Oak Park threads -- should they be moved? (Chicago, Naperville: neighborhoods, live in)

[Drover]

I've noticed that Oak Park threads keep getting moved to the Suburbs forum. I guess the way I see it this way:

1) People inquiring about Oak Park are generally more interested in an urban lifestyle and experience;

2) Oak Park is basically an extension of Chicago because of the more urban (albeit outer-urban) feel and because it is directly connected to the city via the L;

3) Because of the above, Chicago board regulars are more likely to be familiar with the ins and outs of Oak Park than the Suburbs regulars, many (most?) of whom live a substantial distance from the city.

Therefore, I pose a question: should Oak Park threads that originate in the Chicago forum be moved to the Suburb forum? My instinct is to say leave them here. Same for Evanston, and maybe Berwyn and Cicero posts. If they originate in the Suburbs forum, leave them there too.... so basically, leave them where they originate. What do you all think?

[jdiddy]

I second the motion.

[dragoro]

Drover knows best!!

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

I definitely agree. We'll call it the "on the el" caveat.

[ahava]

What about all of the threads about those cities that already exist in the Suburbs forum? At least if the posts that originate here get moved the OP has a chance of finding those other threads where their question is probably already answered. I think it's pretty obvious given the number of repeat questions we get that newbies are not aware of the Search function.

[Lookout Kid]

I think it would just confuse things. Oak Park and Evanston are suburbs--like it or not!

[Avengerfire]

Leave the burbs in the burbs.Burbs like Oak Park and Evanston are still very different from the city no matter if they are right next to the city or not. Maybe suggest a "inner ring" burb forum or a adajacent burb forum. I think it will not help anything by keeping Oak Park, Evanston, etc threads in the city section.

[mdz]

It's definitely a good thought, but I do think we should leave them in the suburb forum--mainly because, well, they are suburbs. Don't want to confuse the issue. There's already a lot of information there and the OP/evanston regulars do a good job of covering the towns.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Drover

I've noticed that Oak Park threads keep getting moved to the Suburbs forum. I guess the way I see it this way:

1) People inquiring about Oak Park are generally more interested in an urban lifestyle and experience;

2) Oak Park is basically an extension of Chicago because of the more urban (albeit outer-urban) feel and because it is directly connected to the city via the L;

3) Because of the above, Chicago board regulars are more likely to be familiar with the ins and outs of Oak Park than the Suburbs regulars, many (most?) of whom live a substantial distance from the city.

Therefore, I pose a question: should Oak Park threads that originate in the Chicago forum be moved to the Suburb forum? My instinct is to say leave them here. Same for Evanston, and maybe Berwyn and Cicero posts. If they originate in the Suburbs forum, leave them there too.... so basically, leave them where they originate. What do you all think?

All these points make sense to me. Not because I live in Berwyn but because, in all honesty, Oak Park, Berwyn, and Cicero are very much like Chicago neighborhoods, are serviced by the CTA, and probably viewed as "neighborhoods" by the majority of folks -- and certainly very differently than Naperville, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, etc. And Berwyn and Cicero practically have more Chicago Bungalows than Chicago for Pete's sake!

[Attrill]

I think 'burbs served by the CTA can be given a pass and stay. They're very connected to the city.

But how about moving posts about Chicago from people who live in Crystal Lake (or some such place) to the burbs threads?