How is South Plainfield/West of 59? (Aurora, Joliet: foreclosures, low crime, townhouse)

[poe8]

Any comments on how South Plainfield, just west of 59 around Theodore Rd and Canton Farm Rd? Looking to purchase a home out there after a townhouse deal in East Aurora fell through. I know traffic is a nightmare, but I only have to commute a couple days a week. Any comments on the diversity, friendliness, neighbors? May partner and I want an area with relatively low crime and friendly neighbors. We are younger, in our late 20s and just want to find a home we can afford. This seems to be an affordable area.

Thanks,
Mike

[ngrome]

I'm from out of town, and when I went to visit Aurora (amongst Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, and Plainfield) to look for a home, the realtor told me just to stay away from the area outside Hometown Aurora, along Montgomery and 31, where there were some trailer parks. Don't know if that's credible, and anywhere near where you're looking, but that's my 2 cents. I agree there's some affordable housing out there in Aurora, some really nice, but my wife doesn't want to head out there because of its reputation (with all due respect to Aurora residents).

[sbd78]

I've lived in the area you mentioned (west of rt. 59/Theodore) for a little over a year and we like it. Our neighbors are really friendly and we have had no problems with crime. There's lots of new shopping popping up all the time and they are due to begin a huge outdoor mall nearby at the intersection of I80 and I55 next year. (Bridge Street Town Center) I'm not sure if you have kids and if schools are a concern, but just to let you know, Theodore serves as a school district boundary. Anything North of Theodore is going to be Plainfield Schools, anything South of Theodore is going to be Troy/Shorewood elementary schools, but Joliet West High School. (And Joliet HS's don't have the best rep, so if you have kids you may want to stay out of that district.) Once you get West of County Line Road/South of Theodore it becomes Minooka schools. (This is where I live.) So anyway, I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions about the area.

[CatNoa]

We've lived in the area between Theodore and Caton Farm Roads, west of 59 for 8+ years. Traffic can be bad, as you've heard, but they are widening the roads all the time. Eventually, it will catch up to the population. I love our house, like our neighbors, love the bountiful shopping areas, love our clubhouse and pool, like our High School (Plainfield South--fine arts are the best, academics not so much). All-in-all, it is safe, suburban and sprawling. Kids are coddled here, wealthy parents (mostly blue collar). It's hard being a teacher here, but construction workers are king. Unions are big. Hope this gives you some idea. We have been very happy here.

[Chummy Waters]

I don't think anyone really knows the answer to this. The edge of the universe is Rt. 59. I didn't realize anything existed beyond there.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

In addition to all of the comments that have been made, poe8, you should consider that the area you are referring to is actually Joliet. I believe the area has a Plainfield mailing adress but it is within the Joliet city limits. I don't think you would benefit from Plainfield services such as the library system, if that's something that you want.

[chet everett]

I'd worry a lot less about the library than having the potential of buying into an area that is unlikely to match appreciation of areas that have a more stable base of value. While I do not know what the OP considers "affordable" I know there are literally DOZENS AND DOZENS of foreclosures in 60544/60586 and some of the areas are going to take a loooooooooooooooooong time to recover...