Does anyone know if the West Side of Chicago is going to take a turn for the better soon?

Question

I grew up on the west side of Chicago and I want to move there again. The neighborhood took a turn for the worse in the 80's (drugs, gun violence). I was wondering if anyone knows if it's going to get better anytime soon. I am uninterested in the ethic make up of the neighborhood, I just want it to be safe. I am looking at the Austin neighborhood near Lockwood & Thomas.

If you live in the Austin area, your advice is especially welcome!

Thanks!

I am not black.

Answer 1

It takes people like you to "turn it around". When good people who care about the community move out, it only leaves the
"bad" folks who don't care about anyone and anything. It takes concerned citizens, community groups, constant phone calls to the cops and alderman to make things better. if no one does anything, the bad guys win and the neighborhood never turns for the better. When blocks clubs and community groups (along with the cops) make sure that people aren't hanging out on the corner all night, when they make sure that garbage is picked up, the streets are cleaned, abandoned stores are either rehabbed or torn down, slum landlords are made to take care of their property, the city makes sure street lights are fixed, homeowners are required to take care of their property for the benefit of the whole community, THEN the neighborhood will turn for the better, THEN businesses will look at the neighborhood as a attractive place to build, THEN families and individuals with money will look at the neighborhood as a nice place to invest, THEN the neighborhood will "turn for the better". But it starts with the individual residents. There's a reason you don't see gangbangers hanging out on corners in the Gold Coast or nice middle class neighborhoods. Because the people there invest a lot of time and money into their community and they won't stand for it. The good people on the West Side, the ones who just want to work their jobs and come home and sit on the porch in the summer with their friends and have their kids walk safely to school (and there are a LOT of them) have to start doing it too. how many little kids getting shot while sitting on their front porch will it take? The city's not going to overhaul it and very few big businesses will move in there because it's not to their financial advantage.

Answer 2

I lived near Jefferson Park for about 18 months (5 years ago) and continue to travel to Chicago several times a year. While there, I stay with a friend who used to live in the Near North West and who now lives in Oak Park.

I don't think you can get a simple answer to a question like this because there is a lot of variability in the neighborhoods and I really think it comes down to the street level. There has been some penetration by new businesses and people looking to rejuvenate the neighborhoods. You can have a block of nice, well maintained houses and businesses, followed by a block of empty houses and warehouses, followed by a Home Depot and a Costco, then a block of abandoned lots, and then a new apartment building with million dollar apartments, and so on.

I suggest you go and look around to see for yourself, it is the only way to know for sure.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Hirsch & Lockwood
The community is getting better by the day. The police is very hot @this time I'm actually riding with my seat belt on all the time. You do know that any where you go won't be pewrfect.....
But the Austin commiunity is really looking up. This is comming from a person that has been here all my life. I left a couple of times (Memphis,Arkansa,Milwaukee) and still ended up back in the hood. Come back for a visit you'll see please don't judge a neiborhood by the news...smile!! Seriously if you are black come back. Think About It...............................

Answer 5

a lot of rehabbing is going on in what they are now calling "west town" right between Humboldt Park and Austin, I went to a retirement party at Bethel New Life (4950 W Thomas) not too long ago, and La Follette Park always has people there till like 9pm, neighborhood seemed ok, I have heard of Laramie being notorious for drugs but that's more up by North ave, a friend of mine lives on Augusta, it was her aunts retirement party

Answer 6

The near west side is ok, but once you pass Western, it goes downhill fast.

Answer 7

http://www.chicagocrime.org/

-Use this website. ;-) Also, if you mean Lockwood, Ave.:
http://www.chicagocrime.org/streets/lockwood_ave/

-It is still a pretty cruddy area, although it varies by block.

Answer 8

well I have never been to chicago but there's a website that is avalible to check out the crime rate etc that should give you a better view if you'd like to move back