Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 06-29-2019, 02:04 PM
 
11 posts, read 19,653 times
Reputation: 14

Advertisements

Hi,

My husband and I (both white) have two young children who are mixed-race and African American. We are looking for a neighborhood, ideally within 30 minute commute of Hyde Park with the following criteria:

-Home (not apt) for under $450.
-At least 25% African American residents and black-owned businesses
-within 15-20 minute walk of metro line
-Welcoming to mixed-race family
-Safe
-Ideal: Good public school options, walkable

Does this exist? If so, shere should we look? I've heard Bronzeville, Hyde Park but haven't found much in our budget... what might I be missing?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 06-29-2019, 02:39 PM
 
884 posts, read 622,450 times
Reputation: 1824
My suggestion is to check out my area, the Near West Side of Chicago. It's directly west of the West Loop and has about a dozen communities within in it, including University Village, Little Italy, Tri-Taylor. These 3 communities offer a variety of housing styles at price points more reasonable than Hyde Park. They are also the most racially diverse parts of the NWS and the most family oriented.


Integration is not uniform throughout Near West, as some parts (Fulton Market, Greektown, South Water Market) have mostly loft conversions and condos as the basic housing stock. These parts of the NWS are more transient, less child friendly, and the population skews more white. The NWS is estimated to be 40% white, 30% African American, 15% Asian and 10% Hispanic, according the 2015 estimates.


The Near West Side is one of the best areas within Chicago for transportation. 2 "L" lines serve the area (Pink Line and Blue Line) and the Eisenhower Expwy. traverses it, as well. There are numerous bus routes, also.


Your main issues as parents might be schools and safety. The NWS does have some selective enrollment Chicago public schools (Jackson Language, Skinner West, Galileo Math and Science) for elementary levels, as well as Whitney Young HS. Whitney Young's most famous graduate is Michelle Obama.


Some parts of the NWS are safer than others. I have been in this area for decades, so I have learned to be aware of my surroundings, especially at night. But, this is a common sense precaution in any big city.


Consider investigating our area. You will be pleasantly surprised. We hope that you can join us as neighbors.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-29-2019, 03:07 PM
 
2,568 posts, read 2,516,469 times
Reputation: 8479
Curious, why the focus on Hyde Park? Work? School?
For your criteria , the area of Beverly immediately comes to mind.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly,_Chicago
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-29-2019, 04:06 PM
 
4,011 posts, read 4,247,845 times
Reputation: 3118
The hardest part will be finding an acceptable neighborhood school inside your housing budget. Having to hope your kids make it into a selective enrollment school is the worst part about dealing with CPS.

If you could add onto your commute a little, look at Skokie. Many families with mixed race kids there along with better schools. Also a huge plus being close to Evanston. YMMV

The 25% black owned business on your punch list is a bit of a head scratcher.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 04:47 AM
 
1,089 posts, read 1,861,166 times
Reputation: 1156
Flossmoor is integrated and the Metra goes to Hyde Park.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 05:47 AM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
247 posts, read 235,711 times
Reputation: 809
Oak Park is a diverse community and fits your other criteria, although I’m not sure of the % of black-owned businesses. Come check it out!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 07:48 AM
 
11 posts, read 19,653 times
Reputation: 14
Yes, work will be near southside.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 07:54 AM
 
11 posts, read 19,653 times
Reputation: 14
We've looked there... great homes! Not sure how you define diverse. Looks like its' 70% white. Am I wrong?

Realizing this brings up differences in how whites vs. Blacks define diversity...

I'd really love to hear from some African Americans who love their neighborhood and feel like their family can thrive there!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 10:35 AM
 
4,540 posts, read 2,781,314 times
Reputation: 4921
Quote:
Originally Posted by uneasyoctopus View Post
We've looked there... great homes! Not sure how you define diverse. Looks like its' 70% white. Am I wrong?

Realizing this brings up differences in how whites vs. Blacks define diversity...

I'd really love to hear from some African Americans who love their neighborhood and feel like their family can thrive there!
Oak Park schools are 53.9% white and 17.2% black. Flossmoor schools are 68.8% black and 18.7% white.

https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/D...id=06016097002

https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/s...70162330160001
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2019, 07:56 PM
 
4,011 posts, read 4,247,845 times
Reputation: 3118
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drewjdeg View Post
Oak Park schools are 53.9% white and 17.2% black. Flossmoor schools are 68.8% black and 18.7% white.

https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/D...id=06016097002

https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/s...70162330160001
You need to compare hs district with another hs district, not k-8.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:19 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top