Safety walking in Maywood/Riverside area (Chicago, Naperville: apartments, rentals, crime rate)

[Southside Shrek]

I thought Hines VA Hospital has been there since the Civil War or at least the Spanish-American war.

[gardener34]

That area never used to be bad. Father grew up in that area. Gangs and drugs do it everytime.

[j33]

Isn't it a shame. I have a good friend who grew up in Riverdale, same thing, I watched it happen from when I was age 13 to my late twenties until he moved away out of frustration after someone had their car stolen at one of his Christmas parties..

[marion10]

Hines was built at the end of WWI- at the the time it was a nice place out in the country. I used to walk occasionally from River Forest to Hines in good weather- but along Roosevelt Road and then take the bus home (the 308).

[ToriaT]

I lived there in the early fifties as a child for a few years and still vaguely remember it. It was nothing like it is now. My great uncle owned a deli on the Main street there and we would often walk to go shopping. I think a lot of the demographic changes occured in the early sixties.

[meatpuff]

Another way to get to Hines V.A. from downtown Chicago is to take the blue line west to the Forest Park terminal, then transfer to the 308 Pace bus. #308 is very direct both ways and takes only 12 minutes on the schedule. And, the bus mostly traverses Forest Park, IL, which is quite safe; and the transfer is at the Forest Park terminal, which is about as safe as it gets as CTA train stations go.

YES, I realize the OP has probably moved on since this thread is two years old. So please spare me pointing that out. Now anyone else who comes across this thread will have the answer.

[vicky32]

Hey i was wondering if anyone know of some descent area that accept section 8 housing my mother who is 56 years old and my little sister is looking to move from the Southside of Chicago asap she have live on the Southside and the Eastside of Chicago she wants to move somewhere close to the lakefront if possible or any other place that seems okay i was born and raised here in Englewood 72nd st my mother is very quiet and so is my sister they keep to them selves which i know there going to have some problem on the outside just trying to help them find somewhere to go she will have her moving papers next week and she hope to move by next month thanks.

[Squeamish]

I never understood why Maywood and Bellwood are considered so horrible. Driving around all *residential* neighborhoods, everything looks clean and well-kept-up, same as most suburbs of similar vintage.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Squeamish

I never understood why Maywood and Bellwood are considered so horrible. Driving around all *residential* neighborhoods, everything looks clean and well-kept-up, same as most suburbs of similar vintage.

Maybe Bellwood mostly looks alright, but Maywood looks really run down for the most part. Lot's of poorly maintained houses, chain link fences, and a few abandoned or burned out buildings. You know you're in a rough area as soon as you enter. But there are many well-maintained houses as well.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Squeamish

I never understood why Maywood and Bellwood are considered so horrible. Driving around all *residential* neighborhoods, everything looks clean and well-kept-up, same as most suburbs of similar vintage.

You can't see the homicide rate by driving through a town.