Hey, Chicago, We’re Not as Miserable as We Once Were
February 23rd, 2010 categories: Chicago Real Estate News
Sometimes I don’t think people get Chicago at all. How else to explain how our city, filled with amazing theaters, top-flight restaurants and loads of recreational opportunities, consistently ranks so high in all of those high-profile lists of lousy places to live?
The latest blow came last week, when Forbes Magazine released its latest version of its list of America’s Most Miserable Cities. Chicago ranked 10th on the list, a bit of an improvement from the 2009 list, when our city came in at third.
Personally, I find such lists to be silly. Sure, they get people talking. My colleagues and I were debating the merits of Chicago’s spot on the list the day the news broke. But, really, such lists are hardly scientific. And in Chicago’s case, “researchers” aren’t taking into account all of the things that make our city so great.
For instance, there’s the amazing Millennium Park. There’s the Magnificent Mile, Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, the Museum of Science & Industry, Alinea Restaurant, the Steppenwolf Theatre … I could go on forever. How could a city with so many terrific places be the 10th most miserable in the country?
Granted, the survey does take weather into account, and no one around Chicago is too happy with the weather these days. Then there’s unemployment, which, of course, is high right now in Chicago. But there aren’t many cities across the country in which residents aren’t worried about losing their jobs.
To reassure myself that, despite what the editors at Forbes might think, people really do love our city, I just have to look at the growing number of real estate transactions I’m handling these days in neighborhoods like Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Wicker Park. People are seeking out condos and single-family homes in these areas because they’re impressed with how much in entertainment, dining and shopping these areas have to offer. They also know that real estate in these neighborhoods, despite the housing slump, tends to retain its value.
For the record, Cleveland topped Forbes’ list of miserable cities this year. The city reached the top because of high unemployment, lousy weather, equally lousy sports teams and corrupt public officials. Some of that does sound familiar to Chicago residents, I suppose. (Right, Blagojevich?) But most of the other cities on Forbes’ list simply can’t compare to Chicago when it comes to amenities and housing values.
In short, there is no way Chicago belongs on the magazine’s list.
