Are Joliet and Aurora really that bad? (Chicago, Naperville: sales, for rent)

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by mattywo85

Some of Joliet is ghetto and should be avoided like the East side and some parts of Aurora as well. I noticed one person said check out Rockford, DON'T!!! Rockford has higher crime and is more run down then either of the towns. Plus its not considered Chicagoland. I would suggest the Westside of Joliet by the mall, its a nice area and pretty developed.

You see, what you stated (although I can see why you say that) is the real problem with Joliet. You either have the central and east parts of the town that might not be "as" bad as Rockford, but are still not, as of now, worth the money. IMO! That leaves the west side, which is nothing more than untamed urban sprawl of big box stores, cheap small box houses, and just a simple extension of the towns around them. Shorewood is the modern example of what is wrong with urban growth today. Everything about that town, and the west side of Joliet, screams bad planning, and a complete case of ignoring the real problem, and creating an entirely new one! The only town up in that high growth area, that is taking any kind of steps to curb sprawl is Oswego, and even it has many of the typical signs of a town about to be consumed. Joliet in the year 2008, is trying to do what Naperville did in the 80's and 90's. That worked out well for their pocket books though because all of the new tax revenue from the sprawled out south Naper, as well as the school taxes from (at the time) the growing towns of Lisle, Bolingbrook, Aurora, and Plainfield, went into their accounts. In turn they were able to put the excess funds into pumping some money into the north Naper dowtown and riverwalk. Joliet on the other hand does not have this luxury. The majority of this new growth around and even in the city limits, pays school taxes to seperate towns and school districts. For this reason, and others (like a difference in the tax base between Joliet and towns like Wheaton), West Joliet will more likely than not, always be a much more desirable location than East. As far as cookie-cutter development goes that it is.

[Steve-o]

Ive said it before, but even your beloved B/N, etc, are very similar to Joliet in that aspect. You have your old homes, shady areas, and safe new areas that include strip malls and cookie cutter homes, too. No place is immune to that crap nowadays it seems.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Ive said it before, but even your beloved B/N, etc, are very similar to Joliet in that aspect. You have your old homes, shady areas, and safe new areas that include strip malls and cookie cutter homes, too. No place is immune to that crap nowadays it seems.

First off, I'm not a fan of what has, and still is going on in B-N. I have made that very clear on several occasions. Most of which where statements (as usual) that you were apart of. I need not remind you though that it is because of the insane Chicagoland exodus from the western burbs, down 55 into the Twin Cities that has spurred most of this growth. It wasn't Peoria residents making a move. Second, even though B-N has spread out, it looks and feels vastly different from Joliet on almost every level. Joliet's sprawl is almost like a new town all to itself. B-N sprawl is still very inclusive to their respective cities. That makes a huge difference! Our present day Towanda harldy compares to your present day Minooka, Shorewood, New Lennox, and whatever place now has been consumed by southwestern metro expansion. Thirdly, you (like I have said before) are convinced that no city is without the three characteristics that you decribed, and it only further shows how "Chicagolander" you really are. I agree with you, but to a point though. Peoria has all three of those (and more) in decent supply. But there is absolutly no comparision between the growth patterns of Peoria, and those of Joliet. None in the least!! Peoria has adopted the policies of select cities in California, and the city council has openly admitted that Boulder, Colorado has been behind the basis of much of the cities prior and future planning. Many of the towns around Peoria have similar ordinances in place. You don't have to sprawl to be sucessful, and you don't have to abandon the central core either. (ie Lewis Joliet Mall) The policies of all the northern Illinois cities, to either sprawl out to their borders in a poorly planned manner (ie Naperville, Joliet, Aurora, Elgin), our refuse to even slightly adapt to the 21st century, (ie Rockford, Rock Island, Moline, Cicero) will come back to haunt them, if it isn't already! Once again Steve-O, don't pretend to understand the differences between downstate and upstate cities. It makes for a very backwards discussion.

[Steve-o]

And I suppose these people who move to B/N from Chicagoland are the ones designing and planning the new neighborhoods theyre moving into? Once again, what youre witnessing in B/N is NO different than whats happening in Elburn or new areas of Joliet. Sad as it is, thats the way it goes nowadays... strip malls, chain stores and cookie cutter/McMansions. So yes, its very easy to understand whats happening in downstate booming cities. Doesnt take a degree in rocket science to figure that out.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

And I suppose these people who move to B/N from Chicagoland are the ones designing and planning the new neighborhoods theyre moving into? Once again, what youre witnessing in B/N is NO different than whats happening in Elburn or new areas of Joliet. Sad as it is, thats the way it goes nowadays... strip malls, chain stores and cookie cutter/McMansions. So yes, its very easy to understand whats happening in downstate booming cities. Doesnt take a degree in rocket science to figure that out.

When did I say that it takes "a degree in rocket science to figure that out"? This is yet another example of how odd it is that you really believe that you understand Illinois, when in fact, you have no idea what you are talking about in the least sense! I mean, you just compared B-N to Elburn and Joliet. The dynamics of those three (four), even in the way thay you interpret them to be the same, are totally different! When downstaters talk of Chicagoans as clueless about the rest of the state, you are the very definition of that my friend. Your lack of knowledge is staggering for someone that claims to be the absolute authority. Like I said prior; It isn't as if Peoria residents moved to McClean County once the B-N boom happened. You really don't get it do you? B-N is Chicagoland transplant heaven. Sorry, but they made up the market, and in my opinion, they ruined the whole area with that market. People closer to Peoria, don't stand for that crap, and that is what you don't realize. You have become so used to that idea of sprawl="growth" that cities that are thriving and don't sprawl are a complete enigmas to you. That is why Peoria not only confuses you, but still continues to blow away Chicagoland cities at an astonishing rate in terms of quality and quanity.

[AuroraRocks]

"Joliet and Aurora's schools are not good whatsoever."

That's a pretty sweeping statement! There are some very good schools in Aurora. We live right by West Aurora High and our friends send their kids there and to Washington Middle School, both of which are QUALITY programs. One highlight is their drama program which puts on musicals that are incredible.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by AuroraRocks

"Joliet and Aurora's schools are not good whatsoever."

That's a pretty sweeping statement! There are some very good schools in Aurora. We live right by West Aurora High and our friends send their kids there and to Washington Middle School, both of which are QUALITY programs. One highlight is their drama program which puts on musicals that are incredible.

I agree; that is a sweeping statement. Not all Joliet Schools are bad it just depends on the particular public school.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

When did I say that it takes "a degree in rocket science to figure that out"? This is yet another example of how odd it is that you really believe that you understand Illinois, when in fact, you have no idea what you are talking about in the least sense! I mean, you just compared B-N to Elburn and Joliet. The dynamics of those three (four), even in the way thay you interpret them to be the same, are totally different! When downstaters talk of Chicagoans as clueless about the rest of the state, you are the very definition of that my friend. Your lack of knowledge is staggering for someone that claims to be the absolute authority. Like I said prior; It isn't as if Peoria residents moved to McClean County once the B-N boom happened. You really don't get it do you? B-N is Chicagoland transplant heaven. Sorry, but they made up the market, and in my opinion, they ruined the whole area with that market. People closer to Peoria, don't stand for that crap, and that is what you don't realize. You have become so used to that idea of sprawl="growth" that cities that are thriving and don't sprawl are a complete enigmas to you. That is why Peoria not only confuses you, but still continues to blow away Chicagoland cities at an astonishing rate in terms of quality and quanity.

What do you mean by quality and quantity?

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by IlWesleyanGuy

I agree; that is a sweeping statement. Not all Joliet Schools are bad it just depends on the particular public school.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, my cousins' children attended Joliet public grade schools and high schools and have gone on fine universities and wonderful careers. Their parents were very involved in their lives, insuring academic success. They live in the Cathedral District, close to St. Francis University.
Shorewood is beginning to look exactly like Naperville, the residents seem to be of a similar demographic and their children attend Joliet West.

[MannheimMadman]

Yes- public school in Joliet is what you make of it. Of course, there are many bad apples to steer the successful child off path, but there is plenty of chance for success. Parental involvement is a magical thing.