in Chicago.

It has for years.

To say the reason that Gary is Gary is because of lack of jobs in the direct vicinity is false - when there's reliable, daily and sometimes hourly transportation right to downtown available.