<p>The saddest about Hyde Park is that many people associate diversity with insecurity. Latent bigotry? I don’t know. But it is interesting that in Chicago, many folks think areas like Gage Park near Midway airport, which is largely latino, is safer than the area north of Hyde Park/Kenwood, Bronzeville etc. Police stats say otherwise, particularly as Bronzeville and adjacent areas are re-developed.</p>
<p>It is true that the area SW of Hyde Park, Edgewood, may well be the worst neighborhood in Chicago. But it is some distance away and buffered by Cottage Grove Ave, the Midway and Washington Park. Quite a bit further south, in South Shore, conditions have deteriorated since the projects closed down, but that’s a distance, too.</p>
<p>I think the safety perception is driven by impressions from years ago when North Kenwood was a very tough area, and the area west of Washington Park was dominated by the Robert Taylor Homes and all the problems they brought. Those are long gone. North Kenwood and Bronzeville are turning into a middle class african american enclave. You must see it to believe it.</p>