Chicago has the Northside, South side and West-side (Bridgeport, Albany: condominium, houses)

[averageperson]

Traditionally, how do the 3 sides compare in terms
of condominium prices, shopping, transportation,
safety, crime, gangs and also in the overall appearance of each area?

For example, which of the sides is more wooded
with parks and trees?
Which of the sides are more industrial and commercial?

I already know what the "Loop" area is like.

I am aware that Chicago has some significant segregation issues.
How would each side compare in
terms of whites, blacks, hispanic, asians?

I am a minority so this is not a racist question.
Which areas have the largest "Gay" populations?

Which side used to be the most desirable say 10 years
ago and which side would be considered the most in
demand at this time?

Obviously, I am from out of town and only have a
limited knowledge of the Chicago metro area.
Thank You!!!

[chirack]

Very broad question due to the size of the city. North side is more open towards gays, west and south side less so. North side less segregated and higher income than the other two. West and south side have large amounts of ghettos and worse ghettos, but the north side isn't 100% ghetto free. In terms of prices north side has always been more expensive to live in than other parts of town areas near the lake are also more expensive(although this does not hold as well for the south side). Northside has always been more residential where say managers or maybe better payed employees went home to work after working in a southside factory(or downtown). While parts of the west and south side may improve in value(or not), the northside(in general) has always been the more desirable part of town.

South side is more industrial than north but north side does have industry. Neither side has more parks and trees other than maybe parts of the south side are a little lacking green space. Northwest and southwest sides of city look more suburban.

In terms of public transit only the northwest and southwest sides are lacking transit compared to other parts of town. However much about transit depends on where you need to go to. For instance Beverly( a nice far south side neighborhood) is somewhat far from the el but has Metra access downtown. I would not live in Beverly without a car(can be done but more a hasle here) but I would not rule it out if I needed to work downtown either.

[It'sAutomatic]

The three sides mentioned are huge and non-homogenous areas, so don't trust the word of someone who gives blanket statements about all of them. You could probably fit 3-4 mid-sized cities (with dozens of independent neighborhoods in them) into each side of Chicago that you mentioned. If you want answers that have any meaning, I would be more specific about which neighborhoods you want to learn about.

[trainfan87]

To the OP, Each of the three sides of town have their own sections. most chicago people know it in terms of distance or direction. The south side would be broken down into the near southside, far southside, southwest side and mabey the southeast side say down there by the indiana border. I think you are aware that there is pretty much no east side and I would venture to say that there is really no defined northeast side either. when you ask people where there from some traditional Chicagoans may say the name of a park, a catholic parish, or a well known point of interest. If someone says they are from marquette park, it just means they are from around 67th st or 71st st around california to lawndale st. However, marquette park is in the neighborhood of Chicago lawn. If someone says they are from 5 holy martyrs, it means they are from brighton park. If someone says they are from midway, it means they are from either westlawn, clearing or garfield ridge. Those are some southwest side examples. I am sure you will hear more depending on the side of Chicago you live.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by averageperson

I am aware that Chicago has some significant segregation issues.
How would each side compare in
terms of whites, blacks, hispanic, asians?

I am a minority so this is not a racist question.

You can't possibly be serious. You don't really think that not being white exempts you from racist motives, do you?

How do we know you aren't asking this question because you don't want to live around too many white people? Or too many blacks if you're Hispanic or too many non-blacks if you're black or too many Hispanics if you're Asian?

[Bird4Prez]

Several of the posters have hit on some good descriptions, so I will just try to enhance some good responses. IMO, the Westside is the most dangerous, depressed, desperate part of town. When you close your eyes and imagine an American ghetto......the Westside is what pops into most people's heads. The Southside has some sad and dangerous areas as well, but it is enormous. The Southside is far less urban than the Westside because it is so much larger in area. The Soutside has some nice areas that may be somewhat isolated, but are liveable (Beverly, Bridgeport, Garfield Ridge, Hyde Park to name a few) . The Westside has nothing really like that as it is dramitically smaller in area. To generalize racially......the Northside is densely populated and over 50% white. There are pockets of Asians (Devon Ave. and Albany Park), Blacks (Uptown and Rogers Park), and Hispanics (everywhere in between). I think I remember reading that the Southside is over 90% Black, but I can't think of the article to link that claim to. I imagine the Westside is at least 90% Black as well. The Northwest Sides and the Southwest Sides are predominantly Hispanic with pockets of Eastern Europeans mixed in. Now I am painting with a very broad brush as there are exceptions to everything I have just posted (Chinatown is on the Southside, for instance). As for the gay?, The Northside's Lakeview Neighborhood houses an area called Boystown and the Edgewater area houses Andersonville which is quietly called Girlstown. Most of the city is fairly tolerant, but logistically speaking, If I were gay, I would live somewhere on the Northside. Once again, i want to empghasize that I am using some serious generalizations.

[ToriaT]

Here it is in a nutshell:

North side= mostly good with pockets of crappy areas.
South side= mostly crappy with pockets of good areas.
West side = mostly crappy.

[trainfan87]

lol well put

[mjtinmemphis]

As a transplant of almost four years, I can say that there are neighborhoods on each side of town that represents the best and the worst of life. Segregation has been my biggest pet peve with the city. Some actually embrace it as if its a positive. Minorities of the segregated neighborhood find it dispecable. The only advatage segregation has is if people dont like you they dont have to live near you. There is a good keep it real midwestern vibe here that cant be found in the south. Especially when it comes to race relations.

Dont be a person that doesnt experince the city because of ignorant prejudice.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

As a transplant of almost four years, I can say that there are neighborhoods on each side of town that represents the best and the worst of life. Segregation has been my biggest pet peve with the city. Some actually embrace it as if its a positive. Minorities of the segregated neighborhood find it dispecable. The only advatage segregation has is if people dont like you they dont have to live near you. There is a good keep it real midwestern vibe here that cant be found in the south. Especially when it comes to race relations.

Dont be a person that doesnt experince the city because of ignorant prejudice.

Please. No one is innocent here.. There are minorities in homogeneous neighborhoods who aren't gonna be welcoming to other races. You must be kinda sheltered if you don't realize this..

However, ECONOMICALLY, those with less money have less options as to where they can live.