Life in Garfield Ridge Has Many Advantages

Editor: I and other residents of Garfield Ridge often ask, ÒWhy move?,” because it is a great neighborhood of Chicago in which to live.

I personally know four people who regretted moving and came back to the neighborhood in the last six months.

One older neighbor realized when he moved to the southwest suburbs that he no longer had a support system around him, and needed a reliable car because he lost access to other forms of transportation. He even offered to buy back his old house here, and pay more than the selling price, but of course the new homeowner did not want to sell.

Another neighbor retired to Goodyear, Ariz., but didn’t like it and moved back to Garfield Ridge after 11 months. His old home was not available, but he bought another home in the area and is rehabbing it.

A third neighbor relocated to the northwest suburbs, but was overwhelmed with property taxes four times what they were here, and moved back to Garfield Ridge, buying a new home and investing $40,000 plus the purchase price to rehab it.

Neighbor No. 4 moved to Florida, and, you guessed it, moved back after 2.5 years.

People who move to Òretire” or for other reasons, must realize that taxes will most likely increase; you will pay more for garbage pick-up; and of course, up to three times more for water. You often cannot water when you want during the summer and will be ticketed and fined.

You will most likely be far from transportation, friends, schools and doctors. In this area, we have excellent police and fire service, and Ald. Mike Zalewski (23rd) is very responsive. Even with dramatic cuts, he is still getting something done.

If you want to go anywhere, just walk to Archer and get CTA bus connections to the train system. I-55 is less than a mile away, and Midway Airport is close too. Grocery stores, drug stores, parks, doctors, banks, schools and church are all nearby.

Property taxes are comparatively low, and neighbors are close. In 1990, we built a home here, and looking back, it was a great move.

Does the neighborhood have problems? Sure, but the big difference is that with the people living here, they get resolved as quickly as possible.

Some say that the suburbs have better schools, but look at the serious drug problems going on in many suburbs. Look at the crime rate also.

In a short time, I will retire, and even though the weather in winter is cold (not counting last winter), this is my home, my neighborhood. When you move, you may have some better schools, with high taxes, but remember than when your children are out of school, the high taxes will stay.

Lastly, I work in the public eye, and often wonder why people often say ÒChicago” when I ask where they are from, but when I ask which neighborhood, they say, ÒWell, I live near Chicago,” in Naperville, Orland Park etc. Think about this: If you want the reputation of being a real Chicagoan, you can move here and tell the truth!

– Thomas Lally

Garfield Ridge