Evanston, Oak Park, and Hyde Park are similiar. Two are cities within the suburbs. Two are college communities on the lakefront. Two have classic Frank Lloyd Wright structures. All three are desirable for the type of diverse, progressive, and educated environment they provide. Each is a special place of its own that can easily access the joys of Chicago from their north, west, and south locations.
One has to wonder then: DOES THEIR VERY DESIRABILITY IRONICALLY THREATEN THE VERY DIVERSITY THAT HAS MADE THEM WONDERFUL PLACES TO LIVE?
Simply put: is there enough real estate (and real estate tax) pressure on Evanston, Oak Park, and Hyde Park that could eventually emulate the tyhpe of gentrification that has gone on along the North Side lakefront: wealthy and predominantly white by nature?
South Side redevelopment pushes southward from McCormick Place at a rapid pace, adding value to the Hyde Park real estate. Oak Park sits as close in to downtown as any suburb while providing its own special environment, the best of both worlds. Evanston booms in downtown and in areas adjacent to its lakefront (Chicago Avenue to the south, a more diverse spread to the north). Pressure is on to redevelop more heavily African American neighborhoods to the west.
Close in to Chicago real estate goes up because of the special city Chicago has become. It goes up in places like Skokie, Niles, Morton Grove, Forest Park, Harwood Heights, etc., even though those communities do not have the panache of Evanston, Oak Park, and Hyde Park.
What will be the future composition of these communities.....collectively and individually?> |
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