flooding problem in Rockford (Machesney Park, Roscoe: housing, high crime, college)

[epath13]

My family is planning to move to Rockford. Is flooding a really serious problem there? What about the area between College Ave and Kishwaukee St?

[IcantSELLmyHouse]

Flooding would be my last worry in that area. Very Very high crime rate in that area. If you want to live in Rockford I would be looking on the East side. Better yet i would live in Wisconsin and commute to Rockford.

[dubuqueaskme]

You will be just fine in Rockford, the west side is not great, but it is not THAT terrible. Forget WI, that will be along commute, at least a half an hour, I'd recommend little, ole Byron, IL just south, maybe 11-15 miles, population has exploded. Becoming a more desirable suburb by the day...Roscoe and Cherry Valley are also good options, closer.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by dubuqueaskme

You will be just fine in Rockford, the west side is not great, but it is not THAT terrible.

Most of the west side is terrible. I was born in Rockford and lived there for 45 years until 1985. I go back and visit every so often.

Until I was 11 I lived on the west side at 325 N. Central Ave. Whenever I am back in Rockford I drive by my old childhood neighborhood - to see where I and my friends lived and the places we played, such as Sunset Park. IT IS NOT JUST TERRIBLE, IT IS HORRIBLE. Except for areas of the northwest side (and they are deteriorating), most of the west side is similar. Much of the near east side is bad, too.

However, once you get farther east of the river, things get much better. Real housing bargains can be found in the Alpine Road area. I used to live at 3925 Guilford, and that is still a nice area.

[FormerStocktonian]

Originally Posted by epath13

My family is planning to move to Rockford. Is flooding a really serious problem there? What about the area between College Ave and Kishwaukee St?

Trust me, don't move to that area. It is very ghetto. Not very safe at all. The flooding is least of the problems there.

[exberwynite]

Stay EAST of the river, try zipcodes 61107, 61108 and perhaps 61114. I'd stay out of Rockford totally, however, taxes are too high.

[djbridgeland]

Actually that is East of the river, just the not so great area. Most of the flooding occurs a little further east in the Keith Creek and Alpine Creek areas. Also there has been some flooding this winter in Machesney Park in the area off N 2nd due to Ice jams along the Rock River.

[M TYPE X]

Anyone have photos of these sections of Rockford? I'm scared to visit - sounds as bad as Flint or Youngstown, by your descriptions.

[Havasu]

I wouldnt be scared to visit when I lived back there i had to go thru that part of town a few times a week and I never had anything bad happen to me. Just be sure its daylight. Like any other bad place if you look for trouble you can find it but if you mind your own business you should be ok.

[LpLp23]

What makes you ask about College and Kishwaukee? It seems odd that you ask for such specific area. and no it is NOT a good part of town. However, northwest rockford and east rockford are totally fine. Don't listen to everything you hear, rockford gets a bad rap in my opinion, I've lived here my whole life and it's no different than any other mid-size city.