Madison Street - East Garfield Park, Near West Side

[MBCustoms1]

thats my old hood !!!!!!!!!!westside !!!!!!!!

[temp229009]

@emjayseize Good post. Gentrification destroys communities, period. Mixed income housing hasn't really been a great solution (for the most part) either because it mostly means low income housing and rich people in this country want to ignore reality as much as possible. Rich whites in Chicago (like YoChicago) act as though the poor are bugs that need to be fumigated and it's sick.

If you wanna ride through GP at least make some interesting commentary, not run-of-the-mill ignorance.

[wickid4594]

Bob Dylan and Chicago... Marry me

[Dipukas1]

rocks and blows, rocks and blows! haha

[ChicaGorilla312]

lmao rock and blows

[c4h6i2s]

this guy sounds like raymond

[beepeelow]

This guy's take on East Garfield Park is not informed. Most of Madison is progressing.  The vacant land parcels that he described are owned by two individuals. It is in play.

[chilonewolf]

gentrification.... yeah ok. black people bring the property value down by their own doings. if the property value stayed stagnant for white boys moving in, it wouldn't be a problem. but unfortunately black people cause more destruction than development in the lower income communities.

[youngdice07]

I live there!

[waller3rd]

I live in this neighborhood, there are socioeconomic issies based in racism between whites and blacks. with gentrafication a revitalization is taking place, but those who benefit from it won't be the people who had to live through the discrimination of the past 50 years

[RoolsPrivacy]

@waller3rd

You know, I'm white, and I ride my bike sometimes through this neighborhood and I'm pretty fucking sick of being threatened each time I do. It always happens at least once where someone vocally threatens me or throws some shit at me, and it's just because I'm white and "don't belong". I understand funny looks, but threats of violence are bullshit. Sure slavery has had long lasting negative effects,but black people need to take some personal responsibility once in a while

[roni2raw]

the beginning around my school

[Blight60624]

The issue is that there are not enough good jobs for Chicago residents. Business has left and not been replaced with good jobs. Some neighborhoods turned into rubble because of "disinvestment"...meaning monies were sucked out of/diverted out of neighborhoods instead of being recycled within the neighborhood.

[YoChicago1]

The Census projections show a slowing in the city's population decline from 2000 to 2010.

The Census bureau also projects a 7.8% decline in the city's white population from 2005 to 2010, on top of a 5.5% decline from 2000 to 2005.

Not sure what you mean by "reverse white flight." There does seem to be a re-concentration of the white population away from the neighborhoods and along the gentrifying areas of the lakefront.

[Blight60624]

What are the percentages for black flight? Do you know? It must be large because so much of the west and south sie are empty. Thanks

[Blight60624]

Chicago needs to attract 800,000 or so new inhabitants to get back to its' old glory. Half the west side is empty and maybe 60% of the south side...it is a shame.

[Blight60624]

The real problem is that Chicago looses approx 1.2% population each year...and has for 30 years...which means we are down 30%or so in total population.

Gentrification is not the enemy. Flight is the enemy. Chicago will be half its' original size in another 20 years if this trend continues. Politicians say there is reverse white flight, but the demographics do not support this.

[rhibac]

i disagree a city cannot shrink but the population can

[Blight60624]

change can be good if managed properly. Oldtimers need to be coached though how to ride the bumps of increasing taxes, adjusting to new neighbors, etc. The sad part is that the bureaucrats let half this beautiful neighborhood be torn down, and become economically blighght. All neighborhoods in Chicago morph from one ethnicity to another. East Garfield in the past was historically Jewish. Bridgeport is now Chinese.

[Blight60624]

Bob, thanks for the promo but tell people more about the problems. 11th district Police response is slow (if they come). Gang/Drug activity is rampant. Lots are vacant because vetting is too hard at City Hall. Old/New residents oftentimes cannot get along. This is a ghetto, we need newcomers who can handle these conditions. Change is about 1% a year.