Waukegan

[NorthSideSoxGuy]

Originally Posted by MillennialUrbanist

If all goes well, Waukegan can easily go through the Wicker Park-style gentrification, rather than the Kenosha-style redevelopment. Its distant suburban location will be a hindrance, but it the city can tear down the Amstutz Expressway (which has become a white elephant), and leverage its Metra station a little better, it can overcome even that.

Originally Posted by chet everett

The "expressway" is not even four miles of very poorly maintained stupidly expensive pavement from an era when "building roads" was THE thing to do if you wanted to encourage more industrial uses -- [url=http://thegate.boardingarea.com/have-you-ever-driven-on-the-road-to-nowhere-i-have/]Have You Ever Driven on the Road to Nowhere? I Have... - The GateThe Gate[/url

I can't think of a road more detrimental to its town than the Amstutz is to Waukegan. It's a double-whammy as it provides a physical, concrete barrier between downtown and the lakefront; and, it literally allows folks to bypass downtown. It's great as a film location for tv/movies since no one ever uses it, but that's about it.

Getting rid of that would go a long way. Divert traffic onto Sheridan Road, bring more people downtown and reconnect the city with it's lakefront. Even if redevelopment (apts, condos, casino, etc..) never comes, you could convert the former expressway into an urban open space for all to enjoy. Perhaps a greenway?

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by NorthSideSoxGuy

I can't think of a road more detrimental to its town than the Amstutz is to Waukegan. It's a double-whammy as it provides a physical, concrete barrier between downtown and the lakefront; and, it literally allows folks to bypass downtown. It's great as a film location for tv/movies since no one ever uses it, but that's about it.

Getting rid of that would go a long way. Divert traffic onto Sheridan Road, bring more people downtown and reconnect the city with it's lakefront. Even if redevelopment (apts, condos, casino, etc..) never comes, you could convert the former expressway into an urban open space for all to enjoy. Perhaps a greenway?

This almost looks like an analogy: Amstutz Expwy is to Waukegan as Lake Shore Dr. is to Chicago. Or in the SAT format, Amstutz Expwy : Waukegan :: Lake Shore Dr. : Chicago . But while Lake Shore Dr. benefits Chicago somewhat, Amstutz Expwy does nothing but cut off the downtown from the lakefront. So I agree: Amstutz Expwy has to go, if Waukegan wants any hope of building up its lakefront and gentrifying its downtown area. (I'm refraining from saying "redeveloping", because it smacks of urban renewal from the 60's, the very thing that blighted many American cities.) Maybe in the interim, Amstutz Expwy can serve as a revenue source, if Waukegan leases it out to filmmakers. (Kind of like how Dixie Square Mall was used to film "Blues Brothers".) But the key word is "interim".

With all that said, you still have railroad tracks running parallel to Amstutz. Not just the Metra UP-N line, but also freight train tracks. Still, a rail line, even double-tracked, takes up much less space and is much more "permeable", than a highway.

[GoCUBS1]

As someone who lived in Waukegan as a kid (in one of those beautiful homes on the north side, near the lake), I think lakefront Waukegan will make a comeback about the same time as lakefront Gary, Indiana, which is not anytime in the near future... Those two towns have a lot in common, including the dead end highways (yes, that is a metaphor).

Some of my favorite childhood memories...

• Attending Waukegan writing classes taught by Ray Bradbury
• My Jack Benny theatre performances
• Going to the beach/pier for smelt fishing and bonfires, and watching my dad bite off the head of the first smelt fish of the season
• Hiking and catching frogs in the ravines with my friends
• Taking a weekend Great Books course at Shimer College to study Plato in high school (this college moved)
• Taking the bus to Lakehurst Mall (gone) with my friends as a pre-teen and being harassed by crazy drunk people and sailors

Ah.... The memories! I'd say that town builds character!

[Haaamburger]

I was looking at apartments and they all had horrible reviews when it came to crime.

[nola2nooga2harlot]

Looking for rental in area around Zion nuke plant decommissioning professional and will have to travel to site daily. I know nothing about the area traffic toll roads or taxes. Can live anywhere safe no kids from southern Kenosha to about 10 miles out from plant Any thoughts.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by nola2nooga2harlot

Looking for rental in area around Zion nuke plant decommissioning professional and will have to travel to site daily. I know nothing about the area traffic toll roads or taxes. Can live anywhere safe no kids from southern Kenosha to about 10 miles out from plant Any thoughts.

The relative distance and lack of other traffic headed to / from Zion should make for an easy commute.