Joliet advice please!! (Naperville, New Lenox, Lockport: lease, violent crime, mortgage)

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by ngrome

And yes, I don't believe Joliet is that bad of a town as some people make it to be, it's an older community, but it has its good and bad as does the surrounding towns.

I totally agree.

[Mamama Mia]

Another thread about Joliet:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...o-tribune.html

As for improving, I believe it has - so many positives!

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by Mamama Mia

Another thread about Joliet:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...o-tribune.html

As for improving, I believe it has - so many positives!

What's great is that though slowed, development and redevelopment are not stagnant during this recessionary period.

[Chummy Waters]

The best part about Joliet is it's proximity to great fishing. You're right near the Des Plaines river, and the Ship canal. Get that pole in the water!

[TracyJ]

Joliet has it's nicer and lower class areas. Where are you thinking? The crime is high there and a lot of different races do not really blend there that well. I lived in my grandmothers home after she passed away and a lot of the spanish in the neighborhood of Joliet were not so nice. I can tell you that Wilmington, Braidwood, Elwood, Manhattan and New Lenox are nice with not as much crime. Fact.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by TracyJ

Joliet has it's nicer and lower class areas. Where are you thinking? The crime is high there and a lot of different races do not really blend there that well. I lived in my grandmothers home after she passed away and a lot of the spanish in the neighborhood of Joliet were not so nice. I can tell you that Wilmington, Braidwood, Elwood, Manhattan and New Lenox are nice with not as much crime. Fact.

Um, there are nice areas all around Joliet. Let's see, the Eastside, Southside, Near Westside, Westside and far Westside. Maybe you never ventured out of the area where your grandmother lived. And of course Joliet has more crime than the towns that you listed. Joliet also is about 3, 4, even 5x the size of the towns you listed and has different demographics. And yet it has a lower crime rate than than the average rate for towns its size in America. Fact.

[isevilla]

I read through this topic and had to include my 2 cents. i apologize in advance for the long post.

I have been living in joliet for 2 years now and i have mixed feelings about it. I currently reside near larkin and jefferson st. On this side of town its very culturly diverse and its a bit of culture shock for my family. My husband and I came from upper middle class neighborhoods and we are hispanic. We raised our children in the same environment up until 2 years ago when we moved to joliet. We moved here because we had relatives who lived out here 10 years ago but much further west and we liked it. they have since moved. I caught this house for a very nice price and the neighborhood looked ok when we scouted it out before our purchase.

Now that we have been here for 2 years I am not sure about living in this particular area much longer. My kids are all boys and I have one in middle school, one in elementary school, and one who will be going to school in a couple years. My oldest has been jumped by teens for a silver chain and gym shoes just a month ago. He fought back and scared the two kids away but it was still traumatic for him. This also happened to him a block away from our home on his way home from school. The kids around here are not what I am used to having my kids come home with and or having in my house or my kids hanging out with. Its not a black, white, or hispanic issue because these kids are all different races but theyre all very low class as far as manors, language, dress etc. They brag to my children about how their parents either dont work and sell drugs or how theyre dads call constatly from jail for someone to get them etc.

The school district is horrible and has been on probation for all of the 2 years ive been here. The children are also bused or brought from the east side. 75% of the school is low income and on welfare and 75% if not more are black and hispanic with a very low percentage of white or "other" children. You can check the stats online at greatschools.com My children also come home with homework that they were doing years ago at their other schools. in a nutshell the joliet school system is horrible!

I dont shop anywhere near my home and drive to either plainfield and or shorewood to do everything. I wont even go to the gas station after dark which is a block away from my home because its so infested with gang bangers and just very scarry looking people. I see bumbs and the like walking and or waiting for buses all over jefferson street and any time of the day and night. I dont walk anywhere around here at all.

My block and neighbors on the other hand are mostly old and or young couples with small children and its diverse but for the most part the block is very nice and close net.

The park district is further west and very expensive but it does have a lot of nice things to do. In the summer we go there and play tennis and or play in the park.

We have gone downtown and were not impressed at all with it. The downtown area is surrounded by what look like to us housing projects of some sorts.

I made a huge mistake moving to this area of joliet and regret it everyday. Im so glad that this website exists because its very informative and it will tell you what your agent wont. Just like mine they know how the area is and they dont care its all about making their commision. I was upfront with my agent and told her exactly what I didnt want in my neighborhood and where I didnt want to live and she helped me find exactly the opposite!

My advice is not to move any further east of probably Infantry Drive and Jefferson and definatly not anywhere past Larkin Avenue and Jefferson st.

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by isevilla

I read through this topic and had to include my 2 cents. i apologize in advance for the long post.

I have been living in joliet for 2 years now and i have mixed feelings about it. I currently reside near larkin and jefferson st. On this side of town its very culturly diverse and its a bit of culture shock for my family. My husband and I came from upper middle class neighborhoods and we are hispanic. We raised our children in the same environment up until 2 years ago when we moved to joliet. We moved here because we had relatives who lived out here 10 years ago but much further west and we liked it. they have since moved. I caught this house for a very nice price and the neighborhood looked ok when we scouted it out before our purchase.

Now that we have been here for 2 years I am not sure about living in this particular area much longer. My kids are all boys and I have one in middle school, one in elementary school, and one who will be going to school in a couple years. My oldest has been jumped by teens for a silver chain and gym shoes just a month ago. He fought back and scared the two kids away but it was still traumatic for him. This also happened to him a block away from our home on his way home from school. The kids around here are not what I am used to having my kids come home with and or having in my house or my kids hanging out with. Its not a black, white, or hispanic issue because these kids are all different races but theyre all very low class as far as manors, language, dress etc. They brag to my children about how their parents either dont work and sell drugs or how theyre dads call constatly from jail for someone to get them etc.

The school district is horrible and has been on probation for all of the 2 years ive been here. The children are also bused or brought from the east side. 75% of the school is low income and on welfare and 75% if not more are black and hispanic with a very low percentage of white or "other" children. You can check the stats online at greatschools.com My children also come home with homework that they were doing years ago at their other schools. in a nutshell the joliet school system is horrible!

I dont shop anywhere near my home and drive to either plainfield and or shorewood to do everything. I wont even go to the gas station after dark which is a block away from my home because its so infested with gang bangers and just very scarry looking people. I see bumbs and the like walking and or waiting for buses all over jefferson street and any time of the day and night. I dont walk anywhere around here at all.

My block and neighbors on the other hand are mostly old and or young couples with small children and its diverse but for the most part the block is very nice and close net.

The park district is further west and very expensive but it does have a lot of nice things to do. In the summer we go there and play tennis and or play in the park.

We have gone downtown and were not impressed at all with it. The downtown area is surrounded by what look like to us housing projects of some sorts.

I made a huge mistake moving to this area of joliet and regret it everyday. Im so glad that this website exists because its very informative and it will tell you what your agent wont. Just like mine they know how the area is and they dont care its all about making their commision. I was upfront with my agent and told her exactly what I didnt want in my neighborhood and where I didnt want to live and she helped me find exactly the opposite!

My advice is not to move any further east of probably Infantry Drive and Jefferson and definatly not anywhere past Larkin Avenue and Jefferson st.

As far as the shopping goes yeah there are plenty of options in Shorewood/Joliet/Plainfield-Route 59 area but why would you go that far when there is shopping closer to you. If you go down Larkin and turn onto Route 30/ Plainfield road that's the mall area. Even along Jefferson st. you have the newer Wal-Mart, Menards ect. Jewel-Osco is on that street also. Options on Essington st are pretty close to you also; there is a Dominick's on that street if you don't care for Jewel-Osco.

As far as not moving east or west of a certain street, that's not always the best advice. For instance you said don't move east of Infantry but just east of Infantry is a nice, quiet and peaceful neighborhood. Actually a lot of the kids in that neighborhood go to private schools. Many of them choose private because of the bad reputation the Joliet schools have but still many just because it is tradition in their families.

But honestly their are plenty of quiet and nice neighborhoods east of Infantry and yes even Larkin. Unfortunately it seems that those who post never venture into these areas. Most of these areas are in the Joliet school district though a couple of neighborhoods are far East Joliet in the New Lenox school district.

And yes the downtown is not exciting but then when you consider what it was like 15 years ago, well it's improved considerably. It takes time, it really does. There are a couple of projects pending for downtown. I know recently two new restaurants opened up. I think one is called Bar Blu and the other The Department. There's pictures of The Department on the Herald News website.

Isevilla, did you ever think of sending your kids to Eisenhower Academy in Joliet? It is part of the Joliet grade school system but ranks as one of the best in all of Will County. I think your kids would have to apply to get in but I'm sure they would be in a good atmosphere and receive a great education.

[isevilla]

Originally Posted by IlWesleyanGuy

As far as the shopping goes yeah there are plenty of options in Shorewood/Joliet/Plainfield-Route 59 area but why would you go that far when there is shopping closer to you.

I feel safer going to the above areas to shop.

If you go down Larkin and turn onto Route 30/ Plainfield road that's the mall area.

I frequent the mall quite often.

Even along Jefferson st. you have the newer Wal-Mart, Menards ect. Jewel-Osco is on that street also.

Honestly I dont like going to the above stores that are near my home. I dont like the people who frequent them. I rather drive further and go to the home depot and walmart in shorewood.

Options on Essington st are pretty close to you also; there is a Dominick's on that street if you don't care for Jewel-Osco.

As far as not moving east or west of a certain street, that's not always the best advice. For instance you said don't move east of Infantry but just east of Infantry is a nice, quiet and peaceful neighborhood. Actually a lot of the kids in that neighborhood go to private schools. Many of them choose private because of the bad reputation the Joliet schools have but still many just because it is tradition in their families.

But honestly their are plenty of quiet and nice neighborhoods east of Infantry and yes even Larkin. Unfortunately it seems that those who post never venture into these areas. Most of these areas are in the Joliet school district though a couple of neighborhoods are far East Joliet in the New Lenox school district.

I have frequented east just a bit past the downtown area and frankly it terrifies me to go there. Just not what I am used to.

And yes the downtown is not exciting but then when you consider what it was like 15 years ago, well it's improved considerably. It takes time, it really does. There are a couple of projects pending for downtown. I know recently two new restaurants opened up. I think one is called Bar Blu and the other The Department. There's pictures of The Department on the Herald News website.

Not to be mean here but I hate to imagine how it looked 15 years ago if its now improved considerably. I dont know I guess Im used to downtown chicago. Sorry

Isevilla, did you ever think of sending your kids to Eisenhower Academy in Joliet? It is part of the Joliet grade school system but ranks as one of the best in all of Will County. I think your kids would have to apply to get in but I'm sure they would be in a good atmosphere and receive a great education.

I have been looking into other schools and Eisenhower was mentioned to me. Its pretty sad though that we have to be looking for other schools to send our kids to and or pay for them to go to a private school. I dont understand why the school district is the way it is in the first place. Why cant they just fix the problems?

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by isevilla

I feel safer going to the above areas to shop.



I frequent the mall quite often.



Honestly I dont like going to the above stores that are near my home. I dont like the people who frequent them. I rather drive further and go to the home depot and walmart in shorewood.



I have frequented east just a bit past the downtown area and frankly it terrifies me to go there. Just not what I am used to.



Not to be mean here but I hate to imagine how it looked 15 years ago if its now improved considerably. I dont know I guess Im used to downtown chicago. Sorry



I have been looking into other schools and Eisenhower was mentioned to me. Its pretty sad though that we have to be looking for other schools to send our kids to and or pay for them to go to a private school. I dont understand why the school district is the way it is in the first place. Why cant they just fix the problems?

I still don't understand why you wouldn't like the people who shop at the stores nearest you. Do you know all of these people? Because I grew up in Joliet and I can walk into any of those stores near you and not recognize one person, yet you've only been there for a short period of time. Have you been harassed by someone in a store near you and this is why you don't like the people who shop at the stores nearest you? I'm confused.


I understand you don't feel comfortable in Joliet; you frequently mention what you are used to. Why did you leave the area you previously lived if you were so comfortable there? Also, why did you not research the area that you live in now before you moved there?