La Salle or Peru

[NewNew1]

I just moved to Illinois from Pennslyvania and am looking for housing. What areas are known for drugs so I can avoid them?

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by NewNew1

I just moved to Illinois from Pennslyvania and am looking for housing. What areas are known for drugs so I can avoid them?

Where in Illinois did you move to? I'm assuming you're along the Illinois River near La Salle or Peru?

[MongooseHugger]

Originally Posted by kurama93

Really what is wrong with LaSalle?

I know I did not have the best of experiences, more with bullying and other school problems, at Lincoln Jr. High, and I know it seems that they had more than I thought normal in fights, bullying, etc.

As for the town, it's mostly fine. Was told that being around the housing area isn't the best, but I don't think you'll get shot there or anything. Another part that seems worn down is the downtown, particularly on the east side. LP Township High School is good though. It's better than Hall in Spring Valley, which doesn't have the best reputation. Lincoln Jr. High is the least, shall we say, up to date, though it does have AC. (We did have another elementary or something but that was many years ago and now I think it's abandoned (and kinda of being run down and too near the housing anyway.) Lincoln hasn't really had major updates that I know of. Northwest has had several, the first time it was when they added K-2 because the old Jackson School was getting a bit worn to be used for schooling. LP has been a bit old too (doesn't have AC in parts of it), but lately they had some kind of referendum or something to raise funds to update it.

What annoys me about the area in general is that most of the jobs being posted around here seem to be RNs, CDL, fast food, retail, etc, at least, that is what seems to go to the top of Indeed. Maybe there are others but I haven't searched for them properly. However, if you have a STEM degree and it's not in science (they do have Cherus Chemical here, so that could have if you have a science degree), but if you have an IT degree, you're kinda gonna be hard pressed to find anything to use it.

[MongooseHugger]

Originally Posted by missyp41289

I have lived in Peru all my life (minus the past year and a half I've been away from school) and if going between LaSalle and Peru, I would definitely choose to stay in Peru. The elementary schools are much better than LaSalle's. I went through Peru's grade schools, though most of my teachers have retired since I have been in school, I have worked with many of the teachers recently, as I am going to school to become a teacher, and they are all amazing teachers. The high school brings LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, Tonica, Dimmick, Lostant, and Utica (it's not as many kids as it sounds, LaSalle and Peru are the only schools that have the possibility of graduating over 100 students from 8th grade), but (for some sports) they have a no cut policy. It's right on the edge of LaSalle and Peru and I loved that school. There also is St. Bede in Peru. It's the only catholic school in the area. As far as safety in Lasalle, to be honest, I do not feel safe being in so me parts of the town too late at night. The only good place to be in LaSalle is north of Shooting Park Road. I grew up south of Rt. 6 in Peru, and I love it. There are a few homes by me that I could definitely do without but I feel safe walking outside and down the street at 1:00 am to go to my neighbor's house if they need anything. During the summer, there are recreation programs that are offered to all of the area schools that take place at Washington Park in Peru. The main company in Peru for gas and stuff is Ameren (sp) but since I still technically live with my parents and won't have my own place for another year back home, I don't know much about that stuff. The stores are great, the Wal-Mart is open 24-7 as well as the grocery store Hy-Vee which is probably the best grocery store in the area (but I'm bias because I've worked there for 6 years). I have relatives that live in Princeton and they do not like it that much, but since they do have kids in the schools they don't want to pull them out of the schools to throw them in with kids they don't know. That's about all I can think of for now, if you have any other questions, I'll keep checking back to see if I can answer them! Hope this helps

Shooting Park Road is in Peru. I think you mean 11th Street. I do agree that the downtown seems less pleasant the further south you go. However, I also think that, generally, though I could be wrong, that it's better on the west side of Joliet St. than the east side.

The north side is ok, though there are some poorer sections, such as the housing around the now-abandoned old Matthesen school.

Hy-vee was good, though my parents didn't like it as much after the remodeling and also think it's too expensive now. (They used to shop there a lot.)