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Old 11-07-2010, 08:48 AM
 
105 posts, read 375,425 times
Reputation: 47

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What are the worst suburbs in your opinion of Chicagoland?

I live in Oak Forest and it is over priced for what you get. We are taxed on our electric, natural gas, phone, at gas stations and now our water bill is going up in addition to a flat quarterly fee of 15$ on our water bills. This town has no downtown at all and any shopping short of grocery shopping has to be done in a neighboring suburb. On elections we have few challengers so the elected officials never fear being elected out and has led to waste and mismanagment.

You could do a lot worse then Oak Forest such as Harvey or Markham but I would recommend looking at Tinley Park, Orland Park, New Lenox, Frankfort. These are towns that offer way more then Oak Forest and are managed fairly good. I have lived here for some time and it does seem like the crime has gone up here. We have had our cars broken into several times and we have things happen that never did in the past.

There are two positives for the town and that is the nearby bike trails and the schools are still fairly good.

(Oak Forest below)
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Last edited by oak999; 11-07-2010 at 09:01 AM.. Reason: spelling

 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:06 AM
 
829 posts, read 2,088,809 times
Reputation: 287
Quote:
Originally Posted by oak999 View Post
What are the worst suburbs in your opinion of Chicagoland?

I live in Oak Forest and it is over priced for what you get. We are taxed on our electric, natural gas, phone, at gas stations and now our water bill is going up in addition to a flat quarterly fee of 15$ on our water bills. This town has no downtown at all and any shopping short of grocery shopping has to be done in a neighboring suburb. On elections we have few challengers so the elected officials never fear being elected out and has led to waste and mismanagment.

You could do a lot worse then Oak Forest such as Harvey or Markham but I would recommend looking at Tinley Park, Orland Park, New Lenox, Frankfort. These are towns that offer way more then Oak Forest and are managed fairly good. I have lived here for some time and it does seem like the crime has gone up here. We have had our cars broken into several times and we have things happen that never did in the past.

There are two positives for the town and that is the nearby bike trails and the schools are still fairly good.
Thanks for sharing your honest and informed opinion. Well oak forest is solidly middle class. Harvey and markham for example are working class suburbs. A fairer comparison would be another solidly middle class close by suburb like homewood or matteson. How do you think oak forest compares to homewood or matteson?

Last edited by allen2323; 11-07-2010 at 09:15 AM..
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:11 AM
 
1,728 posts, read 4,727,874 times
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I think there are far worse places to live. Ford Heights. It's a shame that people have to live in those conditions down there.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:14 AM
 
105 posts, read 375,425 times
Reputation: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by allen2323 View Post
Thanks for sharing. Well oak forest is solidly middle class. Harvey and markham for example are working class suburbs. A fairer comparrison would be another solidly middle class close by suburb like homewood or matteson. How do you think oak forest compares to homewood or matteson?
I would take living in Homewood or Matteson over OF. Homewood has a thriving downtown, Matteson has lots of shopping nearby and they are well managed for the most part--Oak Forest is not. Over the past 5 years I have seen OF decline and I have lived here over 15 years...its a shame.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:24 AM
 
829 posts, read 2,088,809 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chitown85 View Post
I think there are far worse places to live. Ford Heights. It's a shame that people have to live in those conditions down there.
Ford heights is a really low income area. I would compare it to other low income areas, not oak forest.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:33 AM
 
105 posts, read 375,425 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allen2323 View Post
Ford heights is a really low income area. I would compare it to other low income areas, not oak forest.
Yes Ford Heights is one of the most terrible towns in Illinois. I would go and take pics there but I would have to get a bullet proof vest first.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:39 AM
 
Location: South Chicagoland
4,112 posts, read 9,067,778 times
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Ford Heights and Robbins are both really nasty places.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 09:57 AM
 
829 posts, read 2,088,809 times
Reputation: 287
Quote:
Originally Posted by oak999 View Post
I would take living in Homewood or Matteson over OF. Homewood has a thriving downtown, Matteson has lots of shopping nearby and they are well managed for the most part--Oak Forest is not. Over the past 5 years I have seen OF decline and I have lived here over 15 years...its a shame.
What do you think about tinley park? My opinion is Tinley has too much traffic congestion.
 
Old 11-07-2010, 10:02 AM
 
Location: South Chicagoland
4,112 posts, read 9,067,778 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allen2323 View Post
What do you think about tinley park? My opinion is Tinley has too much traffic congestion.
Tinley Park's got nothing on Orland Park as far as traffic congestion is concerned..
 
Old 11-07-2010, 10:05 AM
 
105 posts, read 375,425 times
Reputation: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by allen2323 View Post
What do you think about tinley park? My opinion is Tinley has too much traffic congestion.
Tinley and Orland are right next to Oak Forest and yes they are a much better improvement over Oak Forest. My uncle moved out of Oak Forest years ago to New Lenox and we now wish we would have done the same.
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