Posted on 05/26/2022 3:11:25 AM PDT by nikos1121
I grew up on Chicago's Southside, a graduate of Morgan Park HS.
I'm returning to downtown Chicago after almost 5 years. What will I see? How safe is it? Can I walk safely down Rush street and Michigan Avenue at night, or do I take an Uber just to go three blocks.
Five years ago, you'd encounter a few homeless people sleeping in the street, and get hit on by a beggar or two, how is it now?
What kind of security downtown. Any festivals in Grant Park this weekend?
Thank you for the help.
I would probably take an Uber three blocks during the nighttime if I were alone and not from the area. Generally speaking the Mag Mile was always safe at all hours. Now…….not so much. Really sad, Chicago is an awesome city.
What’s the Miracle Mile ? Did you mean the Magnificent mile ?
Lately that place gets lit up regularly...
This is just sad. I live in CA, but traveled to Chicago several times last decade for trade shows and sales calls. Five years ago it was such a great city that I looked forward to my visits and envied the young people living and working there. Glad to be retired now and never again get closer than a connecting flight at O’Hare.
When I took a concealed carry class, the instructor said if you are going to a place where you think you might need to carry a gun, maybe you shouldn’t be going therein the first place—best way to avoid violence is to stay away from such places. I kind of think if you have to ask that question, you already know the answer.
Go to Portillo’s downtown. Get the double cheeseburger and a chocolate cake shake. You’re welcome.
Are you staying overnight? If so where?
I had a lot of experience - business related - staying overnight in Chicago all through the 1980s-19990s and had a couple leisure stays there in very early 2000s. The experience then was not unpleasant. But then again my visit included nothing below the very downtown core, nothing above Lincoln Park and more on the east (lake) side than the west side, with a few exceptions.
Nope, that area (along with Milwaukee Avenue) took the hardest hits when BLM rampaged two years ago, and today that’s where the Red Line Raider group of “teens” from the south side go to raise hell.
I was down there just a couple of days ago, walked through the Loop in the daytime.
Despite the best boosterism out there, it’s hardly coming back. Vehicle traffic on State Street looked like a Sunday/holiday level of activity, and foot traffic is nowhere near what it was pre-Covid. My impression is most are still working from home, and those who are back to the office bug out as soon as they can.
I can’t tell if there were more “bandits” on the street, or if they were just more noticeable due to the lack of foot traffic. Some panhandlers were noticeably aggressive.
Many downtown venues (especially expensive ones, and office-traffic lunch spots) closed during the Covid lockdowns and have not been replaced. Lots of vacant spaces. Of those remaining, many of them are not open all days of the week, and they close early, taking last orders around 7-7:30. Again, people aren’t sticking around any later than necessary.
If you want Vietnamese food, look north to Argyle Street or Albany Park. Just be aware that the surrounding Uptown neighborhood has improved greatly from what it was twenty years ago, but still has plenty of legacy issues.
Do NOT take the Red or Blue Lines, there are incidents reported practically every day. And wherever you may go, be on your guard.
Quite honestly, I don’t go into the city any longer unless I must, and then where possible I prefer to drive. (Watch for the speed and light cameras, they no longer allow any margin of error!)
Hope this helps.
Something like a 25% vacancy rate for retail space, last I heard. Yes, they’ve lost a couple of major stores (most notably the Macy’s at Water Tower Place), but a lot of smaller venues have also said “screw it” and left after the BLM looting raids.
thanx.
went into that city yesterday and it still gives me the creeps.
This from a guy who was born & raised there and lived in a housing projects in the mid-late 60s.
Thanks for the info. I don't know anything about the red line, but the blue line goes to O'hare from downtown. Ripe pickings for criminals..
My grandfather lived across the street from the real Mayor Daley.
Your parents from Bridgeport?
no...north side irish...
Best post your FR goodby today, while you can...
Shame you didn’t quite make it to 20-years...😭
My SIL told me there are car-jackings everywhere now. She doesn’t want to live there anymore.
Beverly
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