Of Last 40 Years, What Are Chicago's Best Improvements? (Lincoln, Madison: houses, neighborhoods)

[Visvaldis]

I think it's rehabbing Madison Avenue west of the river. That area was once 'skid row'; cheap bars, flophouses, and vacant lots where the homeless slept their stupor.
How about Meigs Field being replaced?
What's your suggestions?

[chet everett]

As much fun as it was to watch video of cars sliding sideways on the old LSD during newscasts for the first icey days of winter I think the re-route that eliminated the S curve was the single most worthwhile project undertaken in Chicago..

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by chet everett

As much fun as it was to watch video of cars sliding sideways on the old LSD during newscasts for the first icey days of winter I think the re-route that eliminated the S curve was the single most worthwhile project undertaken in Chicago..

Good one! I never did understand why it was built with an S curve.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by chet everett

As much fun as it was to watch video of cars sliding sideways on the old LSD during newscasts for the first icey days of winter I think the re-route that eliminated the S curve was the single most worthwhile project undertaken in Chicago..

I would agree with that one too but I also think the el to Ohare is the very best that has been done in that time.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Good one! I never did understand why it was built with an S curve.

My understanding is they wanted to get it built as quick as possible. Doing away with the S curve would have required condemning property. My vote is the improvements east of Michigan: Illinois Center, Millennium Park, Navy Pier becoming the top attraction.

[Alacran]

The amount of density downtown

[tompope]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

I think it's rehabbing Madison Avenue west of the river.

"Madison Avenue?" Did you mean to post this in the New York City forum?

[BRU67]

The return of the middle and upper middle class to the City. 40 years ago, the City had seen better days and the City was still going through a mass exodus to the suburbs. Now, we have educated professional families raising children in the City. Not just in Lincoln Park and Lakeview but in areas where their parents would have locked their car doors if they had to drive through them 40 years ago ! Sure, we have a long way to go still but it's 1,000x better than it was in 1971 on the whole.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by BRU67

Sure, we have a long way to go still but it's 1,000x better than it was in 1971 on the whole.

So since 1971 we lost vast neighborhoods full of the prosperous working class (those with middle class incomes) and the non trendy middle class and picked up some chattering class people and nincompoops that buy $3 donuts and worry about whether their BBQ is "authentic" and you think that's an improvement?

So you're willing to trade off huge areas of the city for a few fashionable neighborhoods?

[Alacran]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

So since 1971 we lost vast neighborhoods full of the prosperous working class (those with middle class incomes) and the non trendy middle class and picked up some chattering class people and nincompoops that buy $3 donuts and worry about whether their BBQ is "authentic" and you think that's an improvement?

So you're willing to trade off huge areas of the city for a few fashionable neighborhoods?

Lolzz