Granite City, IL Apartments? (Belleville, Collinsville: apartment complexes, rent, townhouse)
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I am going to be moving to Granite City in a few months. I will be moving in with my boyfriend, who at present, is living with his parents. We are wanting to get an apartment of our own, and my boyfriend really wants to stay in Granite City, but I'm having trouble locating decent apartment complexes in the area. Does anyone know of anyplace that offers large one bedroom and/or smaller two bedroom apartments? We're looking to keep the rent under $600 preferably.
I'm from a much smaller area, and want to make sure I'm going to be comfortable in the area I live in so any oppinions you have of apartment complexes in the area or bad neighborhoods would be great.
We live in Granite City now, in the Gaslight Apts.
They aren't too bad, very affordable.
The floor plans vary widely for the same prices, so if you don't like one, be sure to ask what else is available.
There are flats and townhouse plans. We have a townhouse. Other than some really poor insulation in our building (making for high utility bills), we like it.
Many of the bldgs are old, but there are some positives here that the other complexes don't offer.
There is a noise ordinance, which is really nice. After 10 pm, you are subject to a visit from the police if things get too loud.
Of course, you hear the stupid car stereos (still not sure why anyone thinks anyone else wants to hear their bass, but I guess they are proud of putting their paycheck into a speaker), but it hasn't been a super noisy place.
Pets are allowed for an additional amt per month (cats and dogs under 25 lbs only).
It isn't the best place I have ever lived, by far, but we've been here 3 years now, and I don't see anything else being better.
Just be picky in your choice of the apts - many diff floor plans, and check to see how the parking is - it can be a little tight sometimes.
Other than that, I can recommend it.
One of the best things is that almost everything is pretty close by. The apts are behind a golf course and there is a middle school on the other side, so the land is kept up pretty nicely. It is a really pretty view in the evening to walk by the lake and see all the water fowl. It is illegal to kill a duck here, so be aware! The water fowl are highly protected. You'll see all kinds of them, from many species of duck, to herons, cranes, etc. We are also very close to winter eagle nesting grounds, so you occasionally see one of those as well.
All in all, I would choose this complex over the others I've driven by. I haven't lived in them, so can't say an absolute, but you can surely do a lot worse than here. Just stay out of the very front of the complex. Very noisy, lots of kids all the time, etc etc. The walls are a little thin, but just get to know your neighbors and work out consideration for each other, like all should try for. Try for the "back" buildings. Try to go in the evening too, to see how the traffic is around your building, etc. I think you'd find the floor plans plenty roomy for most. Not sure if you want a 1 or 2 bedroom. They are mostly under $600/month, and water is included. Cable (Charter) serves this complex, but you can also use your dish if you prefer it. We use cell phone, so can't vouch for the phone service/wiring.
If we moved away and moved back, I'd try to come here again, as long as I was not in the front buildings where the offices are located.
If you like it, use me as a reference - they offer incentives! LOL!
Friends of mine just moved out of Granite City, Illinois to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Personally I have lived in GC and cannot imagine anyone voluntarily moving there. About the only redeeming quality in my opinion is Cionkos, the meat market. They have (again in my opinion) the best Ham Salad on the planet, good prices, great guys behind the meat counter and quality products. Their Chicken Salad is very good as well but not as good as the Chicken Salad I found in a small grocery in Muscatine, Iowa.
I've lived in Granite City all my life and can't wait to leave. There's high pollution, corrupt politicians, and a lot of people who think their crap doesn't stink. The city is a perfect example of Americana - Number One at one point now steadily declining in all the good it was once. Gaslight Apartments are in
Pontoon Beach which is a great place to live.
Gaslight Apartments are in
Pontoon Beach which is a great place to live.
Actually, Gaslight Apts are in Granite City (GC), not Pontoon Beach (PB), even though it is merely an invisible dividing line between the two communities. The mailing address is GC, not PB. I live there now. Perhaps it has changed at some point, but it is now considered a private property in GC.
(By the way - gotta wonder how old some of the posts are, because I've lived here 4 yrs and never heard of that meat market. )
I am only recommending it because the original poster asked about apt complexes. Of the ones that I know of, this one at least is in a pretty area.
If you want a review of Illinois, then I do have to agree with some of the other posters, in that I can't wait to move!
However, it isn't this apt complex - I can't wait to leave Illinois period.
I've lived in several different states, and this is without a doubt the worst. People are different here from any other place we've lived. It is mostly Catholic, so if that's what you are, it might fit. Otherwise, get ready for a lot of Saint ________ (fill in the blank, because it is everywhere). People are not particularly nice. We've always lived placed where folks were open to conversations, you make friends, invite them to dinner, maybe play cards, chat, etc. Not here. I've never seen so many suspicious hostile people in one place! I'm not sure if it because of the high unemployment, the meth problems (and there are plenty of those), or what - but it is a different mentality here.
If you offer to do something nice for someone, they are suspicious and ask what you want. If you ask someone else for a ride or something like that, you'll be met with cold stares and probably given an excuse why they can't. We've lived next to the same guy for four yrs now, and don't know his name. He's friendly enough on the surface, but like most of the residents, just doesn't want a relationship. He has no family here. We tried to take over Thanksgiving dinner to him last year, but he never answers the door unless he is expecting pizza delivery. Oh well....
We went from having a lot of friends everywhere we lived, to barely knowing anyone here. A few people will give the most surface conversation, but no one is really interested in relationships. They trust only their families, no one else. Apparently, anything goes, as long as they go to confession.
Our first experience with GC was that shortly after we moved in, my daughter's mountain bike had the chain sawed off and the bike stolen. Of course, we called the police, but they never did anything. You'll see some nice places, but a lot of grossness too - people urinating in public (probably drunk, but who knows), etc. There are fences all over the property separating it from another complex, but those fences are regularly climbed over, boards removed or chains clipped for the "convenience" of the ones who are too lazy to walk around.
If you have some other options, I'd sure take it. Knowing what I know about the area now, I'd live in Collinsville over GC. It is maybe 6 miles away, so maybe that is feasible for you. Belleville is about 20 minutes and offers a lot more in the way of options, shopping, restaurants, etc.
Best bet - live in another state entirely. So far, after a total of 7 years here, there isn't even one thing that would make me recommend Illinois as a place to live for anyone, any family, any single, any one. Well, maybe the lonely priests, because the sexual abuse cases are pretty prevalent in southern IL as well. Because of the crooked politics of the state,the regulations for things like telecommunications or cable are all knotted up. You don't get many choices, because of the iron-clad contracts some of the companies have made with the state, so you'll pay through the nose, or have sub-par services. We've been trying to save up enough to move, but good luck with that, because employment is double-digit here, with virtually nothing available. But, we hold out hope that nothing lasts forever, especially living in Illinois. My pet name? Hellinois. Other than the wildlife, which can be found in any state really, there's not even one reason to move here.
Do you still live in Gaslight Walk Apartments? I'm thinking of moving there. I went and looked at their apartments recently, and I have to say they didn't look very enticing, at least from the outside. Is that complex as bad as it looks? I know you can't really expect much for sub-$500 rent. I noticed on an internet ad for the complex they list that they accept housing vouchers. I'm just curious what that complex is really like, considering I hear mostly decent reviews of it compared to other places in the area. It seems like there are 2 complexes there owned by the same company: Gaslight and Westgate (Arlington Apartments?) Thanks for any help. I know these posts are old.
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There are fences all over the property separating it from another complex, but those fences are regularly climbed over, boards removed or chains clipped for the "convenience" of the ones who are too lazy to walk around. 
So far, after a total of 7 years here, there isn't even one thing that would make me recommend Illinois as a place to live for anyone, any family, any single, any one. Well, maybe the lonely priests, because the sexual abuse cases are pretty prevalent in southern IL as well. Because of the crooked politics of the state,the regulations for things like telecommunications or cable are all knotted up. You don't get many choices, because of the iron-clad contracts some of the companies have made with the state, so you'll pay through the nose, or have sub-par services. We've been trying to save up enough to move, but good luck with that, because employment is double-digit here, with virtually nothing available. But, we hold out hope that nothing lasts forever, especially living in Illinois. My pet name? Hellinois. Other than the wildlife, which can be found in any state really, there's not even one reason to move here.
