Where are the nice homes in Chicago? (Lincoln, Highland: house, subdivision)

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

I think they just didn't have the technology to build crappy back then, to some degree.

Oh, I'm pretty sure they could build crappy back then. It's just that the crappy stuff they built isn't still around. My understanding is that some of the stuff that burned up in the Chicago fire was pretty crappy. Also, if you look at pictures of boom towns (mining, oil, etc.) out west from the late 1800's and early 1900's, they built some pretty crappy shacks, because they were looking to make fast money and weren't planning on being there long.

Maybe what technology has allowed is the ability to mass-produce crappy in a polished enough way for it to look "nice" (according to some) on the surface. In the old days crappy looked crappy.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

Heck most people are so caught up in technology and what not, that they don't even use their yards that much. Everytime I go to the suburbs I see how vacant and underutlizied the space that those houses have. You never see anyone hanging out outside in their front or back yards.

Good point. It's not like kids are regularly out playing in yards anymore. I think most view their yard as a place for the dog to poop and a backdrop for grilling.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Oh, I'm pretty sure they could build crappy back then. It's just that the crappy stuff they built isn't still around. My understanding is that some of the stuff that burned up in the Chicago fire was pretty crappy. Also, if you look at pictures of boom towns (mining, oil, etc.) out west from the late 1800's and early 1900's, they built some pretty crappy shacks, because they were looking to make fast money and weren't planning on being there long.

Maybe what technology has allowed is the ability to mass-produce crappy in a polished enough way for it to look "nice" (according to some) on the surface. In the old days crappy looked crappy.

Thus my qualifier "to a degree."

But there certainly was not nearly the proliferation of technology/materials that there is today invented solely for the sake of cutting corners.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

Thus my qualifier "to a degree."

But there certainly was not nearly the proliferation of technology/materials that there is today invented solely for the sake of cutting corners.

There are a lot of old frame homes in Chicago that have not held up well. Not sure if it is cheap building or just lack of care though.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Good point. It's not like kids are regularly out playing in yards anymore. I think most view their yard as a place for the dog to poop and a backdrop for grilling.

I remember when I was a kid we were ALWAYS playing in the front and back yards. Nowadays I see kids maybe like once a week doing it, if even that much! When I was kid we did at least every other day. And we didn't need backyards. Plenty of room to run around out in front. Playing tag on our block hiding under porches, behind trees, behind cars, etc. I also love being in the city. I remember after school of Fridays in 8th grade we would walk to the El and take the train to the Water Tower place mall to hangout. Sometimes ride our bikes to the lake and beach then go to Mongolian BBQ on the way back home.

Heck city kids don't need yards, the city of Chicago is our backyard!

[ipaper]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

And titling your thread "Where are the nice homes in Chicago?" then following in your post to say that Chicago architecture isn't to her standard, isn't somehow arrogant and snobbish itself?! Pot meet kettle.

This is like me saying "God where are the nice buildings in Barcelona?". Pretty arrogant and pretty effen ignorant if you ask me.

Seriously go back and read the OP's first post. Yet we are the arrogant and snobbish ones?

its not that serious, really it isn't. I get it really I do.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by ipaper

its not that serious, really it isn't. I get it really I do.

Good for you!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by stephei2000

I understand. I am saying this is what I was use to and right this was the last upper middle class blacks.

I guess my point is "The North Side" supposedly touted as the good side of town would look more like that.

Makes me wonder what you expect Manhattan to look like.

The equivalent places in Chicago proper for the Detroit homes you posted would be Jackson Park Highlands (mostly black) and Beverly east of Western (mixed black/white, predominantly the latter). Both are on the south side.

[Drover]

Oh, and another note on why Chicago looks more "brown" -- when 2/3rds of the city burnt down, they decided going forward that maybe it would be a good idea to build with brick and stone instead of kindling. There's only so much room for color when you're working with stone.

[Drover]

And a final note on not having back yards: while I suppose there's something to be said for the convenience of opening the back door and shoving your kids out there to play, there are probably a dozen parks and playgrounds within walking distance of my place, some the size of a city block. Lack of open space isn't exactly a problem; but you just might have to strain yourself to put one foot in front of the other for a few blocks to get to it.