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Gary has 50 square miles to work with at the very southern tip of the Great Lakes...pretty much one of the nation's premier logistical vortexes. People thought I was nuts 5 years ago to purchase a home there...well it has tripled in value. Gary's potential is unlimited, it has all the ingredients to enjoy a sustained real rebirth, it is already beginning. Do not write it off. Companies around the world looking for a low-tax central location in the Chicagoland area will increasingly gravitate to NWI/Gary.
Many are going to SE Wisconsin, as well. I have family living in Pleasant Prairie, WI, and many, many are moving there from Chicago. Businesses relocating there, as well.
You underestimate Gary's future. There are lots of positive developments taking place.
The Indiana Dunes was reclassified as the Nation's newest National Park..the western portion of which is in Gary.
The Gary-Chicago airport continues to thrive..new hangars and a new customs/immigration faculty opened greatly expanding its competitive appeal within the Chicagoland market.
A new multimodal transportation project integrating water air rail and highway logistics is underway at Buffington Harbor.
The Miller Beach neighborhood is seeing sustained investment, huge numbers of rehabs and even new construction..a dozen plus new businesses in the last few years.
Indiana University Northwest recently completed it's largest new building in decades.
A 300 million dollar Hard Rock Casino has broken ground on Interstate 80/94
The South Shore Line will soon be undergoing a double tracking project which will speed up Transit time to Chicago.
And the new Mayor Jerome Prince is widely seen as the most business-friendly Mayor in memory.
Gary's (and Northwest Indiana's) greatest advantage in comparison to Camden is that it is in low-tax, pro-business Indiana...and not the cluster**** of New Jersey.
Its not underestimating Gary to say that Camden has a brighter future. Its a much smaller city (land-wise), in a generally affluent county, sitting across the river from Philadelphia which itself has been going through a bit of a renaissance.
Gary has more potential for large scale construction and future industrial uses due to its size, position, and sort of blank slate nature. Camden will likely become a new somewhat attractive overflow spot for people priced out/ expanding out of Philadelphia, with its waterfront growing as a small business/entertainment hub. The early signs of that area already very evident.
As some pointed out, the state of New Jersey doesn't really help, Camdens best wave to ride is the growth of Philadelphia.
If New Jersey were to Pennsylvania = Indiana to Illinois
Camden would be an urban hotspot on the national radar.
But lying in one of the highest-tax states in the country greatly diminishes it's appeal.
Regarding Gary..I think it is better to see Gary as just one part of urban Northwest Indiana, along with Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting....the three of which connect Gary to Chicago.....all of which are doing quite well in comparison to recent decades
Neither are safe... but Camden certainly has a brighter future. Its right across the river from Philadelphia, and is finally showing real signs of life by the riverfront.
*Center City Philadelphia
This is what will save Camden. Similar to Jersey City being across the river from Manhattan.
If New Jersey were to Pennsylvania = Indiana to Illinois
Camden would be an urban hotspot on the national radar.
But lying in one of the highest-tax states in the country greatly diminishes it's appeal.
Regarding Gary..I think it is better to see Gary as just one part of urban Northwest Indiana, along with Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting....the three of which connect Gary to Chicago.....all of which are doing quite well in comparison to recent decades
I heard the NW IN airport is supposed to be expanding for overflow. Sounds great for Gary.
I think Chester is a lot worse than Camden now. I think it's murders are on par with Gary.
Agreed. Chester is still going downhill, and any attempts at investment have not worked all.
I still think it was ridiculous to open a casino and soccer stadium in Chester. Chesters best bet would be to transform its waterfront into an industry, warehousing and logistics center. It would improve the area, provide jobs and give Chester a niche market. Enough with this stupid entertainment complex idea.
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Originally Posted by BPt111
How York, Harrisburg, Reading, Allentown, McKeesport, Wilkes-Barre compare to Camden and Gary ?
Allentown is probably the biggest success story among PAs small cities. There has been a ton of investment in the downtown itself and the surround communities are solid middle class to affluent.
Harrisburg is small to midsize metro and has been generally stable over the years, nothing like Gary or Camden.
The closest comparisons to Gary or Camden would probable be Reading or York.
Many are going to SE Wisconsin, as well. I have family living in Pleasant Prairie, WI, and many, many are moving there from Chicago. Businesses relocating there, as well.
I worked for a Wisconsin company in Racine. Very few co-workers lived in Wisconsin because of the incredible property taxes in Wisconsin. They're into Cadillac prisons and Rolls Royce schools up there.
As far as Gary vs. Camden, NJ: You can keep'em both. My standards of living are far beyond anything either can offer. And I'm just middle class.
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