A recent article in Forbes, "America's Most Troubled Luxury Neighborhoods," quoted me and implied that prices in Chicago's Lincoln Park were on the verge of collapse. In truth, I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment. While it didn't make Forbes' cut, I have plenty of evidence, both statistical and anecdotal, why Lincoln Park will not be ground zero for the next real estate downturn.
While much attention has been paid to the human side of the foreclosure crisis - and justifiably so - pets are being left behind both figuratively and literally. As families have been foreclosed on or have abandoned homes with underwater mortgages, some, for whatever reasons, have chosen to leave their pets to fend for themselves.
If you would like to do something to help pets like this in Chicago, there are several ways to lend a hand.
How time flies! One of my first posts after starting this blog last summer was on Chicago’s annual “Movies in the Parks” program. Now, another summer is here, and that means another season to enjoy great films for free in the friendly setting of Chicago’s public parks.
The film reels are already rolling with titles like Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, The Dark Knight, and Iron Man on outdoor screens across the city. Visit the Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Parks page to see which films are playing near you.
The economic downturn has seen many American families relocate after losing their homes amid financial difficulties. Here in Chicago, however, there are those who have left their previous homes under much harsher circumstances - warfare or persecution.
While other forms of immigration to the U.S. have dropped off recently, refugees from Burma, Bhutan, Iraq, and various African nations continue to arrive in American cities like Chicago. Aside from limited government assistance, these refugees rely largely on local charities to help get them started in their new lives.
Here in Chicago, the Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries (IRIM) is one such not-for-profit that assists refugees in integrating with local communities and gaining self sufficiency. According to the IRIM, their organization picks up where the movie Hotel Rwanda leaves off, meeting immigrants at the airport and helping them with housing, employment, school, health care, and other needs.
The assistance IRIM provides is ambitious, but you can help out in smaller, more specific ways. Everything from providing tutoring, mentoring, or childcare to cosponsoring a family or providing employment is all in demand by IRIM’s volunteer services. You can volunteer on your own or as part of an office, club, or religious group.
Granted, times are tougher for Chicagoans today than they have been in past years. Still, for those who speak little English, have no savings, and lack a network of friends and family, life is an even greater a challenge. If you can assist in any small way, the gratitude you’ll earn for yourself and our city will no doubt be immense.
The IRIM will be holding their Fourth Annual Fundraiser on Friday May 8, 2009 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Save the date, and learn more at www.irim.org.
It’s that time of year again! City street cleaning starts on Monday, March 30th and runs through November. During street cleaning days, you cannot park your car on a specific side of the street in order to accommodate the street cleaner.
The way the city communicates the schedule varies by neighborhood. In parts of the Gold Coast for example, you are notified of street cleaning by permanent signs. In other areas, temporary bright orange cardboard signs are posted one day before the street will be cleaned. The problem with both methods is that depending on where you park, your view of the sign may be obstructed. So, if you notice an entire block of mostly open parking, look carefully before deciding that the parking gods must be shining upon you.
Just to be safe, you can view your street cleaning schedule ahead of time at the Streets and Sanitation webpage here. Schedules are organized by ward, and if you don’t know your ward, you can look it up at the Civic Footprint website. Alternatively, you can simply contact your alderman’s office for more information. Knowing these schedules before hand is especially important if you travel or sometimes leave your car parked on the street for more than a couple of days.
The alternative to respecting the cleaning times is a $50 ticket. Now that the city has equipped 100 street cleaners with cameras to photograph the license plates of offending cars, the Department of Revenue will be more efficient than ever in doling these out.
So, mark your calendars and make sure it’s your curb, not your wallet, that’s swept clean this season.
I am an award-winning residential real estate agent in Chicago specializing in the city's North Side market.
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