Is Kankakee really that bad???? (Chicago, Joliet: environment, houses, organic)

[meads]

I've lived there before. If you been on hoobie avenue than you better have ypur eyes open. they can smell fear. And hobbie avanue smells like the paint factory.

[Transplant8]

It's not as bad as you'd think. I live in Kankakee... been here all my adult life... I'm 53.

Like many towns, all the retail business moved to the mall by the interstate, leaving the downtown area pretty much ignored. It's coming back now. Lot's of offices. It's the county seat, so many layers are downtown by the courthouse.

Much of the industry left in the 70's, moving to the southern states for the low-wage work force.

Unemployment is high. Being situated close (60 miles) to Chicago, it's hard to duplicate anything down here. Many folks commute.

There are parts of town (residential areas) that tend to be higher crime areas. Same as most towns this size. That's what low income and hopelessness creates. I just don't go there.

The school district is certainly one of our weakest suits.

There is a LOT going on here now... as we speak! New stores/shopping centers, commercial development, new residential subdivision, recreational facilities.... Two new WalMarts breaking ground, new hotels, and perhaps most telling... lots of new banks.

You can get a lot of bang for the buck here. And, we're only a hour from Chicago, so it's close to everything.

[Transplant8]

Originally Posted by meads

And hobbie avanue smells like the paint factory.

There IS a paint factory at the north end of Hobbie. But you're right... I wouldn't walk down Hobbie... any time of day.

[preppyboyofIL]

The city has been neglected for decades and has seen much corruption in the government which has forced the city into a much blighted past, present, and future.

[the_hungry_wanderer]

Originally Posted by Transplant8

There IS a paint factory at the north end of Hobbie. But you're right... I wouldn't walk down Hobbie... any time of day.

Are you being serious? It's a no-go zone even in the daylight hours?

[Jons99]

There is absolutely nothing wrong in walking down Hobbie during the day, Kankakee still has its problems its trying to correct and progress is being made. Overall, the Kankakee area is the best value in the Chicagoland area and is starting to show its strengths as is evident with the growth its seeing.

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by Jons99

There is absolutely nothing wrong in walking down Hobbie during the day, Kankakee still has its problems its trying to correct and progress is being made. Overall, the Kankakee area is the best value in the Chicagoland area and is starting to show its strengths as is evident with the growth its seeing.

What's worse, Joliet or Kankakee?

[Deidra1973]

Kankakee...hmm. My fiance' lives in the country there, as this is the area he grew up. While his location if quite nice (if you like the country) I would not live there myself. It does not have much to offer and it appears to be deteriorating. Bradley and Bourbonais (hope I spelled it correctly) is VERY close and both appear to be better locations for living in than Kankakee. If you don't mind a drive, about 35/40 minutes northwest lies some very nice areas (Orland Park, Mokena, Frankort, Homer Glen & Lockport). All are areas to consider calling home. Good Luck!

[pw72]

There are some exceptions, so this is somewhat of a generalization, but for the most part the suburbs to south of Chicago are poorer than the ones to the north. (I'm not sure Kankakee even qualifies as a suburb, but the area south of Chicagoland is quite poor.) Didn't Oprah do a story on this a while back?

[Jons99]

By comparison, a house in Frankfort that will cost you $500K will cost you $300K if you drive 20 minutes south into Kankakee County. That is the appealing part of Kankakee County. We have been down looking at houses, didn't see any bad sections, but we stayed in Bradley and Bourbonnais, which seem to be growing quite well. If you want value and trying to escape a little, its a super nice option..

The only part of Kankakee I would consider living in would be the part that attends Herscher schools.