where in belleville

[peace and happines]

I'm planning to move to Bellevile from southern Illinois. I hear that there are some bad areas. I'm trying to avoid the bad area and find the area with the best education system.Please no racist response. I don't care if the neighbor hoods are black or white. I just want a nice neighbor hood to raise my daughter.mushymushy no need to respond.

[Eastside]

peace and happines wrote:

I'm planning to move to Bellevile from southern Illinois. I hear that there are some bad areas. I'm trying to avoid the bad area and find the area with the best education system.Please no racist response. I don't care if the neighbor hoods are black or white. I just want a nice neighbor hood to raise my daughter.mushymushy no need to respond.

Hello "P&H", are you looking to buy or rent? If you are looking to buy (and it's a good time to) I would look in the 62221, 62208 or 62269 area code on realtor.com . You can get some pretty good deals in these areas and the schools are pretty good as well.

If you're looking to rent, I would use these area codes when checking out places as a point of reference. The best way to get a feel for the area is to drive around it, and check it out first hand. If you don't like the looks of it, you probably won't enjoy living there.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the negativity on Belleville, there's a lot of people with a lot of hatred on this board. You should be able to find a place in Belleville that is nice to live as well as raise a child. Don't forget to check Craig's list! Happy hunting!

[peace and happines]

Thanks i'm buying. i'll check out the are codes?Are they near Belleville East? that school was rated a 9/10.

[Eastside]

Yes, 62221 and 62208 are both Belleville East school district. 62269 is ofallon.

[MushyMushy]

Or you could try the outskirting towns surrounding Belleville. Nice little communities such as, Shiloh, Millstadt, Smithton, New Baden, Mascoutah. These areas are growing and are very nice communities. Taxes are a little high. But, well worth it. Crime rates are low compared to Belleville.

[user name]

Didn't she tell you she didn't want to hear from you. Did she ask about Millstadt, Smithtn, New Baden Mascoutah or to compare taxes.

Why would you make her take that drive. She wants Bell you dumb smass.

P&H, Eastside gave a good response.

mushymushy you don't have to imput yourself in evvvvvvvthing. Keep her responses plesent as she requested.

[MushyMushy]

user name wrote:

Didn't she tell you she didn't want to hear from you. Did she ask about Millstadt, Smithtn, New Baden Mascoutah or to compare taxes.
Why would you make her take that drive. She wants Bell you dumb smass.
P&H, Eastside gave a good response.
mushymushy you don't have to imput yourself in evvvvvvvthing. Keep her responses plesent as she requested.

Again, resorting to name calling? Funny. Since when did you feel the need to put yourself in the position of the TOPIX police? Seems that you can't resist attacking me. Looks like you are a little obsessed with my comments.

[user name]

I didn't call you a name you dumb smass. A name is a noun. I described you, that's an adj.

You call me obsessed..HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....

[wtf too]

user name wrote:

I didn't call you a name you dumb smass. A name is a noun. I described you, that's an adj.
You call me obsessed..HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....

After reading some topics here, it looks like you're stalking this mushy mushy person. yes you did call them names. Why are you so obsessed with them? The person that asked not to respond has no right to do that. MM did respond to show no disrespect to them. Why do you feel you have to jump on MM for it? Shouldn't that be the person that asked MM not to respond? I think MM was just trying to help.

[Lillys Star]

I am in the 62220 area and the elementary schools in district 118 are rated very high, and the high school is also new. There are a lot of great neighborhoods all around Belleville, I would drive around and get a feel for the area before deciding to stick to a particular zip code.

[fadingrose]

I have a big beautiful Victorian home for sale in the 62220 zip. East side high school. I became disabled from a car accident and we can no longer afford the taxes. I'd be happy to show it to you. Someone will get a real bargain on it. It is priced to sell. We are moving to Northern Arkansas. Husbands family there, beautiful there and the real estate and the taxes are affordable.

[peace and happines]

wtf too wrote:

<quoted text>After reading some topics here, it looks like you're stalking this mushy mushy person. yes you did call them names. Why are you so obsessed with them? The person that asked not to respond has no right to do that. MM did respond to show no disrespect to them. Why do you feel you have to jump on MM for it? Shouldn't that be the person that asked MM not to respond? I think MM was just trying to help.

I would appreciate it if you all could take the argument to another forum. i'm only concern with the areas in belleville.Thank you

[DoubleStandard]

The Orchards are nice and there are some newer subdivisions out that way. It is in the Belleville area. Children are bussed to Mascoutah Schools. Which I hear are pretty good. Not sure what taxes run out that way. Belleville schools have won many awards related to achedemics and also character. But, taxes in this area tend to run high if you are planning to buy a home.

[justme]

Depends on if you want a new or older home. We live near the fairgrounds and its a very mixed neighborhood. Good and bad, but for the most part good. You'll have the typical problems such as old electric service hardware and etc, but the old parts of Belleville City are pretty good. Also when you define the electric problem Ameren seriously hustles to get it repaired and taken care of. We had more of a problem with crime in the first house we owned ( fixer-upper to sell and move to this house we're in now) which was located in Lincolnshire than we do here. The schools are okay. I dont see how they can claim they are as good as they do as we have had the kids in other pub schools in other states and Belleville schools were pretty behind them academically. The schools are a bit rougher here than we had experienced elsewhere as well, but not what I'd call over the top. You have a nice selection of private schools here as well.
Belleville city taxes are low compared to other places we've been and the craziest thing is that next to a 200K home you can have apartments. LOL! We had never seen as many rentals (and some pretty slummy rentals) as we have here even in decent areas. We looked at quite a few homes and some you will find with a privacy fence because there is an apartment building/motel/duplex/multi-fa mily home directly behind or beside it. We'd never really seen that before moving here.

All in all, Belleville has a few issues and there IS a crime problem and there IS a racial problem.Tell me ONE place that has neither of these in some dose though. That racial problem is on both sides of the fence. We've had a few issues with blacks ourselves, but I wouldnt say its the godaweful hole some would like you to believe. The problems we've had with them are pretty bewildering... as they were unprovoked and always racial toward us. I've learned a few new racial terms that are used for whites or anyone they think might be white! lol! The first time my daughter and I were called "vampire crackers" while walking past that one rental.. just walking around the block.. we just busted out laughing as it was such an absurd thing to say! We've also had issues with trashball white renters as well however. ;) I'm thinking it isnt a real black-white thing.. but a "rental thing" where the problems come from here. Landlords aren't screening well and the properties are pretty bad sometimes. That attracts bad renters. The 2 problems we have had were out of renters ( and others in the neighborhood had been harassed and robbed as well) was one white trash family who apparently were jealous of others so they tore up others property and were generally trying to scam everyone they spoke to. We got "lucky" and moved in next to them. They got evicted after several years of BS so now we live in our NICE house next to an abandoned crappy looking rental that was foreclosed on. The black renters just verbally harass anyone that walks or drives down the street with racial terms or decide to block the street and stare you down. For what reason I have NO idea. The other black family here let their son run wild and pees in everyone's front yard or walks in their home without knocking. THATS a parenting thing, not a black or white thing as well! LOL! Then you have the rest of the neighbors ( both black and white) that are quiet, keep their homes very nice, and its quiet here.

So we have learned, you take the good with the bad here in Belleville and you can make of it what you want. You can wallow in hatred and focus on the bad.. or you can take whats good and run with it. We did the latter and are happy here.. even though sometimes I have to squint to avoid looking at the abandoned rentals hip high weeds! LOL!!

[peace and happines]

Thanks for the information.What i think i'm going to do is make a trip up there for a week and ride around the neighborhoods while it is hot.i will get the feel of the neighborhood. I just refuse to put my daughter in a unsafe environment and i want her to have the best education i can provide for her. The information about the school systems was especially helpful.I know racism is out there black and white but i'm going to try not to expose my daughter to it . If you and your daughter can not walk down the street without being called racial names,this is not good.But just as you said you have to take the good with the bad. thanks just me

[Happy Camper]

P & H: I think that's a great idea with you taking the time to see B'ville for yourself. I was born and lived here all of my life. It's not the same city as it was for me as a child. But my girls and I can walk down the street without problems. We live in the downtown historical district and we have a good neighborhood. People here have to follow 2 sets of guildlines. One is the city and the other is the historical district and the rift-raft can't handle that. Although I do not let me girls (12 & 8) ride there bikes or walk to the public library. Atleast not without me. It's just not safe for them and as I tell them, "I can't replace you". I just now started to let them ride their bikes around the block and it still worries me. Guess I'm just over protective. FYI, the downtown historical district is in the East H.S. district. Good luck!

[peace and happines]

Happy Camper wrote:

P & H: I think that's a great idea with you taking the time to see B'ville for yourself. I was born and lived here all of my life. It's not the same city as it was for me as a child. But my girls and I can walk down the street without problems. We live in the downtown historical district and we have a good neighborhood. People here have to follow 2 sets of guildlines. One is the city and the other is the historical district and the rift-raft can't handle that. Although I do not let me girls (12 & 8) ride there bikes or walk to the public library. Atleast not without me. It's just not safe for them and as I tell them, "I can't replace you". I just now started to let them ride their bikes around the block and it still worries me. Guess I'm just over protective. FYI, the downtown historical district is in the East H.S. district. Good luck!

Ok let me ask a question.Houses in belleville are not as expensive as the houses in fairview heights.I could afford to live in fairview heights but most of the newer housee are in belleville and i figure if i can pay a smaller mortgage why not in belleville.I don't want to live in an area where my daughter can not go out to play and i don't want to worry about crosses being burned on my front yard. Sooo my question belleville or fairview heights?

[DoubleStandard]

I don't think you have to worry about crosses being burned in your front yard in these areas. There were a few intances of that happening in the past. Turned out it was just a bunch of punk kids thinking it would be funny. I believe they were caught if I'm not mistaken. I think the housing prices are comparable with both Fairview and Belleville. What you want to look at is the school performances in those areas for your child. I know Belleville is district 118. You could do a search. I'm not sure what the district is for Fairview. Fairview is a little congested with all the shopping malls and stores. Also, in this area is O'Fallon, IL. It blends into Fairview. They supposedly have a very high rating school district. You could search housing prices for this area. And, it'l like 5 minutes away from Fairview and about 10 from Belleville. I go there a lot. It's a very nice community.

[fadingrose]

I also live in the Historic district on the east side and we are selling our big brick 3 story Victorian at a bargain price. I lost my job of 19 years and we are forced to sell (FSBO). We have a great neighborhood. Everyone takes pride in their homes. We had 1 problem in the 4 years we were here also with a rental a few doors down. It was mostly noise and they were evicted pretty fast. The couple behind us have been here since 1967 and our next door neighbor bought his house in 1962. They watch our place, we watch theirs and we all stick together. I will miss them! The guy who owns the rental house has been working on it all summer and I have to say it is looking great.

Metro Link is close by and the folks that walk by the house while I was out planting flowers each spring or watering have, for the most part been friendly, black and white.