peoria (Chicago, Springfield, Bloomington: health insurance, condos, townhomes)

[sam8341204jtb]

What ever you do Do NOT move to peoria. i grew up here and its totally went down hill. this place sucks i want out but i can't afford it. i am asingle parent of a 2 and 1/2 year old whos been really sick since he was born. please if you want to raise a good and decent family stay away from peoria its a black hole.

[illini_69_2000]

i love peoria. there are pros and cons. but overall they are good. the public schools are not the best, but that depends on where you live.

Moderator cut: personal - off topic

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by sam8341204jtb

What ever you do Do NOT move to peoria. i grew up here and its totally went down hill. this place sucks i want out but i can't afford it. i am asingle parent of a 2 and 1/2 year old whos been really sick since he was born. please if you want to raise a good and decent family stay away from peoria its a black hole.

This is such a vague post. Do you mean it has gotten more expensive to live there? Welcome to Anytown USA, generally speaking.

The Peoria area suffers from being remote in relation to other Midwestern cities. It really needs a more direct route to Chicago and other major cities.

[ILguy]

Not sure what the question is. the site is not cooperating very well today. But in regards to Peoria for being bad and to avoid at all costs - that is just wrong. Peoria is a great city- winner of the All America City Award three times. It is growing and very liveable. Housing is still very reasonable with the average costs at about $147K now, although you can find homes well over $2M as well. Forbes ranked it No 1 Most Affordable Area among the largest 150 metro areas in the US. The area is beautiful with rolling hills, bluffs, many trees, etc. Not your typical Illinois landscape. Park system is superb - winner of the Gold Award nationally. Peoria is not remote either. The metro area is 400K with Bloomington Normal next door with additonal 160K. It is 150 miles to Chicago and the same to St Louis. Indy is not far either. See Peoria under Wikipedia or check out any of the peoria websites such explore peoria, discover peoria, peoria.org for alot of information. The city's economy is very stable. Once mainly manufacturing (Caterpillar still largest employer at 17,000 with world headquarters here, health sciences, biosciences, logisitics, are major employers. The medical centers are large and prominent. St Francis is the ninth largest Catholic hospital in the nation and is doing another 250M expansion. As in any city, some bad parts of town, but the majority of the city and suburbs are very nice. Residential areas have been recognized nationally as being very attractive - mianly due to lovely houses and the topography. Alot of entertainment options, especially for a city of its size. Opera, symphony, professional hockey, professional baseball, theatre, civic center, broadway theater series, and many more coming with new museum. Great restaurants of all varieities and budgets. Peoria is great - check it out. Schools do vary, but the city itself has four school districts - 150, Peoria Heights, Limestone and Dunlap. Dunlap is rated one of the tops in the state.

[doll lady]

I have a tendency to agree with ILguy.....

Peoria is an industrial city with one of the best medical arenas in the state. St Francis is a very notable treatment facility. With the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical campus in Peoria, the opportunity to receive wonderful medical care exists.

The St. Jude's Children's Research Center branch is located at OSF St. Francis hospital center. Sick children can be referred by their physician and these children are treated regardless of ability to pay for treatment. Perhaps the poster isn't aware of the possibilities of treatment for the child.

Sure Peoria has downfalls but what city doesn't. The city has neighborhoods that I don't wander into because of the danger, but I HAVE BEEN in these neighborhoods and find them no worse than other cities.

Peoria is a river town, and has a lot to see and do. Living in the neighboring towns is always an option. And the employment opportunities are much better than for instance Springfield due to the abundance of blue collar type jobs.

I was in Peoria on Thursday and had a heck of a good time. Had wonderful food and shopped till I dropped. No I don't live there....I'm down towards Springfield way but I guarantee you I spend a LOT OF TIME in Peoria and do most of my shopping and eating out there. I might as well move there as often as I am there. LOL

So ..... Peoria, if you are listening, please do not shut your doors quite yet. There are many of us who think it's an OK city. Keep doing what you're doing!

[ILguy]

Thanks Doll Lady - totally forgot about St Jude and medical school. Although Peoria would tend to have more blue collar jobs than Springfield (being the capital), the majority of the jobs in Peoria are white collar/professional due to the diversification that has occurred since the early 80s. You can still find plenty of blue collar jobs but it was not like it used to be. The area has increasingly become more professional. By the way, I live in chicago but recenlty bought some land in the city to build a home. Beautiful river views and very secluded within park reserves. My spouse is very excited as I am. We love it there.

[Dolly]

Sam, the only redeeming feature of Illinois is the All Kids/All Family program that was started last year. If you are having trouble with medical expenses, go to the state of Illinois home page and sign up for it. It has saved our life as we haven't had health insurance in seven years and my husband is a diabetic. The income guidelines are pretty expansive too, it is a medical card but you don't have to be totally impoverished to get it. I can "hear" the frustration in your voice and know there is more to this than what is posted on this board but just hang in there. Winter is almost over and spring is coming. Find yourself a church or a MOPS group (mother's of pre-schoolers) to give yourself some support and a chance to talk with other Mom's. You have made it this far, you are stronger than you think. Just keep thinking positive and someday, you will be able to move on and live where you want. Mine is 17 and we are finally able to move on. My husband just accepted his dream job in Wisconsin and we are looking forward to leaving Illinois.

[sakura_saku]

to my opinion, Peoria is the worst place I have lived. Althought people in Peoria seem to love Peoria - mainly because of most of them growing up here and never have left Peoria and seen the world outside?

[ILguy]

BTW - I have lived in several cities (mostly large throughout US) and have traveled throughout North America, Europe and Asia - so I have been around. Many Peorians have lived internationally as well and most all of them love Peoria for a variety of different reasons. So implying that we don't get out much is far form the truth. I have actually found that those who only have lived in Peoria and not travelled tend to not like it at times because they cannot see the great offerings we have in the city since they have no comparisons to other places.

[NYrules]

Sounds to me like you just don't like Peoria because of how it is not all new like Bloomington/Normal is. I will admit that there are areas to the north of the downtown area in Peoria that seem like Englewood in Chicago, but out around Northwoods Mall it is nice. The War Memorial Dr. area is also pretty nice from what I remember. Lots of big old homes resting on hill sides snuggled in between large old trees. Also from what I remember (I used to live in Bloomington thats why I say I remember) out around Willow Knolls the area was very nice and had another little mall out there.

From what I also remember Peoria has a very pretty skyline and East Peoria was booming with tons of new condos and townhomes right along the waterfront over by Famous Daves restaurant and there was a marina there which created a "Seattle type of atmosphere"

I don't really understand what is so horrible about the city honestly, I remember Peoria being old yes, but overall...very clean, not congested, fairly safe, plenty of good restaurants and shopping, Northwoods Mall was nice, hospitalization looked good and there was plenty of it, and the scenery there was some of the best in the state (ie. Detweiller Park, East Peoria's view of the skyline, the War Memorial Drive corridor going downhill to the riverfront.)