Moving to Chicago-area, are Park Forest or University Park Safe? (Elk Grove Village: apartments, rentals)

[Benisaded]

I'll be moving to the Chicago area for a job soon and am very unfamiliar with the suburbs. I looked at an apartment in University Park, called Governors House, which is near Brittany Woods apartments and is located at 871 Burnham Drive. The apartments were recently rehabbed and are beautiful. I am wondering if this is a safe-ish area? I keep reading that Park Forest/University Park are bad neighborhoods, but when I went and looked at apartments, this area looked very "woodsy" and non-crime ridden.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[alsipian]

Park Forest has decent looking homes that are very affordable. It is close to Matteson so there is shopping nearby. It is diverse. The schools seem to be mostly black. Depending on where you live, it is not that bad. I have heard not so great things about the area with the cooperatives. Brittany Woods has awful online reviews. I believe that Governor's State University is in University Park so there might be some good areas. My sister lived in Park Forest and her children attended a good school in Olympia Fields but she had to move before the kids went to high school because the high school is not good. She lived on an attractive, racially diverse, quiet block with a very large yard. I always felt safe there. This was about 2 years ago.

[Mamama Mia]

Crete, Illinois is just east of Univeristy Park and is a wonderful diverse community. It has a good, small town feeling, wonderful nature center, beautiful library and a nice park district. I would check into rentals there.

[seastar311]

I agree with Mamama Mia- try for Crete. It's lovely and safe.

[tennessebound]

Originally Posted by Benisaded

I'll be moving to the Chicago area for a job soon and am very unfamiliar with the suburbs. I looked at an apartment in University Park, called Governors House, which is near Brittany Woods apartments and is located at 871 Burnham Drive. The apartments were recently rehabbed and are beautiful. I am wondering if this is a safe-ish area? I keep reading that Park Forest/University Park are bad neighborhoods, but when I went and looked at apartments, this area looked very "woodsy" and non-crime ridden.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

university park is ghetto jmo

[chiboy7]

far far South suburb are good not the ghetto, stupid. Thats like saying the west side is ghetto. Elk Grove Village is

[At1WithNature]

I would NEVER move to Park Forest. I have family that still lives there (70+ years old) and the city is ghettofied. It's right next to Chicago Heights so what do you expect? University Park is the better option but you can do much better than Park Forest or University Park. Especially, if you have children. Park Forest isn't home to a lot of constructive families that set good examples for the youth. That area is littered with gang and drug activity.

[refade]

I live in the far south section of Park Forest and I have lived her for almost 20 years. It's beautiful and woodsy and affordable. We don't have the gang problem that others have mentioned - yes there is a part of Park Forest - known as the A section just northeast of 26th street that some would say stay away from - but for the most part it a great diverse area with excellent parks, library and downtown - although the downtown has been struggling for several years it looks like it might be making a come back with the new homes that have been built in the last 2 years. My kids can ride there bikes, walk at night and feel safe here - and despite others thinking it's ghetto it's not!!! My kids go to the Crete schools and are now in the high school, and are top in there classes. The school has had crime and financial problems - but the new high school has a diverse cirriculum and the students are still students and not numbers, and the little crime and violence is under control. University Park is prodominantly black, Crete and Monee is predominately white, Park Forest is a good racial mix, all four make up the Crete Monee school district - therefore making the schools good racial mix. Affordable homes with a good environment, and half way decent schools - it's been a great place to live!

[tennessebound]

Originally Posted by chiboy7

far far South suburb are good not the ghetto, stupid. Thats like saying the west side is ghetto. Elk Grove Village is

Ok stupid I dont know what you would call it but when there is gang activity and selling drugs on the street corner. I call that ghetto