East ST. LOUIS (Belle, Fairview, Camden: sale, house, find a job)

[Supernova7]

It's a VERY DANGEROUS city. I have lived, passed through, been through some of the most dangerous areas in America and E. St. Louis doesn't even compare. You can walk down the street and see a gang rape in progress right at lunch time. I never seen a white soul in the community and most black people are terrified living there. It's very sad that the city/state refuse to fund this community. Death rate is equivalent to Ethiopia.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by aminah

You know...I agree that East St. Louis SUCKS, but black folks should NEVER be compared to monkeys. What's up with that?!

Did I mention "black folks" in my post--NO! I'm not trying to making racist generalizations here, I'm simply implying that the (people) in ESL don't exactly have the best manners. My statement is inclusive of white people as well.

[AdamK]

all I know is everyone knows not to go over there. if you want to go to the strip clubs some people take the chance of making a wrong turn and getting killed. I made a wrong turn over there one time, I ended up running about 6 red lights to get the heck out of there without stopping.

hey it might be some cheap real estate, anyone want to invest?

[san phlegmatico]

OP:

I cannot speak to the question at hand, but I do have some properties I'm looking to unload quick-like -- REAL rock-bottom prices on fixer-upper jobs in up-n-coming communities. Nearby: restaurants, highway access, pawn shops, and, uh, clubs...

Camden, New Jersey and Compton, California -- take your pick of either.

[skipcromer]

Its absurd what is going on on the Illinois side. If you look at the places closest to the river, Alton, Granite City, E. St. Louis, Sauget, Cahokia, you will find they are all HORRIBLE places to live. The Missouri side isn't like that at all. Also look at a map of St. Louis. It is fully developed for a full 40 miles + west on 64. Look at Illinois. It is developed for about 8 miles (not including E. St. Louis since you wouldn't be there for any reason).

I take offense to saying that Alton and Granite City are terrible places to live. I have at one time lived in both cities. They are what you make of them. Granite City has an amazing park district, an above average school district, and an improving economy.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

I take offense to saying that Alton and Granite City are terrible places to live. I have at one time lived in both cities. They are what you make of them. Granite City has an amazing park district, an above average school district, and an improving economy.

skipcromer - what bls5555 wrote, while having some truth, did indeed miss the mark in the paragraph you quoted, IMHO, as even the Missouri side [StL has some not-so-good places within its boundaries] is not perfect, as has been discussed in other threads. I've passed through these towns [Alton and GC], and they are not at all in the same [minor] league as East StL. I really hope that the new mayor is going to hold true to his promises to revitalize that area, but, he and all the people w/in that domain are going to work, and work hard to pull itself up and make something positive of that mess.


ps: to have lived in both cities in one time, that is - I've been trying to do something similar: to live both where I work and where I'd rather be, but alas, my transmorgifier is on the fritz... must not have used enough tuna...

[joee]

Put it this way, you go in who knows if you'll come back out, i know a washington park cop that carrys an oozie, walks in the station and sits it on the table by the back door even if there is someone cuffed to the table for hold.

I wonder if there's any other as rough or rougher places in the states.

[it ok]

Ok that could have happen any where dont try to down est because that happen. would you be talking about Belleville like that. you have to be there to no whats going on. the same stuff in going on in stl or any other state my cousin just got mugged walking down the street in memphis. All houses in est is not cheap you have to look around

[Juice13610]

I've never heard of ANYONE who ISNT from ESL driving through and stopping at stop lights. Very dangerous city. I can't believe you have never heard of it to be asking about real estate there, its quite famous for being a violent ghetto.

On The Simpsons, when Springfield gets voted the number 2 worst place to live, Homer says "Take that East St. Louis!" because Springfield passed ESL as the number 2, making ESL #1.

[jhassler]

If you want to get an idea of what Dresden looked like after the bombings of WWII....Take the poplar street bridge over to the "east side".

You can literally look through most of the buildings. Its a shame, because it used to be a lively and cosmopolitan center of midwestern black culture...Duke Ellington even composed "East St. Louis Toodeloo".

Literally, DO NOT go there. If St. Louis is the most dangerous city in America (which IS skewed by its independent city status...although it is crappy), East St. Louis is the most dangerous place in our solar system...If not the universe..