Is Kankakee really that bad???? (Chicago, Bourbonnais: best town, sales, condos)

[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?

[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?

[Switch625]

Since when is Kankakee in Chicagoland?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Switch625

Since when is Kankakee in Chicagoland?

Since about yesterday afternoon. Suburbia keeps creeping outward, and Kankakee is in its sights. Give it 20 years and it will be surrounded by suburbia on all sides. Even sooner if the "Third Airport" ever gets the go-ahead.

[jo_bee]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Its often rated one of the worst cities in the USA... I think there are far worse cities (ever been to Nogales, Arizona???), but thats just my opinion.

You compared Sterlnig, IL to Nogales, AZ? Wow.

[jo_bee]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

What's worse, Joliet or Kankakee?

Kankakee. It looks like an inner city. (Well the part I was in once.)

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by jo_bee

Kankakee. It looks like an inner city. (Well the part I was in once.)

I'm too yellow to drive into either city. The Bradley/Bourbonnais commercial strip out near I-57 feels like typical suburbia, and the Gas City station south of town near I-57 is a decent place to refuel.

Kankakee is a Chicagoland satellite that could soon integrate into the metroplex if Will County continues to develop southward.

[DianaC]

There are also some very nice little small towns within Kankakee County that aren't too far out there. Bonfield and Essex (west of Kankakee) have new subdivisions going up and the houses being built are pretty nice.