Red Eye tags Avondale as next hot hood (Chicago, Addison: neighborhood, wages)

[Humboldt1]

We are getting hipsters on their bikes in Humboldt Park too, even the western parts over by Pulaski.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Holdencaulfield

The hipsters have been getting priced out of Bucktown and Logan Square and are heading towards Avondale. Will this spur an anti gentrification movement in Avonale as well? The Hispanics being priced out of West Town are headed west towards West Humboldt Park, Hermosa, and Belmont Cragin.

The anti-gentrification movement is long-established, it's what removed Vilma Colom from office in 2003.

But when I say that, I'm referring to the economic aspect - Avondale is not going to see frame bungalows torn down for McCondos any time soon, many of my neighbors are Chicago-born folks who resettled in Avondale from other Chi neighborhoods, purchased their homes and intend to stay put.

Avondale is fortunate IMO that we got new residents who got involved in the community early on, and made efforts to do so *with* existing residents, as opposed to the yoyos who move in an area and treat the existing residents like day-old bread that needs to be dumped off somewhere else.

[Chi-town Native]

Intriguing story from this week's Reader:

Saved by Vegans | Food & Drink Column | Chicago Reader

[surlycue]

^^I've only been once but I loved it. The prices were great and the food was delectable for a buffet style.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

The anti-gentrification movement is long-established, it's what removed Vilma Colom from office in 2003.

But when I say that, I'm referring to the economic aspect - Avondale is not going to see frame bungalows torn down for McCondos any time soon, many of my neighbors are Chicago-born folks who resettled in Avondale from other Chi neighborhoods, purchased their homes and intend to stay put.

Avondale is fortunate IMO that we got new residents who got involved in the community early on, and made efforts to do so *with* existing residents, as opposed to the yoyos who move in an area and treat the existing residents like day-old bread that needs to be dumped off somewhere else.

People forget that gentrification is to a very large extent a two sided coin. Hipsters may be shocked by this but I can assure you that many existing residents these "hot hoods" aren't as enamored by their presence as the Red Eye is. They will have no problem whatsoever cashing out once the property values go up and provide an incentive to do so.

Anti-gentrification forces tend to be dominated by radicals, who are very often white. Thus, they tend to filter things through their lens of life. For the average Joe (or Jose) property owner living in these neighborhoods, scraggly PBR drinking hipsters living off parents, part-time retail jobs and unpaid music gigs aren't a threat to price them out. However, like anyone else, they want to live in an area that's comfortable and familar, and will want to sell when the area starts to change enough.

The advantage to being "gentrified out" is that at least you get a large chunk of coin if you're a property owner! If you must flee an area due to a decline, and need to land somewhere hot, you end up losing a ton of money.

[jtamay3]

Meh, when I was in Avondale, there was nothing too special about it other than Kuma's and Hot Doug's. Oh, and the cabbie prostitution ring being run across the street. It was fun to be there with friends, but I moved out last year, alot because there wasn't too much to do.

[Chi-town Native]

plenty of truth to both of those posts, no doubt.

it all really hinges on what happens to Milwaukee Ave north of Diversey, IMO. if night life is encouraged (ie, permits change hands), anything *could* happen, right now it's a vacuum - and nature & gentrifiers both abhor a vacuum.

[Chi-town Native]

and, with the groundbreaking at the old Sachs building, the controversy returns!

City Roomâ„¢ - News In Brief - As Artist Lofts Go In, Supportive Housing Waits (http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=42054 - broken link)

[Chi-town Native]

meanwhile, the real artists in Avondale keep on chuggin:

Avondale neighborhood Artwalk | Chicago Artists Resource

[North Side Brandon]

Avondale has alot going for it. It is near two EL stops on it's Western side one at Kimball and Belmont and another by Addison and the Expressway just east of Pulaski. It also has Old Irving right to the North. It is a majority Latino now but it still has a large Polish presence which it has had for over a century. The key for any gentrifying is access to the EL and Avondale has that.