Watch this video on Chicago Heights first: czcams.com/video/DfXqvC3PoJw/video.html Chicago Suburbs Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeILgN75aeaBe0EHvhBHyagP.html American Hoods Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeLYlKLyBm1dGc7MRpNhCBZX.html Illinois Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeKoOBxconpFSyUSO32NKREy.html Lost Footage Series: czcams.com/play/PLGsoljSN7Na2Z7QMd5646AZRbFKfpMWQQ.html EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD: Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9 Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf WHAT I USE AT HOME: Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=35.2437531716631%2C-91.53765609999999&z=5 SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO: Email: ChrisHardenYT@Gmail.com On Twitter: twitter.com/Chris_Harden55 On Instagram: instagram.com/c_harden7 On Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisHardenYT DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!
i spent twelve years ( 8 years old to 20 years old ) in Chicago Heights from 1968 to 1980...it was an awesome place to grow up. So sad to see its current condition. 44 years later and i don't even recognize Chicago Hts.
Chicago Heights seemed nicer than Harvey when I was a kid. Still looks pretty nice compared, and some neighborhoods in the video looked even better than in the '60s.
Greetings from Finland. I've seen a lot of urban documenters but you stand out. Multiple cameras in good quality alongside with commentary from you plus some info bits whenever required. Ace job.
Nice pictures of the old Star Newspaper building. Haven't seen it since the newspaper moved out in 1997. The building was donated to the city - thankfully they have not demolished it. It was a gloriously beautiful old building.
The decline of downtown Chicago Heights started in the 1950s when Park Forest Plaza opened in nearby Park Forest. It accelerated in the early 1970s when Lincoln Mall in Matteson and Flossmoor Commons in Flossmoor opened. There were still some great restaurants (Italian naturally and some Greek diners) and stores into the 1980s. Downtown Homewood always stayed pretty nice but Chicago Heights fell hard.
I was born there. How sad to see it has gone downhill so badly. I grew up in Crete and beyond but left the area as soon as I could. After living in Los Angeles, I had almost forgotten how gray and depressing it was! Thanks!
Arcadia Publishing did a history book on Chicago Heights, years ago. I read through it(thanks to finding it at some bookstore I can't remember), and it was appalling how many historic buildings were torn down in its downtown area. I think moreso(on the number of buildings that were allowed to be torn down), than any other Chicago area community I've managed to find an Arcadia Publishing history book on. I do like the historic house areas that still remain, in Chicago Heights though. And Zarlengo's Italian Ice, is a gem of a local Italian Ice place that is still open. They even do resell their Italian ice at other places, such as (White) Sox/Comiskey Park and at all Andy's Frozen Custard locations.
The video is from early march, which is the ugliest time of year in the Chicago area. Hubs is from Crete. The high school is new but it hasn’t physically changed that much.
No different from other Midwestern towns and cities. Like the rest of the region, when industries and jobs left, so did the economy and the people except for the poor who didn't have the ability to leave. You could film this in just about any postindustrial state from Pennsylvania, to Michigan, to Missouri and every state in-between. Different town, different state, SAME story......
in New England it's the opposite going on especially in massachusetts. not one town or city neighborhood in my state of Massachusetts is empty although it does have rough spots. we switched to tech jobs to replace the the industrial jobs anything industrial is lite or assembly in new warehouses lots of retail and restaurants business. lots of private jobs. the pay rate is also higher as well as the rents home buying is moderate to expensive. you can never afford Boston, Cambridge, somerville metro area unless you earn enough. you could look up info online.
i grew up here as a kid chicago road killed my mother and i left illinois moved to ky idk why but i miss chicago its home but ive left alot of pain there and times have changed man what is happening to this world what are we doing to each other man
Sad how apartments in Chicago Heights are the same ridiculous high price as the city of Chicago. Apts in Chicago Hts should be only 1/2 as much as a regular city
Some of these neighborhoods don’t look bad at all! When you said “old mafia town “ in the description, I thought you were going to Cicero. My dad had a cousin that lived in Cicero, and we visited frequently growing up. I remember the trip there was awful! You had to go through Gary and when US steel was going, you wanted to hold your breath until you got through Gary.
So I’m thinking of Gary to Cicero in my head. The place where you need to hold your breath is 90/94 around 130th, which is Illinois. Was/is there a spot that still stinks on 90?
I've explored Cicero a little bit, and honestly I'm not sure if any of the housing and apartment areas in any part of Cicero jump out to me much. Although there are some good local businesses still open there, especially Freddy's on 16th Street. Berwyn has better looking houses, if you ask me. Especially on(or close to) Riverside Drive, between Oak Park Ave and Harlem.
I worked at DiCicco Concrete Products in Chicago Heights (East End Ave & Lincoln Hwy extending along the RR tracks all the way down to 16th street. Property was LONG (500yds from Lincoln Hwy to 16th St) but skinny (only about 50yds wide). DEPRESSED area. rodents everywhere from the fields just east. Everything always looked dirty and depressing (as it does in your video). Worked there from 2015 - 2018. Halsted Ave has some commerce but the brand new Walmart right at 294 and Halsted (in Homewood technically) recently closed. That was a big hit. Scary area at night time too. Always mice in my office...hated it! Always beggars, homeless folks, and scary looking individuals/groups of men pounding on our business door trying to get us to answer and size us up or beg for something. Living in Palatine the entire time I worked there, the commute was BRUTAL! I'd drive to Frankfurt if I needed something a Home Depot (closest nice town). I could see traces of a vibrant past in Chicago Hts but if any of the businesses were still around they were operating as if it was 1968 and dying with every day that passed by. Such a sick feeling down there. Hated it.
The Wal-Mart is on 30 in Olympia Fields across from where the jewel used to be (at western). It’s always busy. The Home Depot on Cicero south of 30 in Matteson is fine. That corner where DiCiccio was no man’s land back in the 80s. That stretch of 30 east of East End was always desolate. This video is also from the ugliest time of year in Chicago. Unless there’s snow, everything looks brown and dead.
Ahhh was hoping you drove past my house lol, you just missed me, was gonna go see if I could see you on my camera footage. Great video as always though! I live on the "nicer westside" of town.
Any hoopties? I broke down in Chicago Heights around midnight at a Clark Station back in the 70's they found us an altenator and we were on our way after $150
Great video as usual and recommend one see previous video done by Chris called "Dying....Chicago Heights" to get the total picture. How can one town-outer suburb have blight rivaling that of Southside Chicago yet have a bucolic middle to upper class area of beautiful homes with winding streets and walkways? Still other areas remind me of a rural town including a hardscrabble rural look in one area. As pointed out in previous video not many places this size would have a rich history including three historic highways and a 'coloful' business past. Since it's in the metro area I believe there is still cause for hope long term.
Heights memories: Seeing Ronald Reagan at Bloom in '84, Challenger explosion on live TV at Roosevelt Elementary, Smoking cigarettes over a bread basket at Venice Restaurant, Forest parties behind Venice, Spending allowance at original Chuck's House of Magic location, Music at Oasis 160...times...
There's a couple Jewel's on Halsted. Walmart went out. Target still on Halsted I believe. And then there's the Walmart on Lincoln hwy in Matteson not too far a ride.
You barely made it past Halstead there is more to Chicago Heights than what you show. Yes the old downtown is gone, but there is more to "the Heights "than what you are showing
Depressing to watch, local leaders are to be blame for this mayhem. Why did they run a small town like this to the ground? I'm a native Chicagoan currently in Downtown area but will be moving out soon because of high crime and taxes.
They should stick the 17,000+ Illinois illegal immigrants in Chicago Heights and pay them to rebuild the worst parts. Instead of sending another 60 billion on a loss cause (Ukraine) send part of the money to Chicago Heights and put these illegal immigrants to work rebuilding a once great town.
That's an idea I've had as well except, I would place them further south in the state, to cities that are more in need of inhabitants, small businesses and an income tax base. Places like, Cairo, IL. We don't need them in Chicago Heights. It's diverse enough already and Chicago Heights has money in it's coffers, the city just doesn't want to spend it. The city of Chicago Heights originally was laid out with definite neighborhoods. Upper, Middle and lower Blue Collar worker neighborhoods. This guy highlighted the severely blighted areas east of Halsted street more than the balance in his first video and much of this video as well.
@@chrystallee5528This you tuber didn't even drive through my Chicago Heights neighborhood - i grew up in longwood farms Chicago Heights, just NW of Marion HS (across Joe Orr Rd) and was in the (very rich) -->Homewood-Flossmoor school district. it was definitely a Wally & Beaver type neighborhood. you were considered lucky if you saw a cop car in my neighborhood once every 6 months, they had no reason to come
Sending a new management new mayor and Chicago Heights what's a new County Board president that did Tony Peck wrinkle out of office add a new State's attorney for Cook County and plus the governor get him out too Springfield Illinois that sucks fast for your towns in Cook County known as Crook County going downhill in County Board need to be overhauled
The electorate in Cook County has too often elected people in, who shouldn't have been elected. Joe Berrios(the former Cook County Assessor), being an example. Kim Foxx(state's attorney) is another famous example. It's a bad sign that only barely in the 2024 primary, that just enough voters voted against a candidate that would've continued the failed Foxx policies(Clayton Harris).
Jimmys on Rt 30 or Atlantis, also on Rt 30 conveniently located off of 394.. Club 390 on joe r road, club o if you wanna head up halstead a few minutes. Either way you’re covered…
Watch this video on Chicago Heights first: czcams.com/video/DfXqvC3PoJw/video.html
Chicago Suburbs Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeILgN75aeaBe0EHvhBHyagP.html
American Hoods Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeLYlKLyBm1dGc7MRpNhCBZX.html
Illinois Playlist: czcams.com/play/PLkAKbwTlGHeKoOBxconpFSyUSO32NKREy.html
Lost Footage Series: czcams.com/play/PLGsoljSN7Na2Z7QMd5646AZRbFKfpMWQQ.html
EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD:
Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF
Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs
Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF
Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9
Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV
SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O
Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p
Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q
Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j
External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf
WHAT I USE AT HOME:
Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN
Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx
Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo
Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z
INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=35.2437531716631%2C-91.53765609999999&z=5
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DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!
i spent twelve years ( 8 years old to 20 years old ) in Chicago Heights from 1968 to 1980...it was an awesome place to grow up. So sad to see its current condition. 44 years later and i don't even recognize Chicago Hts.
Chicago Heights seemed nicer than Harvey when I was a kid. Still looks pretty nice compared, and some neighborhoods in the video looked even better than in the '60s.
This by far the best Chicago heights video I seen I knew Chicago heights had some nice looking neighborhoods
Greetings from Finland. I've seen a lot of urban documenters but you stand out. Multiple cameras in good quality alongside with commentary from you plus some info bits whenever required. Ace job.
Nice pictures of the old Star Newspaper building. Haven't seen it since the newspaper moved out in 1997. The building was donated to the city - thankfully they have not demolished it. It was a gloriously beautiful old building.
The decline of downtown Chicago Heights started in the 1950s when Park Forest Plaza opened in nearby Park Forest. It accelerated in the early 1970s when Lincoln Mall in Matteson and Flossmoor Commons in Flossmoor opened. There were still some great restaurants (Italian naturally and some Greek diners) and stores into the 1980s. Downtown Homewood always stayed pretty nice but Chicago Heights fell hard.
sounds about right to me
You when right by were my aunt and uncle used to live, and one of my aunt's still lives. Lots of good memories there.
My old stomping grounds! Great memories, I'm a Bloom High School graduate.
Used to be a nice town that's long gone now.
We used to smoke you in soccer...
me too
I was born there. How sad to see it has gone downhill so badly. I grew up in Crete and beyond but left the area as soon as I could. After living in Los Angeles, I had almost forgotten how gray and depressing it was! Thanks!
Yup. The Calumet Region has fallen pretty hard.
Lived around the area 20 years ago. I graduated from Crete-Monee High, I can't believe how sad and bad it looks now. Smdh
Arcadia Publishing did a history book on Chicago Heights, years ago. I read through it(thanks to finding it at some bookstore I can't remember), and it was appalling how many historic buildings were torn down in its downtown area. I think moreso(on the number of buildings that were allowed to be torn down), than any other Chicago area community I've managed to find an Arcadia Publishing history book on.
I do like the historic house areas that still remain, in Chicago Heights though. And Zarlengo's Italian Ice, is a gem of a local Italian Ice place that is still open. They even do resell their Italian ice at other places, such as (White) Sox/Comiskey Park and at all Andy's Frozen Custard locations.
i grew up in the heights and went to crete as well
The video is from early march, which is the ugliest time of year in the Chicago area. Hubs is from Crete. The high school is new but it hasn’t physically changed that much.
As a former longtime resident of that region, The Heights ate itself 30+ yrs ago. Just like Cal City, Hammond, Dalton, Gary, etc.
dolton i grew up there and the heights
Thanks, Chris for another wonderful trip. Much obliged.
Reminds me of some Chicago streets on Sunday morning.
No different from other Midwestern towns and cities. Like the rest of the region, when industries and jobs left, so did the economy and the people except for the poor who didn't have the ability to leave. You could film this in just about any postindustrial state from Pennsylvania, to Michigan, to Missouri and every state in-between. Different town, different state, SAME story......
in New England it's the opposite going on especially in massachusetts. not one town or city neighborhood in my state of Massachusetts is empty although it does have rough spots. we switched to tech jobs to replace the the industrial jobs anything industrial is lite or assembly in new warehouses lots of retail and restaurants business. lots of private jobs. the pay rate is also higher as well as the rents home buying is moderate to expensive. you can never afford Boston, Cambridge, somerville metro area unless you earn enough. you could look up info online.
i grew up here as a kid chicago road killed my mother and i left illinois moved to ky idk why but i miss chicago its home but ive left alot of pain there and times have changed man what is happening to this world what are we doing to each other man
Sad how apartments in Chicago Heights are the same ridiculous high price as the city of Chicago. Apts in Chicago Hts should be only 1/2 as much as a regular city
Some of these neighborhoods don’t look bad at all! When you said “old mafia town “ in the description, I thought you were going to Cicero. My dad had a cousin that lived in Cicero, and we visited frequently growing up. I remember the trip there was awful! You had to go through Gary and when US steel was going, you wanted to hold your breath until you got through Gary.
So I’m thinking of Gary to Cicero in my head. The place where you need to hold your breath is 90/94 around 130th, which is Illinois. Was/is there a spot that still stinks on 90?
I've explored Cicero a little bit, and honestly I'm not sure if any of the housing and apartment areas in any part of Cicero jump out to me much. Although there are some good local businesses still open there, especially Freddy's on 16th Street.
Berwyn has better looking houses, if you ask me. Especially on(or close to) Riverside Drive, between Oak Park Ave and Harlem.
I worked at DiCicco Concrete Products in Chicago Heights (East End Ave & Lincoln Hwy extending along the RR tracks all the way down to 16th street. Property was LONG (500yds from Lincoln Hwy to 16th St) but skinny (only about 50yds wide). DEPRESSED area. rodents everywhere from the fields just east. Everything always looked dirty and depressing (as it does in your video). Worked there from 2015 - 2018. Halsted Ave has some commerce but the brand new Walmart right at 294 and Halsted (in Homewood technically) recently closed. That was a big hit. Scary area at night time too. Always mice in my office...hated it! Always beggars, homeless folks, and scary looking individuals/groups of men pounding on our business door trying to get us to answer and size us up or beg for something. Living in Palatine the entire time I worked there, the commute was BRUTAL! I'd drive to Frankfurt if I needed something a Home Depot (closest nice town). I could see traces of a vibrant past in Chicago Hts but if any of the businesses were still around they were operating as if it was 1968 and dying with every day that passed by. Such a sick feeling down there. Hated it.
The Wal-Mart is on 30 in Olympia Fields across from where the jewel used to be (at western). It’s always busy. The Home Depot on Cicero south of 30 in Matteson is fine. That corner where DiCiccio was no man’s land back in the 80s. That stretch of 30 east of East End was always desolate. This video is also from the ugliest time of year in Chicago. Unless there’s snow, everything looks brown and dead.
Ahhh was hoping you drove past my house lol, you just missed me, was gonna go see if I could see you on my camera footage. Great video as always though! I live on the "nicer westside" of town.
Glad that a local of Chicago Heights approves! 👍🏻
Yeah same here lol. Pretty cool nonetheless. Hopefully we might get to meet him one day lol
I lived on the South Side of Chicago in the late 1960s. Please do a video on the South Side.
Thanks for the extra vids Chris!!!👍
Any hoopties? I broke down in Chicago Heights around midnight at a Clark Station back in the 70's they found us an altenator and we were on our way after $150
Great video as usual and recommend one see previous video done by Chris called "Dying....Chicago Heights" to get the total picture. How can one town-outer suburb have blight rivaling that of Southside Chicago yet have a bucolic middle to upper class area of beautiful homes with winding streets and walkways? Still other areas remind me of a rural town including a hardscrabble rural look in one area. As pointed out in previous video not many places this size would have a rich history including three historic highways and a 'coloful' business past. Since it's in the metro area I believe there is still cause for hope long term.
The apt. building I was living in was condemned!
The south suburbs have been going downhill for decades. It's like a slow brewing terminal cancer.
Damn !!!! Is this tha winter !! Cuz I havnt seen not One person !! Nobody nowhere outside really !!
Heights memories: Seeing Ronald Reagan at Bloom in '84, Challenger explosion on live TV at Roosevelt Elementary, Smoking cigarettes over a bread basket at Venice Restaurant, Forest parties behind Venice, Spending allowance at original Chuck's House of Magic location, Music at Oasis 160...times...
then Daddy Bush came in 1988
I don't see any supermarkets
There's a couple Jewel's on Halsted. Walmart went out. Target still on Halsted I believe. And then there's the Walmart on Lincoln hwy in Matteson not too far a ride.
That's everything east of Halsted it's more parts to chicago heights
It looks as though the blight has yet to encompass the entire area.
i grew up on south normandy
You barely made it past Halstead there is more to Chicago Heights than what you show. Yes the old downtown is gone, but there is more to "the Heights "than what you are showing
Between my two videos I pretty much showed every corner of town. You must’ve not watched.
I love this video!😊❤
22:56 I grew up in that house!
43:47 You can see Starship Video 🤣😂🤣😂
Depressing to watch, local leaders are to be blame for this mayhem. Why did they run a small town like this to the ground? I'm a native Chicagoan currently in Downtown area but will be moving out soon because of high crime and taxes.
What a dump !!! 😆😆😆I love it !!! I might go buy a building there
This is where the steel workers who worked in the plants near the lake lived. No more steel plants, no more workers.
Soon the rest of Chicago will look like this as more and more as people leave cook county..,..
Bloom High 1986-89
Beautiful
Looks like Detroit before it got worse
Nice. go on !!!
They should stick the 17,000+ Illinois illegal immigrants in Chicago Heights and pay them to rebuild the worst parts. Instead of sending another 60 billion on a loss cause (Ukraine) send part of the money to Chicago Heights and put these illegal immigrants to work rebuilding a once great town.
That's an idea I've had as well except, I would place them further south in the state, to cities that are more in need of inhabitants, small businesses and an income tax base. Places like, Cairo, IL.
We don't need them in Chicago Heights. It's diverse enough already and Chicago Heights has money in it's coffers, the city just doesn't want to spend it.
The city of Chicago Heights originally was laid out with definite neighborhoods. Upper, Middle and lower Blue Collar worker neighborhoods. This guy highlighted the severely blighted areas east of Halsted street more than the balance in his first video and much of this video as well.
@@chrystallee5528This you tuber didn't even drive through my Chicago Heights neighborhood - i grew up in longwood farms Chicago Heights, just NW of Marion HS (across Joe Orr Rd) and was in the (very rich) -->Homewood-Flossmoor school district. it was definitely a Wally & Beaver type neighborhood. you were considered lucky if you saw a cop car in my neighborhood once every 6 months, they had no reason to come
@@chrystallee5528Send those immigrants to help fix up Danville(IL) and Decatur, especially! Both places need more help, than even Chicago Heights.
There are 4000-5000 new arrivals in Chicago Heights, Sauk Village and University Park. They’ve only been there 6-18 months.
Chicago Heights meets The French Connection.
Happens when employers can't get the employees they need and then close up and move on. Soon after city goes.
Sending a new management new mayor and Chicago Heights what's a new County Board president that did Tony Peck wrinkle out of office add a new State's attorney for Cook County and plus the governor get him out too Springfield Illinois that sucks fast for your towns in Cook County known as Crook County going downhill in County Board need to be overhauled
How about end corruption completely.
The electorate in Cook County has too often elected people in, who shouldn't have been elected. Joe Berrios(the former Cook County Assessor), being an example. Kim Foxx(state's attorney) is another famous example. It's a bad sign that only barely in the 2024 primary, that just enough voters voted against a candidate that would've continued the failed Foxx policies(Clayton Harris).
s/o to all my bloom trojans in the comments
Where is the strip club?
Which one?
Jimmys on Rt 30 or Atlantis, also on Rt 30 conveniently located off of 394.. Club 390 on joe r road, club o if you wanna head up halstead a few minutes. Either way you’re covered…
Do you remember the Vagabond and Show Club?
@@jondoes7836 which one was on butler and which one was on halstead?
Hungry hill!