Finally, some good news
Friday, Sep 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz reports on a new study by United Van Lines…
According to the latest study of the four-month period of May through August, not only did considerably more people move to the Chicago area than away, but Chicago was the most popular locale for moves in the nation, trailed by Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix and New York.
Chicago ranked sixth on the move-out list but the spread was wide, with 65.2 percent of those involved in any Chicago move coming in rather than leaving. That’s almost the exact opposite of the split a year ago, when 63 percent were moving out of the Chicago area. […]
[Michael Stoll, an economist and chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles, who speaks about the study for United] underlined that two other cities whose industry breakdown resembles Chicago’s — Boston and New York — also had a relatively strong showing in the latest study. That suggests that sectors such as finance, professional businesses and technology, in which Chicago has a strong or growing presence, suddenly are doing well.
So does the fact that the move-ins included disproportionately high numbers of millennials, aged 25 to 35, and people with an annual income of at least $150,000 a year.
Greg reports this is the highest move-in rate since 2006.
* Look, we all know that this state and Chicago still have major problems. But it burns me to no end when people claim we’re in a “death spiral,” as if we’re all just trapped, helpless victims who have no initiative to turn things around. And it also greatly bothers me that some folks take such great joy in pointing out this or that negative report. I still run them, but I don’t have to revel in our troubles.
During the 1980s when so many of my friends and family fled south, I stayed here. I’d lived in another state and in Europe, but I wanted to make my stand in my home state. The only time I’ve ever regretted my decision has been during the winter (particularly in the winter of 1993, when I was flat broke and freezing). But while it’s nice to visit (especially during cold spells), you couldn’t pay me enough to live in the south. I prefer it here.
- better days - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:15 am:
Chicago needs all the taxpayers it can get.. as elsewhere in CF,, Chicago credit rating hovering above junk status… where Richie daley swaps deals of 10 years will force Chicago into paying a $$$400 charge to lenders
- Ahoy! - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:22 am:
–you couldn’t pay me enough to live in the south. I prefer it here.–
Ditto, except that you could pay me enough, the price would just be really really high.
This is good news and our State leaders need to take initiative to fix some of our issues, we don’t have anything that is beyond repair and a lot of assets. Our biggest issue is we lack good leadership, but that’s a national problem everyone is facing right now.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:26 am:
This must be a fraudulent report. It doesn’t help the Raunervich narrative.
- Langhorne - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:34 am:
big states have big problems. we have our share, some self imposed. but we also have major pluses. most people go about their lives with little regard to the larger picture, unless it intrudes. thats called life. go bears.
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:34 am:
See all the construction going on near downtown this comes as no shock.
I’ve lived near downtown for about 20 years and the changes over the past 5-10 have been pretty positive.
Raising kids in the City is great. The commute is short, so I get to spend more time with them. Weekends tend to be spent at museums. It is a heck of lot easier to do a museum when you live close, because you can go for an hour or two and then head home. If you are in the suburbs, it is a long drive and a major project to get there. We have time to go, enjoy it until the kids are bored, and then leave without seeing “everything.”
The really shocking thing is that some CPS schools are actually very good.
- Illinois taxpayer - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:39 am:
More cranes in the air in Chicago than at any time in the past decade. Something’s going right.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:42 am:
This IS good news. Let’s hope it reflects the full year and is the start of a longer trend!
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
Rich -
Agree with you about the South. The late Molly Ivins quote about Houston (which also applies to Atlanta, etc.) says it all: “Houston is laid out like Los Angeles with the climate of Calcutta, India.”
- lake county democrat - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
–Chicago ranked sixth on the move-out list but the spread was wide, with 65.2 percent of those involved in any Chicago move coming in rather than leaving. That’s almost the exact opposite of the split a year ago, when 63 percent were moving out of the Chicago area. […]–
So last year it was doom and gloom and this year it’s bright and sunny? This sounds like a strange statistic.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! THEY’RE LEAVING THE STATE!!!!! HIGH TAXES AND REGULATIONS ARE DRIVING THEM OUT!!!!!!! OBUMMERCARE!!!!!!!
(I’m sorta kidding about the victim screaming by the usual very wealthy suspects, who are pushing this narrative to cut taxes, eliminate the minimum wage, weaken unions, etc.).
I would much rather live in Chicago, with all its amenities and great schools than some lower-tax city or state, just because or largely because of taxes or right to work.
I too get miffed by the death spiral folks, because they like downing us due to ulterior motives. They scream about how bad it is here, but they’re still here making good money.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:13 pm:
Couldn’t agree more with Rich on the state and with Gooner on Chicago living. There is so much more to do in Chicago and our older son is having a great CPS high school experience. As for the cold, it also mean fewer bugs and creepy crawly things. I like living way above the bug line.
- Kurt in Springfield - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:21 pm:
Well said Rich. I was born and raised in Central Illinois in the Springfield area. While I spent time in other states while in the Navy, there is no other place I would rather live.
- alegra - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
I’ve always kinda/sorta thought that the way the pension problems were portrayed would just come back to bite us.
At times it appeared that maybe the legislators and media wanted a lot of PR against state workers/retirees in order to support (unconstitutional) cuts for these greedy civil servants. Over and over again we were pounded about Illinois budget crises because of pensions and Illinois was the victim. Well, if people are told long enough and often enough how bad Illinois is, guess what happens?
Perhaps focusing on real constitutional solutions rather than a possible easy solution would have resulted in better reputation for Illinois. I’m sure this can be said better, but you get the idea.
- low level - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
Exactly Rich. Illinois and Chicago in particular are both going bankrupt. The end is near. Dang Democrat Party, Chicago is sinking into the lake. Worse city imaginable. Needs CONservative leadership right away. Yesterday - no, 30 years ago.
- jerry 101 - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
Rahm’s ruined it for me. His war on public schools is pushing me out.
We’re getting ready to move to Colorado.
Does Colorado have a Capitolfax equivalent?
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
Good for all of us. I hope Slinger doesn’t call you “maudlin” for your prose about wanting to stay here and make your stand here. I couldn’t agree with you more.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
The Chicago-metro remains one of the top economic engines in the world. The downtown core keeps expanding and has more residents — and full-time students — than ever before.
Everybody knows where the problems are. I’m afraid that as long as those problems remain “there,” and out of the Greater Loop and North Side, those problems will continue to get little more than lip service.
- the Other Anonymous - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
Considering how often the Illinois Policy Institute cited the previous United Van Lines survey, they should be dancing on their desks over there.
I know they’re not busy touting the results of this survey.
- Ken - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
State workers are not the problem, it is the patronage jobs but the real workers have been getting squeezed for years. Also, state pensions wouldn’t be a problem if the state had paid what it said it would. Still, every penny the state collects is spent the same day and the bills are piling up.
- Arizona Bob - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 2:55 pm:
My oldest daughter is 24 and a business school grad, and she and her friends just LOVE downtown Chicago and the trendier neighborhoods. Most of her friends have moved to the Wrigleyville area, and my daughter works at the Willis tower in software sales. She’ll move to Chicago as soon sa she has the bankroll to do so. She loves to VISIT Arizona on vacation, but she still likes the Chicago lifestyle.
I can’t blame her. The place is exciting.
There’s something else to note here, however. It appears most of those moving into the area are single and are renting. They’re willing to overpay for everything in Chicago, because they can afford it.
Once they have families they need to finance, they’re not going to stick around anymore. The schools stink (except for a few magnets) and the place isn’t great for family safety.
When the backbreaking burden of the pension liabilities fall on their backs, and it will sooner than later, they’ll rethink the value of living in Chicago and search for greener (or sandier) pastures.
One year does not a trend make. We’ve had years of losses of high earning people. Let’s see if this is a sustainable pattern or just a blip on the radar.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 2:59 pm:
===and the place isn’t great for family safety.===
My wife and children are going to be very surprised and upset to learn that Bob. But if you say so…
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 3:01 pm:
Arizona Bob, you don’t have a clue.
The schools stink? All through the north side people are choosing the public schools over place like Latin or Parker. We did. We could write a check for $25,000, or we could get a great school for free.
And housing prices? Did you stop following things around 2004? Condo prices are low now through Streeterville, River North, and Lincoln Park.
And “isn’t great for families”? As I enjoy the morning tomorrow at MSI (where my kids know their way around from being there so often) I will think of your comment and chuckle.
- low level - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 3:18 pm:
AZ Bob, the generations of families that have lived on Taylor Street, Jeff Park, Beverly, Roscoe Villiage…even the South Loop which keeps expanding - with families - would not only be surprised to read what you said but don’t live in Phoenix for a reason.
I think the sun has gotten to you. Better try again. Or research a bit more. Tea Party rhetoric just doesn’t work here.
- zatoichi - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 3:20 pm:
I’ve done the corporate route and lived in 5 different states. Every one of them had the same issues: income/property taxes too high, masses moving out, state gov scandals/political corruption, Medicaid fraud, education standards, etc. Grew up around Chicago and moved back to Illinois 13 years ago to a small town with no regrets and no desire to move away. Easy access to whatever our family wants. And I like the cold weather and snow.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 3:50 pm:
“the schools stink”
I was a student in the CPS, years ago. I had plenty of great teachers. I saw far more problems with bad students than bad teachers. I had some fantastic English teachers. There were teachers who helped my friends and I with personal problems, outside of their teaching responsibilities.