How did it get so bad? (Chicago, Naperville: violent crime, homes, neighborhood)

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Markus Rheingold

I think I am being misunderstood here, I'm not asking why the Pilsen area turned into Mexicans. With immigrants and white flight that's apparent. I'm asking mainly how what seems to be a well position suburb with (well what remained of it) solid middle class housing stock turned into such a ghetto. I have seen urban areas go bad and even some suburbs get "sketchy" but Harvey looks worse than any neighborhood in the actual south side, worse than the South Bronx or East Oakland California...its a mess.

Because its not well-positioned. As manufacturing either left or automated, nearby employment opportunities for the far south side and south suburbs dwindled. In metropolitan Chicago, employment centers are downtown, the Western burbs along I-88, the NW burbs around Schaumburg, and the Northern burbs along I-94. Harvey doesn't offer easy access to any of those areas.

[Chicago60614]

Of all the millions of people in suburban Chicago and the hundreds of suburbs, Harvey is literally one of the worst as far as blight, etc.

It is what it is, although coming from Phoenix I assume you wouldn't think that's what suburban Chicago is like. Harvey is just unfortunately in the bottom few % as far as suburbs.

Older modest housing stock, far away from all the current employment centers. Former blue collar suburb located in a blue collar area where a ton of the jobs left during the 70's through today. All the whites left with the businesses and it's languished as a majority black suburb now with no investment. It's largely forgotten by most. It's sad.

Quite the demographic change as well. From around 35,000 whites in 1950 to around 900 today.

[jonnynonos]

Without immigration a lot of inner ring suburbs are doomed. Small, unattractive houses in cities without downtowns.

Anyway, Pilsen is not even that bad, I don't think. It could be kept up better but by no means the worst or even close to it.

[steeps]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

Without immigration a lot of inner ring suburbs are doomed. Small, unattractive houses in cities without downtowns.

Anyway, Pilsen is not even that bad, I don't think. It could be kept up better but by no means the worst or even close to it.

Seems most Latino neighborhoods stay decent and Pilsen is already being gentrified east moving west. Harvey already had major decline in the 70s. The Dix Mall in 1978 there, was already closed, then I read, and was used for the crash scene going through a mall, for the Blues Brothers movie in 1980. They merely filled store fronts again for the movie. So the issues of Harvey date 30 yrs back in decline.
Shopping Mall :: Blues Brothers Central It has been final torn down in 2012.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

I can't say, maybe they liked it better that way.

But why did Constantinople get the works?

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Drover

But why did Constantinople get the works?

Drover. Seriously, dude.

That's nobody's business.

(but the Turks)

[LeotheOrangeCat]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

I can't say, maybe they liked it better that way.

That song always annoyed me. Stupid questions with obvious answers. England took the city from the Dutch and changed the name.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by LeotheOrangeCat

That song always annoyed me. Stupid questions with obvious answers. England took the city from the Dutch and changed the name.

There's a song?

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

There's a song?

Ask the Four Lads..and make sure that you're wearing your fez.

[Vlajos]

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"


Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul