Why is Austin so terrible? (Chicago, Cicero: real estate, crime rate, broker)

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by MassVt

...a college education is (almost) the equivalent of yesteryear's high school education.

Industrial/factory employment levels are probably at an all-time low, to be replaced with, at times, lower-paying white-collar, service-oriented work.

I don't understand this thinking. Back in the old days, calculus, trigonometry and four years of English and Sciences were not required to graduate. I would argue the amount of dropouts today proves high school is much harder than it used to be.

[oakparkV]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

"The Island" and "Galewood" are parts of Austin that are considered to be not so bad. There are rows of neatly-kept homes on many blocks. And parts of the historic district area absolutely beautiful with restored homes and manicured lawns. But overall, the Austin Community Area has a VERY high level of violent crime and gang activity. It's one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in the city.

Galewood is gorgeous, but I always thought that was considered the "city" portion of Elmwood Park...?

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by oakparkV

Galewood is gorgeous, but I always thought that was considered the "city" portion of Elmwood Park...?

Galewood is within the city of Chicago.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by oakparkV

Galewood is gorgeous, but I always thought that was considered the "city" portion of Elmwood Park...?

Hmmmm... Technically Galewood is part of Austin. But I can see how it seems like part of Elmwood Park.

By the way, as an Oak Parker you should see what they're saying about Elmwood Park in the "Chicago Suburbs" forum.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I don't understand this thinking. Back in the old days, calculus, trigonometry and four years of English and Sciences were not required to graduate. I would argue the amount of dropouts today proves high school is much harder than it used to be.

Really? That's why the dropout rate is so high?

Ask yourself this: where are the dropout rates higher: in school districts with high academic standards and expecations, or school districts with low academic standards and expectations? Are a lot of kids dropping out of New Trier these days? Hinsdale Central? How about Glenbrook North?

[Avengerfire]

"Why is Austin so terrible?"

Because of stories like this:

"The boy was walking with his parents in the 400 block of South Laramie Avenue this afternoon when shots rang out and his father noticed the boy was bleeding from his foot, police said.

A stray bullet shot from an unknown location nearby apparently hit the boy..."

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/07/7-year-old-shot-in-foot-in-austin.html (broken link)

[NWK student rapper]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

They don't have to stay in Austin for employment opportunities, however. Chicago as a whole would have great employment opportunities for Austin residents if they attained an education and didn't face discrimination in the job market. I don't work in Uptown, and I highly doubt you work in Oak Park!

but with those income levels public transit access makes a huge difference ... you can live closer to the action for around the same price if you move closer to the city center so the wealth is stored there ... Austin is an hour from downtown ... uptown is less than half an hour ... logan sq 33 mins Albany park isn't close to the loop by transit but it sure is close to uptown and its also very diverse .. Beverly is almost suburban... Austin is torn in between the wealthy people who want to live downtown and wealthy people who want to live just outside the city ... either way its skipped

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by NWK student rapper

but with those income levels public transit access makes a huge difference ... you can live closer to the action for around the same price if you move closer to the city center so the wealth is stored there ... Austin is an hour from downtown ... uptown is less than half an hour ... logan sq 33 mins Albany park isn't close to the loop by transit but it sure is close to uptown and its also very diverse .. Beverly is almost suburban... Austin is torn in between the wealthy people who want to live downtown and wealthy people who want to live just outside the city ... either way its skipped

Austin is 20 minutes or less from the Loop via the Green line.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

Austin is 20 minutes or less from the Loop via the Green line.

No lie. Even counting taking a bus to the Congress or Lake St. L you're gonna get downtown in less than an hour. And most of Austin is within an easy walk to those Ls.

When I was a kid I worked for a tailor on Madison St. between Central and Austin Blvd. and very day after school I went back and forth on the Lake St. L from the shop and the pants makers, coat makers and vest makers on Wells St. and the cloth merchants on Franklin. No sweat.

When Austin was nice it was the best neighborhood in the city.

[North Side Brandon]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

No lie. Even counting taking a bus to the Congress or Lake St. L you're gonna get downtown in less than an hour. And most of Austin is within an easy walk to those Ls.

When I was a kid I worked for a tailor on Madison St. between Central and Austin Blvd. and very day after school I went back and forth on the Lake St. L from the shop and the pants makers, coat makers and vest makers on Wells St. and the cloth merchants on Franklin. No sweat.

When Austin was nice it was the best neighborhood in the city.

The only part not within an easy walk of the L is North Austin North of Division. This was the last part of Austin to go in the late 70's and by Austin & North Avenue early 80's. The tough deal for Austin is that East & West Garfield have to gentrify before any part of Austin can. That wouldn't happen for decades if ever in my view.