Population dropoff (Chicago: malls, yard, parks)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

The effect it would have would be to make the remaining "market rate" housing stock even more expensive to make up the revenues lost from forced subsidization of low-income housing, basically wiping out any gains such a bill would make toward creating "affordable" housing. It's kind of like how rent control creates its own need by causing rental rates to go haywire.

This is true. There was a big housing study done in New York a few years ago that showed how government controls on the housing market simply drove up prices. Historical Preservation legislation has the same effect, since it makes adding supply more difficult. But it's more ironic with "affordable housing" legislation, and is basically just another way to screw the middle class.

[Basekamp]

it is ironic how the middle class always gets pwned in these arrangements...

[west lawn kid]

two words white flight

[Drover]

Originally Posted by west lawn kid

two words white flight

Try again. Who do you think moved into all those fancy condos and townhouses that were built over the last 15 years? Laotians?

[oakparkdude]

Well in truth there probably has been a lot of white flight from the traditional blue collar neighborhoods of the NW, SW side, Hegewisch, etc. There's been also been an increase in the white population in the gentrified central neighborhoods. What has been the net result on the white population? Nobody knows for certain until the 2010 census figures come out. Likewise, nobody knows for certain if the overall population of Chicago is decreasing until those numbers come out.

[Drover]

Hegewisch is still mostly white. the NW side has seen a greater Hispanic population but it's not really that whites are moving out and Hispanics are moving in. Its more like Hispanics are moving in and whites are staying. That's why you've seen the population numbers of NW side neighborhoods growing steadily. None of these areas have really seen wholesale white abandonment along with the attendant rapid disinvestment and urban decay. Though I think most would agree that inner SW side neighborhoods like Brighton Park and Marquette Park aren't what they used to be, and unfortunately Clearing and Garfield Ridge Archer Heights and West Elsdon's days as top-quality blue-collar neighborhoods are probably numbered.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Drover

Hegewisch is still mostly white. the NW side has seen a greater Hispanic population but it's not really that whites are moving out and Hispanics are moving in. Its more like Hispanics are moving in and whites are staying. That's why you've seen the population numbers of NW side neighborhoods growing steadily. None of these areas have really seen wholesale white abandonment along with the attendant rapid disinvestment and urban decay. Though I think most would agree that inner SW side neighborhoods like Brighton Park and Marquette Park aren't what they used to be, and unfortunately Clearing and Garfield Ridge Archer Heights and West Elsdon's days as top-quality blue-collar neighborhoods are probably numbered.

I'm pretty certain the northwest side neighborhood of Belmont-Cragin has lost a lot of white population over the past decade. I think you're correct that the most dramatic difference has been occuring in the SW side.

[Drover]

B-C may have lost a lot of white population. But that stands in contrast to Irving Park, Portage Park, Albany Park, Jefferson Park, Logan Square et cetera, which have gained population overall because they haven't experienced a lot of white flight. If anything some of these neighborhoods are gaining white population.

In any case, a quick look at the inner ring suburbs quickly reveals that it's not just whites "fleeing" the city. Fact is, just about everyone is coming and going to and from the city these days. It hasn't been a clear-cut case of "white flight" for two decades now.

[Huckleberry3911948]

not cold enough and not enough crime.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

not cold enough and not enough crime.

What the hell are you on about?