Blue Island?

[cdc3217]

Keep looking in whatever town you choose, for a neighborhood you feel good about. I keep hearing this is a buyers market - there's a lot of real estate for sale right now.

[JATraveller]

I'm shocked at the narrowmindedness of most respondents - either that or their total ignorance of the scope of Blue Island. Parts of Blue Island (like the section near Vicennes) are kind of ghetto. However, the majority of the town is okay -- and some Blue Island neighborhoods are gorgeous, safe, and an exceptional real estate value.

The best area is that between 127th and Vermont, west of Western Av. and up to the train tracks. This part of town has attractive older homes, most lovingly maintained. It is both diverse and safe. After living there over three years, I can honestly say that I have not once felt endangered and have witnessed no crime or "thuggery." I can walk to the post office, library, a great deli, good Mexican food, several bakeries, bars, the grocery store, etc. -- and the walk takes me down tree-lined streets past beautiful vintage homes.

Those who value the diversity of a city, but who want to purchase a lovely house at prices less than half of Chicago costs, should check out "The Island." The metra connections couldn't be better (20 minutes to/from downtown at rush hours!). Now that the Dan Ryan remodel is complete, driving back and forth from downtown is much easier, too.

Haters who want to live in cookie cutter suburbs are welcome to stay away.

[lowspark420]

i just bought a two flat around 124th and western in blue island. its a quiet area, even tho theres a sect 8 complex a block away. i think diverse is nice, until theres a black MAJORITY then its time to go. call it racism, whatever, but the numbers speak for themselves. gotta keep it well balanced or crime goes way up and values do the opposite. just look at the westside

[vester72]

What people have a hard time understanding is the South Side.

Seriously, you can be on a block and it is great, beautiful area, but cross a street and it is the hood. That is how it always has been and part of the beauty of it. I grew up in Evergreen Park - blue collar and all white. Cross a street and all black and the hood (the hood is how we saw it - not trying to be degrading or negative).

I love the South Side and some parts of Blue Island are the hood - other parts are very nice. If you have kids, just keep in mind that the South Side is full of Catholic schools so public school demos are deceiving if you are looking at test scores, racial makup, etc.

Anyway, if you go a couple blocks away from where you are looking at you think it is the hood - it might be - but if the area you are in is nice, it most likely is.

[gogirl1]

blue island can be a nice place to live, just like any where else, check out the neighborhoods, TALK to some of the people that live there, and if u become afraid b/c there are too many African-American people for you then don't live there, some people are afraid of what they don't know or understand and skin color can unfortunatley be a big issue for some, because they have already prejudged people by looking at the color of their skin.

[EnchantedEvergreen]

Originally Posted by farrk007

I recently went out to Blue Island to check out a property on W.collins which was right off Vincennes. while the property itself was right along my alley in terms of price the drive there especially once i got off the highway and through Vincennes was concerning...i dont mind the Industrial look but Vincennes looked dicey to say the least and i'd hate to find out later that it gets worse at night/after dark. It also seemed to be a heavily black surburb though Wiki described it as being pretty diverse ( i have nothing against blacks..I AM ONE!) just incase some readers get flamed.
I point to the whole colour thing 'cos diversity is huge for me and since the property im looking at is an income property i dont want a tough sell for my potential tennants that might not feel they "fit in".
I also operate a home business and my clientele* are mostly middle/upper class caucasians that quite frankly i'd hate to lose due to my relocation.
I have spent hours online researching from Wiki to this board and while the reviews on the city are mixed i'd just like to get another dialogue going on the city...the taxes seem great!! the homes are not bad, but i'd hate to have to look over my shoulders when i walk my dogs(even though they are pretty large dogs) late at night.

Hi. I just answered another thread on Blue Island. Let me see if I can help you. The property you looked at was "just off Vincennes." How many homes from Vincennes was this property? If it's (let's say) five or less, I wouldn't take it. I know how you feel.
However, Collins is a beautiful block. My sister lived on the next block over in a vintage, 1913 bungalow in good shape. The area (again, with the exception of Vincennes) is quiet. People are always out for walks when it's nice out. Some of them ride bikes to keep healthy.
As for "the highway," you must be talking about 57. Especially since you talked about "the industrial look." Dicey? Yes it is. That's because a rail yard is centralized there. Housing in that vicinity does indeed look "dumpy."
As for Blue Island's demographics, the town is very diverse. The town is not just "Mexican." There are plenty of long time residents of various ethnic backgrounds living there. Let's see...Polish, Slovak, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, German, African-American, Dutch (and probably more).
You told us about the business you operate and the clients. Let me you that the city taxes are great! Very low. You can get by well if you select the right block. As for "looking over the shoulder," that shouldn't happen. Again, Collins is a very nice block. It's in a quiet area with that heavily nostalgic feel of yesteryear well preserved. Some homes are kind of "scraggly" or dumpy but not of "Harvey quality."
If you were to have choose (let's say) south of Cal-Sag or along 127th east of Western, there would be some problems. Crossing Western is hard. You have to wait over a minute (including arrows) for the WALK signal. Then, you have to deal with the noise from the train yard and look at the properties around it. That "industrial look" (even though you claim you don't "mind it") may freak you out. I don't know for sure.
I really wish you well on selecting a property. It's getting late so let me know how everything is. And good luck.