[Via Chicago]

most of the people driving the current trends in housing are young transplants, and as a transplant the vast majority simply have zero exposure to life south of cermak and never will. they want the image of urban living theyve been sold, which is new trendy apartments in a "name brand" neighborhood, boutiques, and hip restaurants. they want a turnkey neighborhood, not one they actually have to become involved in at a grassroots level where change will take place over a period of 20-30 years.

trying to sell them on a modest home a couple blocks over from a trucking route, used car lots, 3rd shift diners, heavy industry, inhabited by the working poor is not gonna happen. will it happen eventually? sure everything that is possible will happen eventually and its not exactly prophetic to say one day these neighborhoods will be desirable once they north/nw side is completely tapped out. but in the meantime most are not gonna accept living in areas where the their neighbors arent mirrors of what they see themselves as being, or wanting to be.

having grown up here, i can see through the marketing and the image that a lot of people are invested in selling, and i dont have any need to impress people with my zip code or my countertops. but at the same time i realize im not most people (at least in the sense of my peer group and those i come into contact with on a daily basis).