Alton, Granite City, and other communities (Naperville, Peoria: sales, crime, homes)

[ccmusica]

I am thinking about moving to Illinois and I was needing some information from locals. Firstly, I am looking for maybe the impossible, but I envision my Shangri La as having a cute/pretty/active downtown with good energy and mid-range homes not to exceed $200,000. I think Naperville and some of those surrounding communities are beautiful, but too expensive for our budget.

I went through Alton when I was last there. I thought it was an interesting town. I have heard it has had a problem with drugs and crime, but I have also heard that it is cleaning up. Granite City has some very lovely homes, but it appears the downtown is pretty dead (haven't been there yet) and it seems to have a higher crime rate, but I really don't know the facts. Collinsville was ok but didn't seem to have much energy when I visited there, but I am only getting snapshots. I guess I am looking for a strong sense of community.

I don't even need the town to be "there" yet as long as it is moving toward revitalization. It would be fun to be in a town that was progressing. It would be nice to be near a city, however, we don't really want to live IN the city (they are usually more expensive anyhow). Safety is a biggie.

Any thoughts on or around Peoria?

We don't have children (we are both middle aged), so schools are not a consideration other than if the local schools are war zones, then typically so are the communities.

If you have any suggestions for communities for me to check out, I would greatly appreciate it. I am open to all ideas.

[skipcromer]

If you have your hopes up for an active downtown, I'm sorry to say Granite is not the place for you. While there are plans for a new movie theatre for downtown, it will only be the first step in bringing it back to life. That said, 200,000 can go far in Granite.

Alton is a tough one to judge. I lived there while in college for a year and didnt have any issues, but dont feel informed enough to give you enough info about it. Just dont let anybody tell you that it is a cesspool or that it is amazing, because it is neither.

If you need an active downtown on the illinois side, you are better off looking in Edwardsville. However, I am not sure what 200,000 dollars gets you in Edwardsville.

Possibly check Collinsville as well.

[ccmusica]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

If you have your hopes up for an active downtown, I'm sorry to say Granite is not the place for you. While there are plans for a new movie theatre for downtown, it will only be the first step in bringing it back to life. That said, 200,000 can go far in Granite.

Alton is a tough one to judge. I lived there while in college for a year and didnt have any issues, but dont feel informed enough to give you enough info about it. Just dont let anybody tell you that it is a cesspool or that it is amazing, because it is neither.

If you need an active downtown on the illinois side, you are better off looking in Edwardsville. However, I am not sure what 200,000 dollars gets you in Edwardsville.

Possibly check Collinsville as well.

Thanks, skipcromer. Do you believe Granite City is working towards revitalizing their downtown? I would not mind being part of that as far as getting involved with town committees. What do you think it needs?

[skipcromer]

They are absolutely working to revitalize downtown. Unfortunately, not everybody is on board with this idea. Many feel money would be better spent elsewhere in town. Also, with the current economy, it is not going to be a fast process.

I am all for it, and hope it turns out well, but it is certainly an uphill battle.

I know this isnt feasible, but if there could be a branch of metrolink that ran a express route that only stopped in Madison and Granite on the illinois side and then did a normal route while in Missouri would be the greatest thing imaginable for the tri cities.

[ccmusica]

skipcromer, I hear people in Illinois towns are against having the metrolink come through their towns because they believe it will bring more crime with it.

It is sad to hear that Granite City is getting opposition to revitalizing their downtown. Great downtowns are such a calling card and the first step in bringing in more residents (maybe they don't want more) and bringing more revenue to work with.

There is a town near where I live in Northern California that has fought growth ever since I could remember. This town has been dying a slow and agonizing death for many years now. It basically has a commercial strip now for supplying basic needs to the mostly impoverished and elderly residents. There is rampant blight from once successful businesses. This is what can happen if a town doesn't grow. People can't get jobs and money doesn't flow.

There is a law of economics that says there is no status quo. If you aren't moving forward, you are moving backward. It is so true!

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by ccmusica

skipcromer, I hear people in Illinois towns are against having the metrolink come through their towns because they believe it will bring more crime with it.

It is sad to hear that Granite City is getting opposition to revitalizing their downtown. Great downtowns are such a calling card and the first step in bringing in more residents (maybe they don't want more) and bringing more revenue to work with.

There is a town near where I live in Northern California that has fought growth ever since I could remember. This town has been dying a slow and agonizing death for many years now. It basically has a commercial strip now for supplying basic needs to the mostly impoverished and elderly residents. There is rampant blight from once successful businesses. This is what can happen if a town doesn't grow. People can't get jobs and money doesn't flow.

There is a law of economics that says there is no status quo. If you aren't moving forward, you are moving backward. It is so true!

Being against metrolink for fear of crime tends to be more of a Missouri thing, most noticeably St. Charles. When Madison County voted on it years ago, I think it had more to do with the raising of taxes.

[bulldawg1594]

if you are looking around alton, i would check out East st. louis. no definetly DO NOT move to esl. but you should check out oak park.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by bulldawg1594

if you are looking around alton, i would check out East st. louis. no definetly DO NOT move to esl. but you should check out oak park.

Ya...that made no sense.

[ccmusica]

bulldawg1594

I don't understand why East St. Louis has anything to do with Alton, unless you are trying to demonstrate what crime can do???

[ccmusica]

skipcromer

Yeah, your taxes there are huge compared to here, believe it or not. Basic California property taxes are 1.25% of the sales price of a home. It can go up each year, but it gets no where near what Illinois property taxes are, but our housing prices are about twice as high as yours, and we live in a relatively inexpensive area. I guess it all comes out in the wash.