Best metro areas outside of Chicago? (Illinois)? *DEBATE* (Rockford, Peoria: upper-class, apartments)

[FoxValleyTrotter]

Here is a fun and rather controversial topic for Illinois natives (or people that just know about the state). Outside of Chicagoland, there are many metro areas that are very distinct and culturally distant from Chicago. Only around 3 million people live outside of the Chicagoland Area and 9 million live inside it. These metro areas outside of Chicago include places like Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Greater St. Louis Area, etc.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

For metros where the core city is in Illinois, I'd say Peoria. As a manufacturing city on the river, it has a significant immigration history, including a large Lebanese community (with many Lebanese restaurants and markets across the city) and a still-operating German bakery (Trefzger's) dating back to the 1880s. Bradley University --- the alma mater of most local politicians --- gives the city somewhat of a college-town feel and the area around it is one of the city's main nightlife neighborhoods, and even has an LGBTQ+ bookstore.

The city isn't flat like the Illinois stereotype, but has a lot of hills and some beautiful historic neighborhoods situated on them. Grandview Drive, situated on the bluffs overlooking the Illinois River, was described by Teddy Roosevelt in 1910 as "the world's most beautiful drive". I consider it one of the most overlooked Midwestern cities.

[X-posted from other thread]

[BigOlBear7]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

For metros where the core city is in Illinois, I'd say Peoria. As a manufacturing city on the river, it has a significant immigration history, including a large Lebanese community (with many Lebanese restaurants and markets across the city) and a still-operating German bakery (Trefzger's) dating back to the 1880s. Bradley University --- the alma mater of most local politicians --- gives the city somewhat of a college-town feel and the area around it is one of the city's main nightlife neighborhoods, and even has an LGBTQ+ bookstore.

The city isn't flat like the Illinois stereotype, but has a lot of hills and some beautiful historic neighborhoods situated on them. Grandview Drive, situated on the bluffs overlooking the Illinois River, was described by Teddy Roosevelt in 1910 as "the world's most beautiful drive". I consider it one of the most overlooked Midwestern cities.

[X-posted from other thread]

A low life factory town, home of Caterpillar. Mean spirited and ignorant people abound. Lousy weather and a corrupt City Gov. Bradley U. kind of a joke for a "university". Little to now real culture. From the list of the OP, try Champaign or St. Louis first.

[FoxValleyTrotter]

Originally Posted by BigOlBear7

A low life factory town, home of Caterpillar. Mean spirited and ignorant people abound. Lousy weather and a corrupt City Gov. Bradley U. kind of a joke for a "university". Little to now real culture. From the list of the OP, try Champaign or St. Louis first.

Yeah, Peoria is a work of progress still as much of the town is not very well. Even Rockford, IL has better culture than Peoria now. Rockford is making a comeback but the west side still needs more improvements. The area also has historically been Illinois's second-largest metro so there are many suburbs like Belvidere, Loves Park, Rockton, Roscoe, Machanseny Park, Pecatonica, etc. Peoria doesn't really have any notable suburbs at all. Rockford also is home to one of the best medical schools in the U.S. if not the world (University of Illinois-Rockford Medical Center). There is also a community college and a private university that isn't bad at all. There is a rich history and the historic districts are not in shambles like Peoria's (except for some neighborhoods on the west side of course). There is also plenty of new development in town and the surrounding suburbs. There are a few upper-class neighborhoods and suburbs as well. The immigration history is probably richer than Peoria's because there are many Latinx, African, Swedish, Italian, Samoan, (and more) cultures that immigrate to the city and set up shop.

Champaign has some crime and poverty but that's only because it's a major college town. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is in the top 100 best colleges in the world. There are 3 vibrant downtown cores; Campustown, downtown Champaign and downtown Urbana. There are many indoor and outdoor shopping malls and entertainment/nightlife destinations. The university was named the #1 party university in the world so that's a major reason the town(s) are so much fun to visit. The town(s) are also very technological so the city is a major tech hub. There are a few high-rise buildings and there are more skyscrapers soon to come. I personally love tech hubs and this area was named one of the best tech-towns in the Midwest, let alone the United States. This city is also home to international students and residents too.

Peoria sometimes just feels so empty to me even though it has the most impressive skyline outside of Chicago which is weird because you'd expect it to be dense. Champaign-Urbana has the second most impressive skyline outside of Chicago and it's soon to be the best along with Rockford which is getting a few more buildings as well.

[Hiruko]

Champaign and Urbana are horrible. I can't believe how people sing their praises when they really fall far short of where they should be given the stature of the major institution that calls it home and a population of more than 100k.

[FoxValleyTrotter]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

Champaign and Urbana are horrible. I can't believe how people sing their praises when they really fall far short of where they should be given the stature of the major institution that calls it home and a population of more than 100k.

I know right! Campustown gets all the buzz while the core downtowns of Champaign and Urbana are still not getting that much new development. It's almost as if Campustown is another separate town itself which is sad. That institution is really major and the only place people want to visit there is the campus area. They even made a whole TV show about Campustown and Champaign-Urbana isn't really mentioned or shown at all other than it being referenced to the college name itself. A lot of people are moving to Campustown and the other neighborhoods are really nice with less crime but over-shadowed; mainly because they are very family-oriented.

[madpaddy]

Originally Posted by FoxValleyTrotter

I know right! Campustown gets all the buzz while the core downtowns of Champaign and Urbana are still not getting that much new development. It's almost as if Campustown is another separate town itself which is sad. That institution is really major and the only place people want to visit there is the campus area. They even made a whole TV show about Campustown and Champaign-Urbana isn't really mentioned or shown at all other than it being referenced to the college name itself. A lot of people are moving to Campustown and the other neighborhoods are really nice with less crime but over-shadowed; mainly because they are very family-oriented.

What? Downtown Champaign has seen significant and continuous development in the last 2 decades, with several projects still process. If it looks like there's been more development near "Campustown," it's largely high-rise apartment buildings for wealthy international students replacing older housing units.

[FoxValleyTrotter]

Originally Posted by madpaddy

What? Downtown Champaign has seen significant and continuous development in the last 2 decades, with several projects still process. If it looks like there's been more development near "Campustown," it's largely high-rise apartment buildings for wealthy international students replacing older housing units.

Oops, I forgot to mention the neighborhood named midtown and that's my fault. It's bordering downtown Champaign and there is a lot of new development there (not just college stuff) a lot of the high-rises or mid-rises in campus-town are mixed-used apartments for college students and normal everyday people. However, on the bottom of these buildings are usually stores and entertainment like any other city.

An example of this is one of the high-rises that serves mixed-uses and has a target in campus town. Midtown is not as well known as campus town but I'm sure it will soon get recognition. The boundaries of downtown Champaign can't get much new development unless a new building or such replaces an old one because there is no room to grow because downtown champaign is too built-up already.

Midtown was a crumbling neighborhood but the city is adding some new high-rises and renovating the older buildings to help the struggling neighborhood. There is plenty of space to grow and in a few years, midtown will connect downtown Champaign and campus town.

[maclock]

Originally Posted by FoxValleyTrotter

Latinx

Bwahaha!

[noid_1985]

Quad Cities?