Beloit. What is bad about Beloit? (Menomonee Falls, Newark: rental, homes, high school)

[reefrunner9]

"the hair on my rises" self edit ex post facto

[lokimc]

after 13 years of commuting to beloit, i finally bought a little house in a marginal west-side neighborhood and LOVE it! there is a lot of diversity on my street and i like to see the kids playing in the street all day long and well into the evening on nice days; it's "quaint". i think beloit is a gem of a town. the river is absolutely gorgeous and there is a wonderful walking path and parkway alongside of it. the parks are nice, the schools are good, the "hood" not all that dangerous [unless you are part of the drug or gang wannabe crowd....i don't see a lot of black hatred toward whites who live in the predominantly black neighborhoods], there is free music and dancing in the summertime and little festivals that are well-attended. this is NOT a town for young, single people-there is nothing here for you! the beloit college is wonderful, but there is still a town/gown divide that i doubt will ever change....beloit college students have their own world that is really pretty complete! the barnes and nobel bookstore downtown is a joke. for folks who are settled and raising families, beloit is great and the housing prices are within reach of nearly anyone who works. ken hendricks [may his soul rest in peace], has infused beaucoup bucks into our community and brought some artistic sophistication to bear on it. we don't have the old wealthy estates and historic homes that janesville has, but there are some...housing here is simpler, as is the life-style, and most neighborhoods are ethnically and economically diverse. we have a great little golf course and wonderful outdoor swimming pool at krueger park. big hills and leason are wonderful for picnicing and walking in beauty. pleasant street coffehouse makes wonderfully strong libations and has a great view of the iron works building with its murals. there are sculptures in beloit and nice plantings.we have a farmer's market that will be expanding to provide fresh food in the winter as well. churches are big here and you can find one for just about any branch of belief there is. believe it or not, you can find halaal food here! we have many mexican grocery stores and restaurants. we have factories. we have an atlantic bread company and a menards and a starbucks and lots of cell phones! yes, there is crack and crime and poverty and suffering; no, there are never enough services to meet their needs, but there is an effort--we have food pantries and a community center and a boys and girls club and hub center and youth mentoring/outreach and low, low cost mental health services for those with no insurance and a growing, stellar, community health clinic and subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled. we have a State senator, judy robson, who CARES about our constituency and is accessible. even congresswoman tammy baldwin, who lives in D.C. and madison, maintains a presence here!
So, kenosha/racine...come on down to beloit...it's growing !!!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by reefrunner9

"the hair on my rises" self edit ex post facto

All your base are belong to us.

[luebda92]

Originally Posted by midwest1

More Good News for downtown Beloit

Beloit Daily News

City OKs grocery deal
Posted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 - 11:43:37 am CST
By Krista Brown
Daily News staff writer

Incentives approved for city-owned downtown site
The project is being called a catalyst for economic growth in downtown Beloit.

What began years ago as plans for a parking lot has developed into a concept for a full-service grocery store, specializing in locally-grown, organic products to be located in the former Woolworth's Building at 328 State St.

Kathleen Braatz, executive director of the Downtown Beloit Association, discussed the leasing terms with the Beloit City Council Monday night, and expressed excitement over the privately-owned business, to be operated by area developers Rich Horbaczewski and Jackie Gennett, owners of Grass Is Greener Gardens in Monroe, and farmers market vendors.

*

“Our whole point in this is that we really wanted to seek out the highest use for this building because it's so uniquely located in the heart of downtown,” Braatz said. “We want to have this building and its use be a catalyst for retail in downtown, a viable business for itself and also for other businesses to benefit from whatever is situated there. It meets all of those objectives.”

The grocery will feature local and regionally-produced foods and products, including wine and beer and fresh food. It may also support a butcher, and offer prepared foods for lunch or take-out for day or evening meals.

Horbaczewski and Gennett, who sell lamb, chicken and eggs from their farm at the Beloit Farmers Market, have signed onto a six-year leasing term with intent to purchase the building within the first 30 months, said Braatz.

On Monday night the council unanimously approved the lease, which begins today.

The city has invested almost $675,000 in the building since acquiring it in 2003, including the cost and maintenance of the building. At the time it was purchased, the intent was to raze it to make room for a parking lot for the Kerry Ingredients headquarters. When that need diminished - Kerry is building a new complex along the interstate - the city began looking at other uses for the building, Braatz said.

Another $100,000 is being proposed to give to the grocery as a developer's incentive, to assist with build-out costs, but that money will not come from the city's general fund, and instead will come from the city's tax incremental financing district No. 5.

The leasing terms are on a scale, Braatz said. For the first 12-month period rent is free, then increases to $1,250 per month for the second 12 months, $2,500 for the third 12 months, $3,750 for the fourth 12 months, $5,000 for the fifth 12 months, while the last 12 months will be agreed upon prevailing market rates, or $5,500 per month.

Horbaczeswki and Gennett will also pay real estate taxes on the property, she said.

“We are absolutely thrilled about this,” Braatz said. “This is a culmination of years of work.”

Horbaczewski said he and Gennett are ready to hit the ground running.

“We have a vision in mind to bring local food to the area,” he said. “We have a small, yet loyal, customer base in the area already, and we want to expand on that.”

Braatz said she is hoping for a May opening of the store.

I just got a job at this beautiful store. I can't wait to work there!

[luebda92]

Originally Posted by midwest1

Beloit seems to be in a uch better position than Janesville. Beloit already has gone through hell when it lost its largest employer and has turned a corner.

Janesville has not yet lost GM.

Good call on GM!

[Rocky ILL]

Being from Rockford, I could not live in Beloit. I couldn't live nowhere else around here

[Drover]

Someone from Rockford too proud to live in Beloit. That's hilarious.

[Jean Full]

My husband and I are thinking about moving to the northeastern edges of Beloit. I am from Wisconsin originally - Menomonee Falls. Have lived around Dixon, Il. for 40 years. We are looking for a safe, pleasant, friendly area, that is affordable. Not asking alot! LOL. Would that area of Beloit be a good place to consider?

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by Drover

Someone from Rockford too proud to live in Beloit. That's hilarious.

.

That's Beloit's (pronounced Belwah, 'cause it's of French derivation) unofficial motto:

" Beloit. When Rockford just won't do."

All in fun, of course.

Beloit's a typical southern Wisconsin city, in my opinion.

[jlawrence01]

I visit Beloit several times a year for the past five years. I guess that I am missing "how bad" Beloit is. I just don't see a lot of blight or run-down areas or other items that would cause me a lot of concern.

There are only two things that i don't like about Beloit. First, retail is pretty limited with the closure of the Beloit Mall. Also, for a town that size with a college, it is surprising how few decent restaurants are in town. (I will admit that the few restaurants beat anything in Whitewater, but that is a different thread.)