Peoria

With tons of shopping and dining options, large parks full of opportunities for nature and stargazing, and an annual fair that draws in tens of thousands of people each year, North Peoria is an exciting place to live for both modest and upscale homebuyers.<br><br>North Peoria is a highly commercialized area full of big shopping centers with national retailers, grocery stores and a wide range of chain and local restaurants. Locals can also shop from more than 70 stores at Northwoods Mall and enjoy a meal in the food court. Mark Monge, Realtor with Jim Maloof Realty, who was born and raised in the city, says, “There are a ton of great restaurants and breweries in North Peoria. Heritage Square is a popular spot to hang out with live music during warmer months.” Portillo’s is another local favorite, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, featuring patio dining and a drive-thru. For quick Mexican food, locals head to Perico’s Fast Tacos. Meanwhile, The 50s Diner in the Schnucks Crossroads Center offers a nostalgic feel with its mid-century diner décor, American grub and milkshakes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for dining options, as residents can easily find a restaurant to satisfy just about any craving.<br><br>The neighborhood features primarily single-family homes in leafy subdivisions. Homebuyers can choose anything from tiny bungalows to stunning mansions and everything in between. “Average home prices are always low,” says Monge. “You’ll find anything you want for half as much as it would be anywhere else.” A small bungalow with around 1,000 square feet of living space sells for around $100,000 to $115,000. Bigger ranch-style and split-level homes from the mid-1900s go for about $125,000 to $200,000. Newer Craftsman-style homes in well-maintained housing developments range from $250,000 to $650,000, with sizes ranging anywhere from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet. The neighborhood also has beautiful custom-built homes starting at $700,000 for a luxury ranch-style and up to $2 million for a 9,000-square-foot mansion on a hill overlooking an allure of woods and the nearby Illinois River.<br><br>Expo Gardens is home to one of the biggest events of the year – The Heart of Illinois Fair. Tens of thousands of people come every summer for the five-day spectacle full of carnival rides, motorsports, live entertainment and more. The fairgrounds are also used for other events throughout the year, such as car shows and a monthly flea market.<br><br>Nature enthusiasts can visit Forest Park Nature Center, a 500-acre preserve with miles of wooded trails with sites of deer and other wildlife. Visitors can also enjoy the natural history museum and bird observatory. Detweiller Park is another popular spot to get some fresh air with a playground and sports fields for kids, along with a beach volleyball court. The park expands across North Galene Road, where locals can walk past the trees to the banks of the river to soak in the views. Boaters can launch from the boat ramp to explore the water. The park is also home to River City Raceway, a dirt track for remote-control car enthusiasts. Over at Donovan Park, residents enjoy walking through the wide-open fields full of trees. During snowy winters, those open fields and trails are a hot spot for cross-country skiers. And all year, stargazers can visit the park’s Northmoor Observatory to view the wonders of space. After a close look at the planets, Cyd’s in the Park is right there for a relaxing dining experience under the string-lit patio.<br><br>Locals typically drive to all the stores, restaurants and parks, most of which are located on busy main roads. With easy access to Interstate 74, drivers can make their way to Downtown Peoria, about six miles south.<br><br>Four kindergarten through fourth-grade schools serve the community, including Kellar Primary School, which receives a B from Niche. Students go on to C-plus-graded Charles A. Lindbergh Middle before finishing their degrees at Richwoods High, which boasts an A grade and offers the International Baccalaureate program.<br><br>Carle Health Proctor Hospital gives residents convenient access to medical care, including anything from family medicine to emergency room visits.

At the center of Peoria, this community stretches along the Illinois River, providing parks, a museum, a zoo and a host of dining options, all in view of the waterfront. The trendy restaurants and markets popping up on the city’s revitalized riverfront attract homebuyers downtown, as do nearby hospitals, says Mary Davis, a broker with Gallery Homes Real Estate. OSF Healthcare and UnityPoint Health, two of the Peoria area’s three biggest employers, operate medical complexes in the neighborhood. “For my clients I help in that area, it’s usually desirable because it’s so close to the medical community,” Davis says. “People are drawn to that.” Downtown Peoria provides the amenities of a city center with its vibrant culture and array of dining options while offering the ample outdoor recreation of a more suburban community. RiverFront Park is a vast gathering spot and green space along the Illinois River, offering a playground, a farmers market, festival grounds, picnic tables and a network of pathways to explore. This wide open, lush and tree-dotted space provides views of the Illinois River Bridge as it connects the community with East Peoria. When the park isn’t a rest and relaxation hub, it’s alive with activity. It’s where Peoria residents celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in March, toast beers for Oktoberfest, and enjoy Latin American music and food during summertime’s Fiesta en el Rio. Right next door is the Peoria Riverfront Museum, hosting a curated collection of art, history and science exhibits, as well as frequent events. Kids can set out on a Science Treasure Hunt, while adults can taste charcuterie in the planetarium during Wine & Cheese Under the Stars nights. Sports fans only need to walk a few blocks north of the river to Dozer Park to catch the Peoria Chiefs, a minor-league baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, take on such Midwest League teams as the Lansing Lugnuts and the Beloit Sky Carp. Just north of RiverFront Park is the Peoria Zoo at Glen Oak Park, home to more than 100 species from around the world. Stretching over a mile along the shore is Downtown Peoria’s RiverFront District, featuring an array of dining options from hometown bars to fine dining. For a meal on the water, The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern serves casual pub fare inside a former 1890s railroad depot. For a more upscale dining experience, Jim's Steak House on Southwest Jefferson Avenue offers high-end surf and turf with a classy candle-lit ambiance. For apparel, Rambler is one of several boutiques in and around the RiverFront District. For groceries, Haddad's West Peoria Market is located just 1.5 miles west of the neighborhood. In the heart of Downtown Peoria, there are several condo buildings within five blocks of either Main Street or the Illinois River. The most prominent are the Twin Towers, tied for the tallest buildings in Peoria at 308 feet each. Prices range from $100,000 to the mid $200,000s. The centralized location is desirable due to the proximity to the riverfront and the hospitals, but units don’t stay on the market long due to intense competition, Davis says. Within the east and west peripherals of Downtown Peoria, bungalows and minimal traditional homes line the cobbled and paved streets. Mature trees dot the landscape, covering the residential area in a canopy of colorful foliage in the fall. Prices drop with distance from the city center, as homes in these subdivisions tend to go for $30,000 to $100,000. The lower price tags reflect the sizes of the homes, often smaller than 1,500 square feet, and their varying renovation needs. Peoria School District No. 150 serves the residents of Downtown Peoria. From K to grade 8, students can attend Lincoln School, which received a C-minus from Niche. Lincoln follows the Advancement Via Individual Determination system, teaching methods and curriculum designed to prepare students for college, technical school or their careers. Students can continue their education at Peoria High School, which scored a C on Niche. For those pursuing higher education, Bradley University is a private university in the heart of Downtown Peoria. Downtown Peoria offers a fixed-route bus service through CityLink. For long-distance travel, General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport is just 6 miles west of the neighborhood. Downtown Peoria has a CAP index score of 8, higher than the average U.S. score of 4. The city of Peoria is in the process of developing different master plans that would bring athletic facilities, kayak launches, boardwalks and more to the riverfront. Davis says additional homes are likely to follow. “There’s more to offer downtown than a lot of people think. I think you’ll see it blossom.”

As the former "Whiskey Capital of the World" before the Prohibition, Peoria was home to whiskey barons and other wealthy residents who settled down in what are now historic mansions in West Bluff. But along with these estates are more modest homes, making West Bluff a neighborhood that can fit the financial needs of just about any homebuyer. "It's a very eclectic group of people," says Rhonda Milburn, Realtor with Keller Williams Premier Realty, who has serviced West Bluff for more than 20 years. "You have artists, professors, physicians and everything in between. It's a very cohesive neighborhood." Bradley University brings a college-town atmosphere to the local businesses on Main Street, while other areas feel more suburban with nearby shopping centers. Mansions in the historic district date back to the mid-1800s, featuring eloquent architectural styles, including Second Empires, English Tudors, colonial-inspired designs and many more that beautify the neighborhood. "They don't build houses like this anymore – the detailing and the woodwork," says Milburn. "Some even have ballrooms on the third floor. A client of mine once said you can live like kings and queens here, and I couldn't agree more." Ranging from around $300,000 to $500,000, many of these stunning estates are surrounded by plentiful mature trees and set far back from their long front yards with circular driveways that add a majestic feeling to each property. Residents can also enjoy a simpler lifestyle in one of the neighborhood's many bungalows or Cape Cods. Some charming English-style cottages can be found scattered around the neighborhood as well. With a few feet between neighbors, these single-family homes sell for around $75,000 to $150,000. In the northern section of the neighborhood, locals can shop and dine around one big shopping center, which has a Walmart, Hobby Lobby and ALDI. While there are several national chain restaurants, residents can choose from many local establishments for various dining experiences. Connected offers an intimate, Italian-American fine-dining atmosphere. Meanwhile, Childers Eatery is a more casual spot for brunch and Big JJ's Fish & Chicken serves up delicious comfort foods in a small shop. On the south side of West Bluff near Bradley University, Main Street is a pedestrian-friendly area lined with more local shops and restaurants. College students and residents frequent One World, a staple corner restaurant famous for its hummus. Shoppers can also head to small retailers like Primitiques to find cute home décor created by local artisans and Lit. on Fire Books, a quaint bookshop with cozy couches and open mic sessions. Elementary students may attend one of several schools, including Whittier Primary, which receives a C-plus grade from Niche. Harold B. Dawson Junior Middle and Sterling Middle, both of which get a C-minus grade, feed into C-graded Peoria High, ranked the third-most diverse high school in the Peoria area. Students seeking post-secondary education can stay home in West Bluff by attending Bradley University, a private institution with more than 100 undergraduate and 30-plus graduate programs. Those looking for fresh air typically head to Glen Oak Park, a large green space with open grassy fields and tree-lined walkways used for relaxing strolls. The former playground has been demolished, but a new, all-accessible playground is under construction so every child can have a place to play. The park is also home to The Peoria PlayHouse, where children can learn and play in the interactive museum. Kids and adults alike have fun watching the animals at Peoria Zoo, another fun feature of Glen Oak Park. Milburn, who's a board member of the Peoria Zoological Society, says, "It's a very community-involved zoo. We have all sorts of events like Howl-Zoo-Ween during fall for kids and Zootini, a martini-tasting event for adults. The community also gets to name the baby animals after they're born." The fun continues at the park's amphitheater, which hosts annual community events, including the highly anticipated fireworks show every third of July. CityLink offers public transportation with bus stops along all the main roads. Depending on where locals live, the drive to downtown can be less than a mile or up to four miles. Locals also have easy access to Interstate 74, which leads directly to all the excitement of downtown and the riverfront.