Tell me about E. Peoria... (East Peoria, Morton: apartment complexes, rentals, lawyers)

[Dukester]

Is it affordable to live as for apartments go? How is the shopping, conveniences?

Thanks...

[linicx]

Hi Dukester,

East Peoria is original home of Caterpillar. Like Peoria it is a mix of blue collar and white color. The main business area is sandwiched between the river (Main Street/Caterpillar Trail/Il 116 and US 150, and intersected by I-74. Main Street basically connects Creve Coeur and Metamora. US 150 for all practical purposes connects Franklin Street Bridge and Morton. Franklin Street Bridge is the first bridge south of Murray Baker (I-74). The nearest hospitals are St.Francis and Methodist in downtown Peoria. You should not have any trouble meeting basic needs: doctor, lawyers, food, clothing, etc.. E. Peoria is home to Par A Dice casino, Caterpillar, and one of the largest night time Christmas parades and displays in America.

Knowing what I know about the areas, my guess is the rentals in Peoria, East Peoria, Morton, Germantown Hills, Robein and Washington will be very similar in price for like accommodations.
When I lived there I spent most of my time in Peoria.

[Scio42]

Rent in East Peoria is generally a bit less than what you'd pay on the other side of the river in Peoria. E Peoria is mostly made up of white working class neighborhoods with a few pricier locations (e.g. Fondulac drive along the top of the bluff).

Since East Peoria is partly nestled in the east side bluffs, there are some locations back in the bluffs that are difficult to get to/from, but mostly it's pretty convenient. There's plenty of shopping/restaurant options, especially along the riverfront by I-74 (ever since the old CILCO power plant was demolished and a shopping center put in it's place). Of course you're never really more than a 30min drive from anywhere else in the Peoria metro.

Like anyplace, it's best to check out an apartment & the area it's in before you rent. Some apartment complexes in East Peoria are pretty rough and others are nice.

[linicx]

Actually there are several ways to get into the bluffs if you know the roads. Fondulac, Highview, Arnold, Oakwood, "snake hill" and the cemetery road to name a few. And there is another road on the back side of the Fondulac entrance that I never used. Getting in and out can be a bit difficult during winter weather. I managed to drive in an out of the bluffs on both sides of the river - between home and work - on ice and snow for several years without an accident or a tow truck. If you use common sense it is not that difficult. Actually, in in ice and snow it takes 30 minutes or less, to drive from Fondulac using Highview Road to the Upper Free Bridge and Grandview Drive entrance off IL29, depending upon traffic.