<p>JHS,</p>
<p>You don't get it. The map is out of date. The projects north and northwest of Hyde Park/Kenwood are gone. They are rebuilding large tracts of land with mixed income new housing. </p>
<p>I can understand why you may not have seen it. Many folks have not. But I've bicycled through there many a time. It is really interesting to see the changes week to week.</p>
<p>Your el comment is true, because the tough neighborhoods that remain are southwest of Hyde Park. But your comment is in itself telling: "un-chichi". Maybe you are one of those folks that confuses a neighborhood of color with lack of safety? Just because a neighborhood does not have a Starbucks on every corner does not mean you will be shot. Indeed, there are unsafe areas much closer to U of C along Drexel, but you would not know it from the outward appearance. </p>
<p>No, to get a real feel for some of these areas you must get out and walk a bit and talk to folks. I've done that. Have you?</p>