Chicago - Pt 2: The Neighborhoods

Fourth Story Attic View

   When I decided to major in Sociology at the end of my first semester, I didn't really know what I was in for. What I did know was that I felt a deep longing to understand people. Psychology has too much guess work for me, so two years later, I am delighted to know I haven't waste 2 years on private education studying something I hate.
   I don't pretend to know it all, but something that I have been learning a lot about and was able to see first hand in Chicago is gentrification**.

 Starting in the 1950s, many white families who lived in the city relocated to suburbs in a phenomenon  know as "white flight." This basically left most of the inner city a place for low class people and minorities. For a multitude of reasons, the foremost being easy access to public transit, many young professionals (a.k.a. yuppies) have moved back into the city. Another trend that is growing in cities like Chicago is a movement of young, artsy people we like to call hipsters coming to the inner city because...well...it's hip.
   This is changing the face of the inner city. Who can say what it will look like in 10, 20, 50 years? What remains, however, is the residents of the city, whoever they are, need the gospel. They need good news. And they need it now.

New Wave, a hip coffee chop in what used to be less-than-safe neighborhood

What we might consider a one-family house may actual be home to 2-3 families - one on each floor

**For a real look of the impact on gentrification in Chicago, check out this article. It's fantastic .Pushing City Limits by Emily Miller