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Meeting the Challenge of Demographic Change in Post-War Suburbs
<br /> were new to politics. The task force members were larger home. The task force felt this was an important
<br /> energetic,hardworking and eager to prove themselves, issue to address because of the limited supply of larger
<br /> which contributed to the success of their efforts. The task homes in Skokie. Approximately 83 percent of the
<br /> force met every three weeks for ten months,analyzed single-family homes in Skokie have three bedrooms or
<br /> demographic and real estate data,and conducted a door- less. Local real estate brokers suggested that there was a
<br /> to-door survey in the cold of Winter to obtain the premium for four-bedroom homes in Skokie,due to their
<br /> information they felt necessary to make their limited supply. Therefore,an expanding young family
<br /> E recommendations. needing more space had a limited choice of large homes
<br /> in Skokie,and had to pay a higher price for that home if
<br /> The first business of the task force was to gather they found one.
<br /> information on young families in Skokie. Census data
<br /> were out-of-date and incomplete. The task force therefore Thus a key recommendation of the task force was to
<br /> reviewed public and parochial school enrollments for the upgrade the housing stock by encouraging residents to
<br /> past three to ten years,as well as park district enrollments build additional rooms. If public money were available,
<br /> in children's programs. The data showed that public perhaps home improvement loans could be written down
<br /> school enrollments had stabilized in recent years, by the Village. This recommendation is currently being
<br /> increasing an average of 0.5 percent annually from 1986 implemented by the Village with a local bank
<br /> to 1988. An independent study by a local elementary
<br /> school district predicted a 14 percent enrollment growth Changing Skokie's image as a graying community was
<br /> in that district through 1994. Parochial school the task force's final recommendation. As a result.the
<br /> �l enrollments grew at an average annual rate of 7.5 percent findings of the task force were distributed to key
<br /> I; from 1986 to 1988,although only about half of the organizations,including real estate brokers,major Skokie
<br /> ' enrolled children lived in Skokie. employers,corporate relocation companies,and
<br /> newspapers in Skokie,northern Chicago,and Evanston.
<br /> Park district enrollments in programs for young children The task force also recommended that the Village sponsor
<br /> also grew at a dramatic rate,increasing 18.9 percent from children's fairs and activities to promote the area as a
<br /> 1985 to 1988. Park district pre-school enrollment grew place for young families.
<br /> from 31 children in 1985 to 124 children in 1988,and
<br /> three new programs were added for pre-schoolers in 1988. As the young families task force was meeting some of the
<br /> The school enrollment and park district data thus seemed community's senior citizens raised objections to its work,
<br /> to indicate that Skokie was in fact rejuvenating and feeling that the goal was to edge them out of the
<br /> attracting young families. community or ignore their interests. A balanced
<br /> community of young and old had always been the
<br /> The task force also analyzed home sales in the area The objective,but it was necessary to reassure elderly citizens
<br /> task force found that housing values in Skokie continued and be sensitive to their concerns. As a result,the task
<br /> to increase,while remaining affordable relative to other force encouraged Skokie to continue its progressive
<br /> suburbs in the region. Skokie also maintained the highest policies towards providing senior citizen and empty-
<br /> amount of sales activity in the region and houses in nester housing in the Village. These policies,along with
<br /> Skokie sold more quickly than in the surrounding those designed to attract young families,provide for a
<br /> suburbs. Interviews with local residential real estate well-balanced community with a variety of age groups.
<br /> brokers provided support for the hypothesis that,as
<br /> houses turned over,they were bought by young families. Post World War H suburbs have a lot to offer young
<br /> families--an existing infrastructure of roads,schools,
<br /> At this point the task force felt confident that Skokie was parks and often,greater proximity to the central city.
<br /> attracting young families as housing became available. Demographic change is inevitable,but with a little drive
<br /> But the task force wanted more information on where to create the right atmosphere,these suburbs can achieve
<br /> Skokie residents came from,why they moved to Skokic, the goal'of a gadUy environment for people of many
<br /> what they liked and disliked about Skokie,if they planned ages. In Skokie,research documented that a change in .
<br /> to move from Skokie in the next five years,and why. demographic composition had begun;as a result,a task
<br /> force offered three strategies: 1)projecting a new public
<br /> The task force then designed a questionnaire and surveyed image,2)subsidizing the construction of room additions
<br /> a random sample of 150 households in Skokie. The for large families,and 3)providing more housing for
<br /> results of the survey indicated that Skokie's geographic seniors so that they could sell their homes to families but
<br /> location and the quality of its schools were the most remain in the community. Demographic and housing
<br /> frequently cited reasons for moving to Skokie. The market circumstances in other communities may differ,
<br /> majority of the respondents lived previously in the but the experience in Skokie demonstrates that the
<br /> northern section of Chicago and in adjacent Evanston. challenge of demographic change can be met with
<br /> Approximately 66 percent of those interviewed did energetic research and planning.
<br /> perceive an increase of young.families in their
<br /> neighborhoods. :BONNIE JACOBSON-SCHWARTZ received her Bachelor's :.
<br /> :and Master's Degrees in Planning in 1981:aqd 1983,
<br /> In general,the majority of those interviewed like Skokie .respectively;from the University of Minois. She has worked
<br /> and intended to stay in the community. Approximately 12 as a private consultant for four years,partly with Economic
<br /> percent of those interviewed,however,indicated that they Research Associates:.She was formerly a planner for Skokie,:..
<br /> planned to move in the next five years;the most Illinois,and is now employed by the Village of Barrington,.
<br /> frequently cited reason for moving was the need for a Illinois: Bonnie is a two-year resident of Skolde
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