Pullman and others

The Urban Politician · October 16th, 2004, 11:31 PM

Have any of you guys ever visited Pullman or the Pullman historic district?

I have gone there just once--it's really nice but it needs some renovation.

Interestingly, Pullman is SO far south that it almost feels like it's in another city. I would love to see south side neighborhoods get more attention on this forum. Pullman and other somewhat "distant" neighborhoods like Hegewisch and Beverly are actually VERY nice, albeit kind of family-oriented. But all of them are historical and urban, with an incredibly beautiful housing stock, as well as some nice (but smaller-scale) urban shopping strips, including Commercial Ave between 98th and 103rd st (being placed, by the way, on Chicago's list of pedestrian streets in the new Zoning Ordinance). I wonder why people don't visit them as much. Do any of you guys see any of those 'hoods coming into the limelight in the near future? What do you think is holding them back? From my understanding, all of them have good Metra access.

What they lack, however, is CTA 'L lines.

Does anybody have any more interesting info about these neighborhoods, or pics, that they would like to share?

24gotham · October 17th, 2004, 05:20 AM

Pullman is a fabulous neighborhood, which is amazingly intact, however, I have a friend that bought a house down there a few years ago, and has now put it on the market to get out. The neighborhood is way cool, but there is virtually no infrastructure or services nearby that most of us would want in a neigbhorhood. It is alot like living on an island, in the middle of what has unfortunately become a wasteland of mediocrity and less than fabulous neighborhoods. One grows weary of needing to travel 15 miles to get into downtown. Everyday things like grocery shopping, and dining out require driving to other communities that are not connected to Pullman, thereby one isn't really able to spend their dollars in their own neighborhood, they must spend them in other areas, which doesn't help Pullman at all. Houses there are dirt cheap (considering it is in Chicago), but the need to commute outside of your community for your basic needs precludes the value of the homes. It is also difficult because the homes are quite small (most are about 850 sq ft.) with no room to expand, which makes it hard to raise a family, which in turn doesn't help to attract the people needed to develop the needed services.
Sad, Sad indeed, as the homes are such gems.

The Urban Politician · October 19th, 2004, 04:06 AM

I see your point, Looper. Given the little response to this thread I guess it kind of shows how little we all know about those neighborhoods.

However, do any of you guys see circumstances changing in the near future? BTW, I shouldn't have lumped Beverly in with those neighborhoods. Beverly is actually quite well established and a very active community. Yet despite that, we rarely acknowledge it on this thread. Yet, to be honest, it is one neighborhood where I would consider raising a family. And yes, it does have a Metra stop. Have any of you guys been there? Any pics?

October 16th, 2004, 11:31 PM	#1
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,967 Likes (Received): 0	Pullman and others Have any of you guys ever visited Pullman or the Pullman historic district? I have gone there just once--it's really nice but it needs some renovation. Interestingly, Pullman is SO far south that it almost feels like it's in another city. I would love to see south side neighborhoods get more attention on this forum. Pullman and other somewhat "distant" neighborhoods like Hegewisch and Beverly are actually VERY nice, albeit kind of family-oriented. But all of them are historical and urban, with an incredibly beautiful housing stock, as well as some nice (but smaller-scale) urban shopping strips, including Commercial Ave between 98th and 103rd st (being placed, by the way, on Chicago's list of pedestrian streets in the new Zoning Ordinance). I wonder why people don't visit them as much. Do any of you guys see any of those 'hoods coming into the limelight in the near future? What do you think is holding them back? From my understanding, all of them have good Metra access. What they lack, however, is CTA 'L lines. Does anybody have any more interesting info about these neighborhoods, or pics, that they would like to share?

October 17th, 2004, 05:20 AM	#2
24gotham Formerly InTheLoop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hell's Kitchen, NYC Posts: 485 Likes (Received): 0	Pullman is a fabulous neighborhood, which is amazingly intact, however, I have a friend that bought a house down there a few years ago, and has now put it on the market to get out. The neighborhood is way cool, but there is virtually no infrastructure or services nearby that most of us would want in a neigbhorhood. It is alot like living on an island, in the middle of what has unfortunately become a wasteland of mediocrity and less than fabulous neighborhoods. One grows weary of needing to travel 15 miles to get into downtown. Everyday things like grocery shopping, and dining out require driving to other communities that are not connected to Pullman, thereby one isn't really able to spend their dollars in their own neighborhood, they must spend them in other areas, which doesn't help Pullman at all. Houses there are dirt cheap (considering it is in Chicago), but the need to commute outside of your community for your basic needs precludes the value of the homes. It is also difficult because the homes are quite small (most are about 850 sq ft.) with no room to expand, which makes it hard to raise a family, which in turn doesn't help to attract the people needed to develop the needed services. Sad, Sad indeed, as the homes are such gems. __________________ 24gotham - "Architecture should reflect the time in which it is built, not a previous time that may or may not have existed." Formerly "InTheLoop" of Chicago.

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October 19th, 2004, 04:06 AM	#3
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,967 Likes (Received): 0	I see your point, Looper. Given the little response to this thread I guess it kind of shows how little we all know about those neighborhoods. However, do any of you guys see circumstances changing in the near future? BTW, I shouldn't have lumped Beverly in with those neighborhoods. Beverly is actually quite well established and a very active community. Yet despite that, we rarely acknowledge it on this thread. Yet, to be honest, it is one neighborhood where I would consider raising a family. And yes, it does have a Metra stop. Have any of you guys been there? Any pics?