Relocating from Florida - Oak Park? (how much, limit, native)

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by brenty

I'll give you a hint. I do not go to Lakeview. But, I do recommend places for Gay's to live. I would not recommend anywhere on the North Shore. Oak Park is a fantastic option. I do not hate them but I just do not want them in a family suburb. It is my personal opinion and does not affect my posts in anyway. I mean I used to live in San Francisco.

Evanston has the largest suburban gay population out of all Chicago suburban areas. It is one of the many factors that makes Evanston the great own that it is.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by brenty

I'll give you a hint. I do not go to Lakeview. But, I do recommend places for Gay's to live. I would not recommend anywhere on the North Shore. Oak Park is a fantastic option. I do not hate them but I just do not want them in a family suburb. It is my personal opinion and does not affect my posts in anyway. I mean I used to live in San Francisco.

I read your post again more carefully, and I realized that you admit that you would steer gays away from the North Shore. So you're saying you wouldn't recommend the north shore even if it might be appealing to a gay family, because you don't want to live next to them.

Basically, what you are saying is that your recommendations are shaped by what you feel are in your best interests, and not necessarily what are in the best interests of the one asking the questions.

It's actually refreshing that you are so honest about your beliefs and your actions. Most people would feel some degree of shame and try to hide what you openly admit to.

You probably should go back and edit all your posts extolling the virtues of the north shore. You should add a caveat that says something like, "if you're gay, disregard everything I said and don't even think about moving here."

[middle-aged mom]

[quote=brenty;2742902]Rogers Park is developing and becoming safer much faster than Austin. There are still some drug problems. But, not nearly as bad as Austin. Oak Park is like a city neighborhood. While Evanston is more suburban. Evanston has more low-income people because Evanston itself has a lot of affordable housing in the transitional area built by the city. Evanston overall still has many more wealthy people than Oak Park. Evanston also has many Single-Family Homes.

Evanston is about as urban -suburban as it gets. People park on the street and in massive parking lots.

Walk around Calvery Cemetary, some evening, over to Juneway Terrace ( referred to as Juneway Jungle by some Chicago politicians). I think the experience may serve to balance some of your misconceptions about the area.

The hot spots for open air drug markets in Chicago are the near West side of Chicago, certain streets in Humbolt Park and the NE part of Rogers Park, and gangs control the product.

Area Realtors have been telling potential Evanstonians that Rogers Park has been " developing" for 25 years, now. The MLS shows a glut of condos for sale in Evanston, 864 condos for sale. This does not include the hundreds of units being sold directly by developers.

Conversely, there are only 277 units for sale in Oak Park.

As I have said, I have lived in both towns and love them both for different reasons. I do not agree with bashing any town based upon misconceptions.

[brenty]

I am not trying to bash Oak Park. I personally think that Evanston is a better fit for the OP. It is true you should go to YouTube and watch some videos by a man named Joe Zekas. He has resided in Kenilworth and Wilmette. He now lives in west Wilmette. His screen name is YoChicago and YoNorthShore. He has numerous videos regarding Rogers Park development.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by brenty

I am not trying to bash Oak Park. I personally think that Evanston is a better fit for the OP. It is true you should go to YouTube and watch some videos by a man named Joe Zekas. He has resided in Kenilworth and Wilmette. He now lives in west Wilmette. His screen name is YoChicago and YoNorthShore. He has numerous videos regarding Rogers Park development.

Evanston was a better fit for you.

If the OP does indeed plan to send her children to UoC Lab schools, the commute from any Northern or Western suburb is tough and it appears that she/he has since moved onto considering living in the city.

In any event, safety was his/her primary concern and while I do not think of either Evanston or Oak Park as crime ridden areas, they are comparable in terms of stats, over time. There are certainly towns that have almost no violent crime.

Without hearing back from the OP, it makes no sense to keep this thread a buzz.

[Lookout Kid]

First off, I really love both Evanston AND Oak Park as places to live and raise families.

Brenty is clearly a troll. But he is correct to say that Rogers Park is a much better neighborhood than Austin. They aren't even close, and I would live on the Rogers Park border over the Austin border any day. Heck, I'd even live IN Rogers Park on the right block.

But the interesting thing is that Evanston has a slightly HIGHER crime rate than Oak Park--and the stats have shown this year after year. The rates are comparable, actually, and the differences are probably not statistically significant. So it's really ridiculous for an Evanstonian to steer anyone away from Oak Park because of crime. In fact, Oak Park's crime rate is only a little bit higher than Schaumburg's, and that place is quite far from any urban ghetto.

As I get closer to having school-aged kids, I'm considering both Evanston and Oak Park as places to move to. But I'd say that Oak Park has a slight edge at this point, and it is largely due to the fact that houses are quite a bit more affordable there. And while Oak Park is a little more affordable than Evanston, it still has really high home prices for the Chicago area, and is considered a premier suburb for sure. Some of the most gorgeous architecture in the world is in Oak Park.

[chicagogal1234]

Look, I really don't want much part in your little rant, brenty, but I have to say something.
First of all, I completely respect your opinions and agree that North Shore is a fantastic place to live. Howener, I live in Clarendon Hills and it is a fantastic neighborhood. The houses are beautiful (not to mention pricey) and it is an ideal place to raise a family. Our public schools rank high in the state, and Hinsdale Central is simply a fantastic school, one of the bst in Illinois. I really don't think there is quite a difference in Norrth Shore and Clarendon Hills/Hinsdale. I do not expect you to agree with me. I am just saying what I know.
Also, regarding your feelings about Oak Park, I have family who lives there. It is very diverse which I think is important for kids to be exposed to. And yes, it has a very urban feel, but also has adorable town areas which I don't think some places have to offer. They live in beautiful homes that weren't made 2 minutes ago, but have great historical value. My family's kids are in middle school and highschool and are very well educated (in fact the senior has been accepted to places such as, Boston college, Yale, Santa Clara, and Notre Dame) and no, he doesn't go to Fenwick. He goes to Oak Park River Forest high school, and it is a great school. He is very involved in sports as well. I have family in River Forest who have a very reputable carreer and a gorgeous home. So please, thats my 5 cents.

[Lookout Kid]

When I think of the people I personally know who have lived in Oak Park, they include people like architects, lawyers, doctors, advertising executives, marketing specialists, graphic designers, famous chemists, etc. In fact, I know several well-to-do professionals who live *gasp* EAST of Ridgeland! Oak Park is a very appealing suburb, and is only gaining cache as time passes. If anything, it's on a major upswing and is getting more exclusive (to the disdain of many liberals and affordable housing activists).

[EndlessCaverns]

Originally Posted by brenty

It is just so many are misled into believing than the North Shore is stuck up and is overated.

I didn't actually think so before, but reading your recent posts has convinced me! You're like a walking, talking North Shore stereotype, with your worship of price tags and bizarre ideas about "prestige."

[citygirl1972]

I am too dumb to know it beacuse went to Lincoln Elemantary, Emerson Jr, High and OPRFHS. Oh and to make it worse I lived on the wrong side of town. THE SOUTH SIDE!! Three block west of Roosevelt and Harlem and 3 blocks south of the Ike.
Now I have a NICE house, 2 NICE cars and a GOOD paying job. What did I do wrong!!!!! Can I be saved???

The two of you need to stop bickering about which is better. Both have good schools, overpriced homes, super high taxes and crime.

Most of the people I know from my side of town have left for 2 reasons.
1 - They got their tax bill and freaked out.
2 - Sold there home for a 200% profit. Like my dad did and retired.