There is a gold rush on the North Shore in Cook County. This is just as furious and greedy as California and Alaska a century ago. However, this is not about mineral wealth, it’s all about real estate, providing people with home-like vacation rentals also known as Airbnb.
However what will this do to America’s Coolest Small Town, plus the rest of the county?
Houses are being snapped up and converted. What is this doing to the housing market? Rental units are disappearing for people wanting to move up here. These would be long-term renters – doctors, nurses, law enforcement, Forest Service personnel, teachers, etc. Where will they stay if they try to come up here?
Another problem to consider is service personnel, cleaning people, foreign students, college students on summer work. Where will they live? Affordable housing is critical to new families desiring to move here. Minimum wages don’t pay for affordable housing. Zoning needs to be addressed; enforce ones on the books, and tighten up gray areas on ones already there.
The population will continue to change – seasonal vs. year-round, young vs. old, new arrivals vs. people moving away. Will the county survive or will it revert to the old style – two seasons (winter and construction)?
Terence M. Quinn
DCC (SW) U.S. Navy retired
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