What's Springfield like??? (Chicago: property taxes, insurance, trip)

[breer23]

Also, to add to what Canes wrote, the amusement park located along I-72 juts south of Springfield is called Knight's Action Park. it includes water slides, batting cages, driving ranges, and putt-putt golf, for starters. Many a summer's day (and dollar) spent there.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by breer23

Have to agree with Trixie about a few things: Springfield has become very tourist-oriented (Lincoln, Dana Thomas House, State Capitol), and has lost out on a lot of industrial opportunities in the past 20 years, much by its own desire to shun it.

When Fiat-Allis & Pillsbury shut down (both in the mid-1980's), Springfield lost a sense of itself, and latched on hard to the historical aspect. Granted, being the state capital, the largest job market is in government (i.e. working for "the state"), but now most other jobs are service-related.

With no industry, the economy has gone up and down, with a lot people leaving or not being able to leave and going through some really hard times - Springfield has grown by only about 10% is 20+ years. I believe this is also the reason that crime has increased during that time frame - the lack of a thriving economy.

While I call Springfield my hometown, I do feel sad when I go back to visit, knowing what it once was and could be again, but it seems that so long as it has the Lincoln history and the State to fall back on, it will not improve, no matter how many new historical sites they erect. Nearby towns such as Bloomington have prospered whereas Springfield has not - much of this, again, goes back to lack of industry. I really wish that the Land of Lincoln would embrace the industrial age again as other towns in the area have.

I think you have painted a picture of Springfield that it doesn't quite deserve. No doubt that Springfield has not done as well in recent memory as Bloomington/Normal, or has the economic pull to provide a metro area the size of Peoria. But then again, I don't know of any place in the state that has prospered so quickly as Bloomington? I agree that Springfield's economy is full of tons goverment jobs. But working in healthcare, I know that Springfield has a large and is regional base for healthcare related occupations. In my opinion, jobs are plentiful in Springfield, you just have to have the degree or the strong motivation and drive to get them. Springfield is doing much better than other cities its size, and this past year passed Peoria in population, so something is drawing people to it. I know many people complain about how there is no other jobs prospects in Springfield besides government and healthcare. But on the flip side those are two fields that will always be in demand and create plentiful jobs even during those tough economic times.

By "industrial age" I really hope you aren't refering to the times were the rust belt was thriving! Just look at cities like Pekin for an end result of what happens to towns that once adopted that image, and how they are doing now. If you want to prosper, it isn't that way.

[sgresident]

my husband is from springfield and most of his family still lives there. his parents live on north third street and the area has changed greatly in the past twenty years. his brother lives south of town, in hunting meadows(not sure if that is the right name) subdivision. the kids attended school in chatham. that was why they moved to that area. they wanted better schools for their kids to go to. the city certainly has plenty of restaurants, sites to see etc. I know that they have the muni outdoor theater in the summer and that is nice. they do get concerts etc at the convention center. you have quite a bit of activity at the state fairgrounds.
i don't really know much about the job situation. my brother in law is a county sheriff and sister in law works for the power company.
a lot of jobs in the service industry of hotel/motel and food.
there is the bunn-o-matic coffee maker company too!

[linicx]

Springfield is the state capital and it is a busy town. Downtown Sprinfield is all one way streets. The street system defeated all reasons to go there years ago. I know many people who work there; none live in Springfield. It is political, It is historical, and it is boring.

My personal preference is the five counites in the Illinois River Valley, I particularly like Havana because it is not so far from the Metropolitan areas of Springfield, Pekin, Peoria or Blookington that you can't car pool or drive to work. In Havana there are a surprisingly large amount of things to do and room to roam. Housing ranges from 50k up. Schools are good and the crime rate is nearly zero. Havana offers k-college, and a hospital with life-flight which most small communities do not.

It is wise to visit the area before you make a final decision to move a thousand miles.

[linicx]

I should have added that Lincoln is a nice bedroom community that is midway between Sprinfield ad Bloomington. It offers many of the same amenities as other towns the same size.

[AnimalLover]

There are some good things happening in Springfield! To the south east, a new state of the art 80 acre park is being built. It will have a 15,000 sq ft multi-purpose 'green' pavillion, among other things. Check out SouthWind Park at Springfield Park District | Springfield, Illinois

HD Smith, a local drug wholesaler has announced a major expansion adding many new jobs, AIG is building a new office building on the west side & Springfield clinic is expanding and bringing in more doctors. Springfield is also home to a world-wide software company - Levi, Ray & Shoup & an insurance company - Horace Mann. Our real estate market it solid & affordable. Springfield also has some of the lowest utility costs.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

I think you have painted a picture of Springfield that it doesn't quite deserve. No doubt that Springfield has not done as well in recent memory as Bloomington/Normal, or has the economic pull to provide a metro area the size of Peoria. But then again, I don't know of any place in the state that has prospered so quickly as Bloomington? I agree that Springfield's economy is full of tons goverment jobs. But working in healthcare, I know that Springfield has a large and is regional base for healthcare related occupations. In my opinion, jobs are plentiful in Springfield, you just have to have the degree or the strong motivation and drive to get them. Springfield is doing much better than other cities its size, and this past year passed Peoria in population, so something is drawing people to it. I know many people complain about how there is no other jobs prospects in Springfield besides government and healthcare. But on the flip side those are two fields that will always be in demand and create plentiful jobs even during those tough economic times.

I'll be one of the first to admit that the healthcare industry has certainly improved in SPI over the past 2 decades. I was making a comment on the overall state of the local economy, which takes into account all facets: government (the base), healthcare (the needs), service (the wants), and industry (the drive). SPI just happens to be lacking the fourth, but because the first two are so prominent and the third is currently plentiful, many do not see the lack of good paying jobs that many industries provide. And when the well dries up (in this case, tourism), the first jobs to go are the service jobs: restaurants, shopping centers, etc.

By "industrial age" I really hope you aren't refering to the times were the rust belt was thriving! Just look at cities like Pekin for an end result of what happens to towns that once adopted that image, and how they are doing now. If you want to prosper, it isn't that way.

Actually, no ....I was thinking more along the lines of biotech or nanotech or the like - not industrial in an 19th or mid-20th century sort of way - but in the purest sense, actually manufacturing a product.

[Momagain1]

Hi there!

Hopefully I can give you some insight too!

I lived in Springfield (Spfld) and just recently moved away couple years ago; but am in springfield almost DAILY as well as my husband works there.

We lived on the north side of the city, it was fine when we lived there, but within a yr of us moving; our area where we lived went downhill and fast!

Honestly; if you look about 20-30 minutes outside of springfield, $200K will buy you a LOT of house/yard!

We live 1/2 hr north in Mason City and for $78,000 we were able to get a 4 bedroom house, attached garage; 2 bathrooms, eat in kitchen, about 2100 sq. feet main living space, full partially finished basement same footage, deck, mature landscaping, no neighbors on one side of us or in front of us, deck, privacy fenced yard (LARGE yard) and a side yard too...

pick my house up now and put it in springfield, Rochester, Athens, Sherman and/or Chatham and I'm looking at easily $150,000 + which is fine if you have that money to spend.

Schools; honestly; the MAIN reason we moved is their school system is going downhill badly. When we moved away; my oldest daughter had a 3rd grade math level; not bad if you are in 3rd grade, but she was going into 7th!! We asked, demanded and tried to get her help through the schools in town, only to be told she was fine.
Bullies/danger in school was also a concern (as is in most schools) but it seems to get worse of course as the kids get older. Our school system we are at now, while very small, has all of the same things that the Spfld ones did. However, one plus ours has over springfield is that they did away with some music programs, most library time/programs but kept the sports in springfield....our school has it all! they didnt take anything away!

The carpets seem to roll up in Springfield by 10 pm most of the times..(and where I am even earlier lol)...

Lincoln is a decent place to live its about 25 min on the interstate north of springfield...
Where we are; mason city 30 min drive north, there is about 2700
Greenview is a small li'l place about 23 min away..not big; only a caseys there but you are 8 miles away from mason city (we have a grocery store, restored theater thats cheap! a post office, couple eateries, a comedy club, subway, banks etc..nothing MAJOR though we are only 17 min from Lincoln the opposite way)

You can look the other way south and check out Taylorville; its about a 35 - 40 min commute..its a decent little town..
Edinburg is a small farming community I grew up there..about 1700 people..its about 27 min from Springfield...
Petersburg is another historical town - taxes are pricey though!
You can also check out Litchfield and Carlinville (this one is about 45 min commute)..those are others that people often commute from.

Honestly; for me, Sherman, Chatham, Rochester, Petersburg & Athens were too pricey in taxes and housing..

You can direct message me if you want to chat more!!! ;-)

[missbex]

Originally Posted by runninfiend

If you're looking for beautiful old homes that are affordable in awesome tree-lined neighborhoods, look over near Washington Park, particularly the blocks just to the north of the park, say between Fayette and Edwards. The park itself is a really great place to run/walk/relax.

Westchester is also a nice area off of Chatham Rd. that has many 1970s and 80's homes that are nice and affordable. That's a safe neighborhood.

You also have the option of the outlying towns. Chatham, Rochester, and Sherman are the more upscale options, all with good school districts. Other nice small towns are Pawnee, Auburn, and Pleasant Plains.

If you're willing to commute 20 minutes or so, Petersburg in Menard County is as pretty a small town as you will find anywhere, with lots of big, old homes built along the bluffs of the Sangamon.

The only real places to avoid in Springfield proper are the east side, and I would argue, much of the north side (although there are some nice spots), particularly the near northeast side.

Springfield is actually a very great little city with many classy neighborhoods and lots of variety in housing options.

I lived in one of those 70s homes (brand new, model home in the very early 70s) in Westchester and it was the best childhood ever! It was like the "Brady Bunch". Went to Sandburg Elementary and it was awesome. Such a great neighborhood!!!

When we moved out of state when I was 10, it sucked . . . I went into mourning missing my neighbors and community, and even though that's been a LOT of years ago, I still have the fondest memories of Stonehill Drive as the best place ever to grow up!! It was one of those neighborhoods where everyone knew everyone, the kids played "ghost in the graveyard" and caught fireflies "late" in the night every summer while the "grownups" sat in lawn chairs and drank martinis (or whatever) and we kept hoping they would keep talking so we could stay out a little later! It was awesome! I'm so glad to hear it's still a good place to be!!!

[PBrenda51]

The city of Springfield has MANY problems. Our property taxes are outrageous.....corruption is rampant within the city and the entire state.....the city's infrastructure is falling apart and there seems to be no money to maintain it even though our taxes are so high.....the "services" are, well, there ARE NO services (where does our tax money go)?......there is a tremendous homeless problem downtown and the city doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. The city also implemented licenses for the bars to be open til 3 AM....nothing good happens after midnight and the streets are littered with broken bottles or the alleys with feces, etc. from the drunks. They also think it is cute to break flower pots downtown and throw their litter and bottles in the nicely maintained flower pots on the boulevards. But our mayor's family owns bars, so they thought it was a wise idea....then they told the store owners to go out and clean up their sidewalks everyday.....sorry, but we already put in 80 plus hours/wk each and there should be a fee tagged on to the bars that stay open til 3 AM for cleanup each day. We didn't cause it or gain anything from that new law of 3 AM, so why should be have to clean up after the drunks? We came from Iowa and there is a HUGE difference......Iowa is clean and nice people and they maintain the infrastructure with good services for our taxes. Another thing here is the shopping.....pretty much non-existent.....lots of fights break out at the mall so we don't go there at all.....it is only 1 1/2 hours to St. Louis and 3 hours to Chicago, so when I need to shop, I make a day trip to either place and get what I need every couple of months. Lots of state and local government employees and insurance employees and medical employees......otherwise, not much here. Too bad, as there's a lot that could be done here to make it nice if the city wanted to.