CHICAGO | General Discussions

[rivernorthlurker]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

Why doesn't Chicago have food trucks? I heard they banned them? There should be food trucks all over the city, especially near the lake and beaches in the summertime.

Chicago has many food trucks - they're not banned. Some have been so successful they've opened physical locations. There are a number of websites that track them. Many post where they'll be on Twitter in advance.

Some resouurces.

https://www.foodtrucksin.com/city/chicago_il
https://twitter.com/chifoodtruckz
https://chicagofoodtruckhub.com/
https://www.truckspotting.com/metro_chicago

I used to go to visit 5-6 trucks that would stop on Wacker near Willis when I was working downtown. Great way to try a bunch of different food instead of the same tired stuff that is near ur office.

Im guess some of these have been hurting pretty bad though because of the pandemic and have probably switched to delivery.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

It's also true that a lot people in the Chicago MSA are more likely to live in the actual city than people in the Atlanta MSA.

• Chicago population is 2.7 million of a 9.5 million MSA, about 28%.
• Atlanta population is 500K of a 6 million MSA, about 8%.

And when you compare percentage share of land area for both metro for suburbs,, they're pretty even in that regard on where people CAN live physically within the metro area. This is especially important when talking about people moving into or within the metro areas.

And then even when you are talking about the city proper - Chicago is 100 sq mi larger than Atlanta and has entire swaths of neighborhoods, geographically continuous, that are the size of San Francisco with 1+ million people and violent crime rates in line with some of the safest cities in America (STATISTICALLY).

Completely nuanced, but labeling any major America city ad entirely safe or entirely dangerous is fucking stupid, naive, and lazy. Crime is complicated at the end of the day. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be studying this for decades with 5000 differing opinions on how to tackle it and make people not turn to crime.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

As far as Atlanta housing prices go, that’s a metro that’s been walloped by SFH rentals recently, and I’m not sure it’s healthy when it’s half the housing market.


https://twitter.com/toomuchme/status...171438592?s=21

not good.

i understand that capitalism is gonna capitalism.

but i still don't like it.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

not good.

i understand that capitalism is gonna capitalism.

but i still don't like it.

It's kind of surprising to me how some people think that housing prices increasing 30% in a year is actually healthy...

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

Why doesn't Chicago have food trucks? I heard they banned them? There should be food trucks all over the city, especially near the lake and beaches in the summertime.

They were restricted from operating near existing restaurants.

You’ll see them around in Summer at street fairs and festivals.

UChicago between the hospital and campus - and Monroe St. next to the Art Institute are two favorite locations.

[rgarri4]

Chicago has so many good food trucks.
https://roaminghunger.com/food-trucks/chicago-il/1/

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

not good.

i understand that capitalism is gonna capitalism.

but i still don't like it.

https://twitter.com/rickpalaciosjr/s...198918656?s=21

[west-town-brad]

The Chicago Restaurant Association Lobbyists wrote the laws for food trucks... which is why you don't see many.

I believe they cannot park on the public street within something like 1,000 feet of any existing restaurant/bar/food service

this leaves no locations where people are

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by rgarri4

Chicago has so many good food trucks.
https://roaminghunger.com/food-trucks/chicago-il/1/

sure but that's a website for how to book a food truck for your private event, which kind of shows the issue in Chicago

[GarfieldMcTavish]

Just discovered this site and was sifting through some of the takes on census numbers/growth in past posts. Great insights.

One eye-popping/interesting thing from my perspective in the census was the Asian population growth along Archer, especially in McKinley Park. I expected that trend to continue but did not realize the extent. The amount of Asians moving in there is drastic, then considering the decrease in Hispanic population over the last decade is similar in % to Avondale, you really have to wonder what this neighborhood will begin to look like in ten years. The conversion of the Pershing CMD buildings and ongoing construction of condos on Archer near Ashland moving forward, I would think the area may lose it's "sleeper" vibe over the next decade or so. Bridgeport spillover already occurring for years but seems to be speeding up? One thing the area desperately needs if it is going to turn into a more walkable urban neighborhood is density.

Maybe the conversion of some of the CMD buildings accomplishes this to some extent but more residential units are needed for any kind of walkable neighborhood feel, I would think. The area has never significantly declined as other similar areas in the city have. The difference between McKinley Park to an area like Little Village is pretty stark as McKinley never developed the extent of gang problems Little Village has over the years. The park itself is a wonderful amenity and the 35th/Archer Orange station is positioned perfectly for TOD in the coming years. The housing stock is not as good as say Logan Square but is pretty similar to an area like Avondale although less dense. Plenty of land for development on Archer and Ashland near EL lines.

Anyways, I'm pondering buying there in the coming years as I think it could be a nice affordable neighborhood to have a family in the coming decade.

Anyone have any insight on the area? I know this is speculation but from census numbers it seems change is already occurring and I would love to hear others' perspectives.

[Chisouthside]

I feel like it's already lost it's sleeper vibe tbh and if I was you I would buy sooner than later if you're trying to find a place to raise a family. The neighborhood itself is pretty chill and a few of my CPS classmates decided to buy here to raise their families rather than move to the burbs and they seem pretty content.

Originally Posted by GarfieldMcTavish

Just discovered this site and was sifting through some of the takes on census numbers/growth in past posts. Great insights.

One eye-popping/interesting thing from my perspective in the census was the Asian population growth along Archer, especially in McKinley Park. I expected that trend to continue but did not realize the extent. The amount of Asians moving in there is drastic, then considering the decrease in Hispanic population over the last decade is similar in % to Avondale, you really have to wonder what this neighborhood will begin to look like in ten years. The conversion of the Pershing CMD buildings and ongoing construction of condos on Archer near Ashland moving forward, I would think the area may lose it's "sleeper" vibe over the next decade or so. Bridgeport spillover already occurring for years but seems to be speeding up? One thing the area desperately needs if it is going to turn into a more walkable urban neighborhood is density.

Maybe the conversion of some of the CMD buildings accomplishes this to some extent but more residential units are needed for any kind of walkable neighborhood feel, I would think. The area has never significantly declined as other similar areas in the city have. The difference between McKinley Park to an area like Little Village is pretty stark as McKinley never developed the extent of gang problems Little Village has over the years. The park itself is a wonderful amenity and the 35th/Archer Orange station is positioned perfectly for TOD in the coming years. The housing stock is not as good as say Logan Square but is pretty similar to an area like Avondale although less dense. Plenty of land for development on Archer and Ashland near EL lines.

Anyways, I'm pondering buying there in the coming years as I think it could be a nice affordable neighborhood to have a family in the coming decade.

Anyone have any insight on the area? I know this is speculation but from census numbers it seems change is already occurring and I would love to hear others' perspectives.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Just heard Allstate sold their HQ in the burbs and is going virtual. No more offices period for most staff.

Explains their purchase downtown, I imagine it will become some sort of C suite, hotelling, and conference "HQ"...

[Via Chicago]

I think that's the future of most offices. A lot of people don't want to admit it, but I haven't been back in 2 years and I really don't think it's going to happen. Our company had opened a new place in the west loop right before the shutdowns. Things have changed so much since then. Before it was basically a requirement to be based here if you were working on an account based out of the same office. Now my boss is in NJ, my team mate is in LA, and people get swapped in and off of business from wherever, dosent really matter. Full teams of people I've never once met in person. That way of working isn't going away.

[thegoatman]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

I think that's the future of most offices. A lot of people's don't want to admit it, but I haven't been back in 2 years and I really don't think it's going to happen.

So we're just gonna act like this isn't gonna be catastrophic for downtown...okay.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Just heard Allstate sold their HQ in the burbs and is going virtual. No more offices period for most staff.

Explains their purchase downtown, I imagine it will become some sort of C suite, hotelling, and conference "HQ"...

Do you have a source for this? That would be a big story in the news of "Permanent Remote Work", but I don't see anything in the headlines on that front.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

So we're just gonna act like this isn't gonna be catastrophic for downtown...okay.

It is what it is. Downtown will have to adapt. The old "normal" no longer exists. Maybe more buildings will convert to residential. But people are going to have to start getting creative.

I will say I'm in a pretty tech savvy industry that is pretty well suited to this sort of thing. But I'm really having a hard time not seeing other industries follow suit.

We won the biggest global pitch in our companies existence with a fully remote workforce. A massive piece of business. No one can say being in the office is necessary to function. I miss some of the change of scenery and the feeling of the bustle, but I don't miss the pointlessness and time suck of commuting for almost zero benefit.

[thegoatman]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

It is what it is. Downtown will have to adapt. The old "normal" no longer exists. Maybe more buildings will convert to residential. But people are going to have to start getting creative.

Oh I know. It's just strange on an urbanist forum people are cheering this on. Widespread remote work has people leaving dense areas and heading to suburbia, accelerating sprawl and killing the vibrancy of a city. I have nothing against remote work. I feel like a hybrid schedule is best for the city. But if people think all these companies going 100% remote wont hurt the city are delusional.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by twister244

Do you have a source for this? That would be a big story in the news of "Permanent Remote Work", but I don't see anything in the headlines on that front.

I thought it was old news to be honest. They already reported months ago 95% of their staff was working remote and fine with it, and they were clear about that in press releases.

Besides it was an insurance company. I’ve never really heard of an American insurance company being anything but conservative as far as construction goes. A bignew fancy HQ development was never realistic.

Long-term I think it’s a wash for the Loop. Most companies will be hybrid. That means some are leaving the suburbs and putting the client-facing staff downtown.

[generallogan]

Remote work will hurt some cities more than others. Like Via Chicago, my office is going almost fully hybrid and we are NOT in a "new" industry, in fact the opposite. Most teams are reporting that they've become more productive in the last couple years, not less.

The All-State C Suite news, if confirmed, is great and should be the way most employers move in the coming years if they've seen the same productivity gains. If Chicago leaders are smart (questionable), they'd immediately start to market our city this way. Middle of the country, beautiful (natural and built environment), lower cost of living, great place to live (when there aren't riots), great universities, easy to get to either coast or the sunbelt, Europe, South America, Asia. In other words, great place to locate your C Suite and a conference center. Let everyone else work from home.

Chicago is in a trough right now, but it's much shallower than cities bigger than our own..... If we can more quickly solve "big city quality of life issues", we'll turn the population declines around and add businesses fleeing higher cost coastal areas.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by generallogan

The All-State C Suite news, if confirmed, is great and should be the way most employers move in the coming years if they've seen the same productivity gains. If Chicago leaders are smart (questionable), they'd immediately start to market our city this way. Middle of the country, beautiful (natural and built environment), lower cost of living, great place to live (when there aren't riots), great universities, easy to get to either coast or the sunbelt, Europe, South America, Asia. In other words, great place to locate your C Suite and a conference center. Let everyone else work from home.

Also, I think there are many local industries that genuinely have had trouble going full remote. Very rocky for the logistics companies which is why they’re still making office leases. For some marketing and B2B companies, it was lower productivity full remote. Not to speak of the industries that absolutely can’t go remote (manufacturing, medical etc).