A community with vast room for improvement
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8/29/2007
Downtown features a huge new prison as a response to having the state's highest crime and unemployment rates. Major gang problem and extensive drug dealing that local officials seem unable to get a handle on. Premier live theater went bankrupt. Pinnacles of higher education are a junior college and a private college with severe financial problems. Strong park system and bike paths, but severe flooding problems in some parts of the city, parts of which were suggested for evacuation due to fears that a dam would fail and innudate a swath of the city during recent heavy flooding. Large number of vacant former factory space would be suitable for converstion to apartments. Good job opportunities for fork lift operators, etc., in the warehouse and materials handling industries plus work in telephone call centers. Real estate market is essentially stagnant with price increases below the rate of inflation for the past 10 years or more. Growth of Chicago will eventually impact the local economy as the area becomes a bedroom community for commuting to Chicago area about 80 miles away. Some work on developing commuter rail, which will hasten the suburbanization process. Also, work underway to develop more air traffic at local airport on the south edge of the city, whose landing flight path extends over much of the city. Decaying areas on the southwest side should be suitable for gentrification if the proposed commuter rail system goes into that area. Great potential for improvement if the right developments click into place. Already is developing some reputation as a retirement community due to extremely low living and housing costs plus three hospitals in the area.
Ben | Rockford, IL