Rockford IL good or bad (Springfield, Loves Park: neighborhoods, YMCA, high school)

[rockfordsucksbigtime]

Originally Posted by rockfordsbest

Please explain to me why a person would want to move somewhere for cheap housing and then pay public school taxes, then turn around and send their kids to private schools??

This defeats the purpose!

Stay away from Auburn Street period. Even where there aren't drive bys and problems, there are A TON OF BREAK INS. Then not only will you need to pay for private schools, you will have to invest in a security system. Not that the police ever show up on time----

just stay away from the west side period cept for churchills grove right before the river and cumberland st area..... mid-far west shootings and where all the crimes really go on... short-mid west fine... east side mostly good... south side hillbillys and rednecks... north side good area cept for when you get into loves park and machesney park thats where all the geysers are

[MovingtoRockford]

Hi I am relocating to Rockford from Chicago. I wanted to get some recent feedback on how Rockford is doing lately. I am thinking about starting a business in Rockford that I think would do well and create some jobs and hopefully benefit the community. I would like to know how the real estate market is doing and the rental market. I would like to know how the downtown river district development is going. Does anyone have opinions on the job market in Rockford? I am also interested to find out how many other people are relocating to Rockford from other areas. As much information as you can give me would be appreciated. Thx

[Havasu]

I will throw in my 2 cents for you (Thats about all its worth) I am all for anyone starting a business anywhere including Rockford. I hope you succeed and employ lots and lots of people. Depending on what type of business it is be sure to pick a good neighborhood. I think that will either make or break it. So stay on the East side of town if you can. What is the competition there for you? Go visit the competition and see how they are doing. Or other towns nearby with simular type businesses. The housing there I hear is holding up but has dropped a bit but not not like other areas in the Nation,but it also did not sky rocket like other areas had done. The housing may be cheap there but be sure to check on how much Property taxes will be. I hope you do well, Rockford can use some improvements and needs some updating.

Originally Posted by MovingtoRockford

Hi I am relocating to Rockford from Chicago. I wanted to get some recent feedback on how Rockford is doing lately. I am thinking about starting a business in Rockford that I think would do well and create some jobs and hopefully benefit the community. I would like to know how the real estate market is doing and the rental market. I would like to know how the downtown river district development is going. Does anyone have opinions on the job market in Rockford? I am also interested to find out how many other people are relocating to Rockford from other areas. As much information as you can give me would be appreciated. Thx

[thesandbox]

I also have a couple of questions about Rockford as well. I currently live in Nashville but fly for a company in Rockford, Ryan Int'l Airlines. They are owned by Rubloff Development there in Rockford. I along with my wife are tired of me commuting to work every other week while I sit in a hotel on reserve if I am not on a trip. I also do some music and recording but seems that being in Nashville is not much of a factor in that right now. Living there would easily give me more time at home which is very important to us. We have no kids so I am not particularly concerned right now with the school district but am concerned for my wife if I am gone 3-4 days on a trip as most of our flying is international. We currently stay at the Marriott by all the other hotels down on State St. and I have ventured into town down by the river and some of the areas by car once or twice. I was based in Scotland for two summers and my wife is from Romania so we both really like some of the older houses with a bit of european character. I am having questions about one area in particular and that is the Churchill's Grove area that includes National Ave. and the few streets near there including Harlem and Camp Ave. It "appears" to still be a fairly nice and decent area with a few good finds for housing on Harlem and Camp but by the boundaries people are listing here and there it seems like this area maybe going downhill as well. If this is the case do you have an idea specifically (more so than just the east side of the river) other areas that would be of similar style. My real only requirement is to live withing 1 hours drive from the RFD airport and no cookie cutter.

[Drover]

Is Ryan Int'l related to RyanAir based out of Ireland?

[thesandbox]

Originally Posted by Drover

Is Ryan Int'l related to RyanAir based out of Ireland?

No...not the same...we do get that occasionally though. Ryan Int'l is just a big charter airline, flying 757's 767's and MD-80's, that was bought by Rubloff about 4-5 years ago and moved the headquarters to Rockford from Wichita KS. Just wanting to spend more time at home instead of the hotel here. We used to fly a lot for Apple vacations and Funjet out of Chicago and Milwaukee but now doing mostly gov't and adhoc charters.

[rockfordsucksbigtime]

Originally Posted by MovingtoRockford

Hi I am relocating to Rockford from Chicago. I wanted to get some recent feedback on how Rockford is doing lately. I am thinking about starting a business in Rockford that I think would do well and create some jobs and hopefully benefit the community. I would like to know how the real estate market is doing and the rental market. I would like to know how the downtown river district development is going. Does anyone have opinions on the job market in Rockford? I am also interested to find out how many other people are relocating to Rockford from other areas. As much information as you can give me would be appreciated. Thx

get the heck out of dodge before you even come in hence my name

[rockfordsucksbigtime]

Originally Posted by thesandbox

I also have a couple of questions about Rockford as well. I currently live in Nashville but fly for a company in Rockford, Ryan Int'l Airlines. They are owned by Rubloff Development there in Rockford. I along with my wife are tired of me commuting to work every other week while I sit in a hotel on reserve if I am not on a trip. I also do some music and recording but seems that being in Nashville is not much of a factor in that right now. Living there would easily give me more time at home which is very important to us. We have no kids so I am not particularly concerned right now with the school district but am concerned for my wife if I am gone 3-4 days on a trip as most of our flying is international. We currently stay at the Marriott by all the other hotels down on State St. and I have ventured into town down by the river and some of the areas by car once or twice. I was based in Scotland for two summers and my wife is from Romania so we both really like some of the older houses with a bit of european character. I am having questions about one area in particular and that is the Churchill's Grove area that includes National Ave. and the few streets near there including Harlem and Camp Ave. It "appears" to still be a fairly nice and decent area with a few good finds for housing on Harlem and Camp but by the boundaries people are listing here and there it seems like this area maybe going downhill as well. If this is the case do you have an idea specifically (more so than just the east side of the river) other areas that would be of similar style. My real only requirement is to live withing 1 hours drive from the RFD airport and no cookie cutter.

i used to live in churchills grove... you wont have to worry bout your wife sitting there for days at a time or w/e... its a family neighborhood basically.. a lot of kids various ages mostly younger 3-12... its not going downhill... i lived there for 20 years until recently... my only pet peeve about it is not enough stop signs where they should be.... i cant remember how many times i have had to go out with a 2x4 with people blowing through an intersection at 30-40 mph... but if you have small children i actually suggest living in churchills grove.. wow first suggestion i have made bout rockford thats good :O lol

[MovingtoRockford]

Thanks for everyone's advice.

[MovingtoRockford]

Originally Posted by thesandbox

I also have a couple of questions about Rockford as well. I currently live in Nashville but fly for a company in Rockford, Ryan Int'l Airlines. They are owned by Rubloff Development there in Rockford. I along with my wife are tired of me commuting to work every other week while I sit in a hotel on reserve if I am not on a trip. I also do some music and recording but seems that being in Nashville is not much of a factor in that right now. Living there would easily give me more time at home which is very important to us. We have no kids so I am not particularly concerned right now with the school district but am concerned for my wife if I am gone 3-4 days on a trip as most of our flying is international. We currently stay at the Marriott by all the other hotels down on State St. and I have ventured into town down by the river and some of the areas by car once or twice. I was based in Scotland for two summers and my wife is from Romania so we both really like some of the older houses with a bit of european character. I am having questions about one area in particular and that is the Churchill's Grove area that includes National Ave. and the few streets near there including Harlem and Camp Ave. It "appears" to still be a fairly nice and decent area with a few good finds for housing on Harlem and Camp but by the boundaries people are listing here and there it seems like this area maybe going downhill as well. If this is the case do you have an idea specifically (more so than just the east side of the river) other areas that would be of similar style. My real only requirement is to live withing 1 hours drive from the RFD airport and no cookie cutter.

If it is possible I would suggest renting a place for a little while in Rockford before committing to buying. That way you will learn your way around the city and have time to figure out the neighborhoods you like. I believe there is some furnished housing available for temporary stays. I have a friend that lives in the Churchill neighborhood and it is more family oriented and the houses have the older victorian character you like. I think the best thing about that area would be you are close to the river and walking paths.