The southern suburbs in the next 10-20 years. (Chicago, Orland Park: section 8, hotel)

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by pvande55

A lot at stake for BP in Whiting expansion
Project boosting East Chicago steel mill’s energy efficiency - DailyHerald.com

Here are two.

I knew that there was lots of modernization going on their but I did not realize that there would be an increase of about 1000 employees -- good news for those that are willing to work there.

[Suburban-Mess]

Has anyone heard of all the talk of building casinos in the south suburbs as of late? Seems like Homewood, Country Club Hills, Lynwood, Calumet City, and even Ford Heights are trying to lure a casino into their towns. Are these towns really in that much need of tax revenue? Please feel free to discuss.

[chet everett]

The need for revenue is pretty extreme in some of those towns. That said there is already probably too much pinned on the existing casinos in the region and the strategy of most of the investors is kind of outa whack with the reality of what has sorta worked in places like Atlantic City -- the tourism / entertainment aspects of the casinos in NJ or Vegas is far far better than anything in our region. Heck there are native American reservation casinos in Oklahoma that have more success with getting tourists to come to an area tht otherwise would be a wasteland. Granted in OK the only competition for seeing a country & western artist is someplace like Branson and lots of tourists are hauling their tow-behind campers or driving the retirement motor home, but that still does more than just milking unsuspecting fools paychecks...

[tjake]

The Country Club Hills developer has the best proposal so far. It's a larger site location than the Homewood one. And includes a hotel and other non gambling amenities like restaurants. The Homewood site would not have room to include a hotel. The only reason for putting the casino in ford heights would be the close proximity to the indiana border. But the country club hills casino is probably the most centrally located location. In terms of attracting the best clientele.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by tjake

The Country Club Hills developer has the best proposal so far. It's a larger site location than the Homewood one. And includes a hotel and other non gambling amenities like restaurants. The Homewood site would not have room to include a hotel. The only reason for putting the casino in ford heights would be the close proximity to the indiana border. But the country club hills casino is probably the most centrally located location. In terms of attracting the best clientele.

Homewood doesn't need the revenue. Ford Heights could use the revenue to actually fund a police department.

Homewood doesn't need the rif raf that a casino brings. Casino "rif raf" in Ford Heights would be too scared to walk outside the vicinity of the casino.

A casino would actually improve Ford Heights. A casino would improve Homewood like pimps and hookers would improve Homewood.

If a casino opened up in Homewood, I imagine it would be on Halsted just south of I-80, right? That's just two exits west of Indiana and only a little bit further from the state line than Ford Heights. The eastern edge of Ford Heights is Torrence Avenue - which is just one exit east of Halsted on I-80.

CC Hills doesn't need the revenue and I doubt they want the rif rad either. Ford Heights would welcome a casino with open arms. Both CC Hills and Homewood border my town and I don't want it.

[chet everett]

There doesn't seem any criminal element around the casino in DesPlaines.

[Army_Guy]

Originally Posted by urza216

I dont think I've ever been to Woodfield. But I'm a little bitter about Lincoln Mall because JUST THIS DECADE it has a lot more going for it. I'm originally from Park Forest and in high school, I used to ride my bicycle to it and see my friend who worked at the Spencer's there. Spencer's is gone and Suncoast Video and other things but Azizi Books is still a good store that is surprisingly at Lincoln Mall. Lincoln Mall still wasn't even a draw around Xmas time this year. People kept it local at the Matteson Target not the mall.

Lincoln Highway still has a lot of stuff - but Border and Best Buy closed down and nothing replaced them. Even though I live in Flossmoor now, I still prefer going there over Halsted. I ususually go to the Best Buy in Orland. Lincoln Highway, Matteson is one of the places I learned how to drive. Yeah, it's easier to drive on than Lagrange or River Oaks Drive. I suppose you're right. Other areas should take notice of the three lanes on Lincoln Highway.

You went to Rich East? I went to South. Would've gone to East if we had not have moved out of the co ops on Elm back in '91. We may even know each other! I went to Dogwood too if you remember that school.

Best Buy and Borders were in trouble as companies so I don't think it was really an area issue. I think BB looked at the older stores and decided those would be the ones to go. Bakers Square also met the same fate a couple years ago and it still sits vacant.

I just don't understand how Lincoln Mall could not do well but River Oaks could. IMO, Matteson is a much better area than Cal City. Matteson has pretty low crime and it's pretty much petty crime at that. Lot's of good neighborhoods in Matteson, too.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

You went to Rich East?

Yes, I did. Class of 05.

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I went to South. Would've gone to East if we had not have moved out of the co ops on Elm back in '91.

The co-ops? So I presume you went to Forest Trail middle school like most of Park Forest? I went to O.W Huth in Matteson 8 years after you moved out the co-ops.. Most of my middle school went to Rich Central. From Kindergarten to 8th grade, I was surrounded by kids from Matteson and Olympia Fields. I also went to Arcadia Elementary.

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

We may even know each other!

Maybe, I wouldn't be surprised.

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I went to Dogwood too if you remember that school.

No, I don't..

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

Best Buy and Borders were in trouble as companies so I don't think it was really an area issue.

The Borders in Orland was replaced with Whole Foods Market. The Best Buy in Orland didn't close down at all. Both Borders and and Best Buy in Matteson has remained an empty storefront.

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I think BB looked at the older stores and decided those would be the ones to go. Bakers Square also met the same fate a couple years ago and it still sits vacant.

Yep.

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I just don't understand how Lincoln Mall could not do well but River Oaks could. IMO, Matteson is a much better area than Cal City. Matteson has pretty low crime and it's pretty much petty crime at that. Lot's of good neighborhoods in Matteson, too.

I completely agree. It doesn't make sense. River Oaks is surrounded by some much more rough areas than Lincoln Mall, generally speaking. And it seems like there's more money down here than there would be around River Oaks, doesn't it?

Two ideas why come to my mind:

1) Poor mall management at Lincoln Mall
2) Higher population density around River Oaks (which BY THE WAY, draws in not only suburbanites but people from the south side of Chicago)

[Army_Guy]

I bet being close to Will County (lower taxes) might hit Matteson hard as well. But then again, River Oaks is close to Indiana and they have lower taxes. But IIRC, the biggest shopping area similar would be Southlake and that's not exactly close to Cal City.

Okay, I'm quite a few years older than you than. I'll be 34 this year. Dogwood burned down back in '91.

I went to Forest Trail for 6th grade only and then we moved out to Matteson right off of Ridgeland and route 30.

I do remember we had quite a few kids from Huth go to South.

I would also imagine poor management at Lincoln Mall had something to do with the deterioration of the mall. I also believe that the area got a bad rep back in the mid-late 90's (wrongfully) and it hasn't been able to recover. Not sure what the median income in Matteson is but it's pretty healthy, definitely not dollar store or bargain shopper income.

It sucks to see your home town suffer economically.

I've been gone for a number of years but I still live close enough to visit every few months and when I do, one of the first stops is always Perros Bros on 30.

[tjake]

Well, in reality if you look at median home sale prices in say flossmoor and compare it to orland park. Currently both areas have declined to about exactly the same price level from pretty much the same peak price price point. Even with all the retail advantages that orland park continues to have. The average family income in flossmoor continues to be much higher than it is in orland.

For various reasons, the major streets and roads surrounding flossmoor are a lot more comfortable to drive and commute on then the roads out by orland. You tend to spend more on gas living out by orland because things are so spread out. There are a lot of benifits to living in established southern suburbs like flossmoor. Just judging on a few negatives like less retail or the racial demographics is leads to a skewed viewpoint.