Children play in the Edwardsville Children’s Museum Discovery Garden
(Photo courtesy of Edwardsville Children’s Museum)

Clinton, Monroe counties lead real estate sales uptick

Overall, Metro East real estate sales continued to trend upward during August, according to monthly reports from the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors (GGAR) and Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI).

“The Metro-East is one of only three areas in Illinois to have an increase in average home prices over last month, with our average home price being $142,500. That’s great news for sellers in our area as well as our thriving community” says Judy Ross, president of the RASI.

Median home prices have started to level-off across most of Illinois, but the median home price in Metro East increased 5.6 percent in August, compared with the same month last year, according to the trade group, Illinois Realtors.

But, while home prices appeared to increase across most of Metro East — and sales volume increases were reported in most counties — the data suggests the greatest sales increases were found in southern and western portions of the region.

In Bond County, 81 properties have been sold this year, compared with 82 last year; at a median price of $122,895 — compared with $104,431 during the same period last year, according to the GGAR.

RASI agents similarly report sales were closed on 13 residential units in Bond County during August; compared with 15 a year earlier. RASI reports the median sale price for a Bond County residence in August was $147,808; compared with $125,360 during the same month last years.

However, Clinton County is experiencing a veritable real estate boom; with a 37.29 percent year-over-year increase in homes sales during August. Residential real estate sales in Clinton County are 28.92 percent year-to-date, according to the RASI. Home prices in Clinton County increased by 8.15 percent.

In Jersey County, real estate sales are up 4.32 percent this year, according to the RASI. The GGAR reports 139 properties have been sold this year, compared with 130 during the same nine months of last year.

The median price for Jersey County real estate sold during the first nine months of this year was $130,021; compared with $125,164 during the same period last year, according to the GGAR. Compared to August last year, almost every county in the Metro East saw more homes being sold.

In Jersey County, 16 units were sold in Jersey County compared with 26 during the same month last year, at a median price of $107,155, compared with $147,010 a year earlier.

Home sales in Macoupin county increased by 24 percent, year-over-year in August, according to RASI.

In Madison County, sales increased by 16.86 percent year-over-year in August, RASI member realtors report. Some 355 residential units were sold in the county during August; compared with 305 during the same month a year earlier, according GGAR.

Madison County home prices rose 4.50 percent compared to August 2017, according to the RASI. The average unit sold for $153,376; up from $145,689 during the same month last year, the GGAR says.

Since the start of the year, Madison County real estate sales have increased 2.78 percent, according to RASI. Year to date, 2,315 properties have been sold by GGAR realtors in Madison County, compared with 2,300 last during the first nine months of last year.

Over the first nine months of the year, Madison County properties have sold for a median of $149,015, compared with $146,164 during the same period last year.

Monroe County saw a 10.75 percent increase in home purchases, year over year, during August; with a 10.02 percent increase in real estate sales year-to-date, according to the RASI. It also saw the greatest increase in home prices of any Metro East county during August — up 18.16 percent compared with the same month last year.

Montgomery County saw a 4.26 percent increase in August, compared with the same month last year, according to the RASI. No further data was provided by the organization.

Residential real estate sales in Randolph County rose by 8 percent in August, compared with the same month last year, according to the RASI.

Home sales volume in St. Clair County rose 2.54 percent during August, compared with a year earlier. Year to date, home sales are up 4.62 percent in the county, according to RASI.

The GGAR represents realtors in Bond, Calhoun, Fayette, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison and Montgomery counties.

The RASI represents real estate agents in Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Randolph and St. Clair counties.

Abandoned school to be demolition

The old George Rogers Clark Junior High School building — a long-standing eyesore in East St. Louis — is finally slated for demolition, according to East St. Louis Mayor Emeka Jackson.

St. Clair County officials have agreed to assist the city in arranging demotion of the building at 3310 State Street, the mayor announced during an Oct. 11 outdoor press conference at the site. “It is always great to see plans and discussions come to fruition. We have been dialoguing with the county for a while in order to get this building cleared, and thankfully it is about to happen,” Mayor Jackson-Hicks said.

Complicating the demolition:  asbestos contamination, which will require special precautions to protect workers and the area environment.  Crews will utilize a US EPA-developed “wet” demolition process, under which the building will be soaked with a specially treated water and then torn down.  

Meanwhile, air, water and soil in the area will be monitored for contamination.

East St. Louis School District 189 vacated the Clark Junior High building when it opened its Mason-Clark Middle School, 5510 State Street.  The vacant school suffered extensive fire damage in 2009.

East St. Louis business development meeting set

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s (SIUE) Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East and the Greater East Saint Louis Business Development Association are holding a joint meeting for area business people and government officials, Friday, Oct. 26. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at SIUE’s East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, Building D, in Multipurpose Rooms 1006-1008.

Open to all Metro East area business owners, the meeting will focus on a variety of small business growth and development issues in Illinois including:

● Small business growth and development opportunities in East St. Louis,

● Local, state and federal small business development resources, and

● Metro-East’s federally designated Opportunity Zones.

For information, contact Jo Ann Di Maggio May at gdimagg@siue.edu. Register online at https://conta.cc/2MSitep.

Saxophonist praised for innovation in music

Jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Hamiet Bluiett was praised for music innovation during memorial services, Oct. 12, at Brooklyn’s Lovejoy Baptist Church.

Though accomplished on several reed instruments, Blueitt became best known for his use of the baritone sax, traditionally relegated to bass lines and low-range harmonies, as a featured instrument for melodies and improvisations.

After coming to prominence with the Charles Mingus Quintet, Bluiett co-founded the free-jazz World Saxophone Quartet and recorded more than 50 albums.

He performed around the world with jazz artists such as Gil Evans and Max Roach, African percussionist Babatunde Olatunji, and popular music artists including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. He was active in music education throughout his life.

Born in Brooklyn, Bluiett first performed during his school years in the village’s then-thriving nightclubs, graduated from Lovejoy High School in 1957, and studied at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

He moved back to Brooklyn in 2002 but continued to perform across the nation. He died, Oct. 4, at age 78; following a period of declining health.

Children’s Museum reopens with new exhibits

The Edwardsville Children’s Museum, 22 Holyoake Road, marked its grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting, Oct. 13; following a month-long renovation. Among new or updated, interactive exhibits:

— A “makerspace,” with materials and facilities – including a wind tunnel – children can use to conceive and built items;

— An outdoor “Discovery Garden” nature classroom and play area;

—An art studio;

—A two-story, mock veterinary clinic and pet-grooming salon – sponsored by Hawthorne Animal Hospital;

—A mock baby nursery, modeled after that of Anderson Hospital; and

—Displays explaining the historical significance of the 1985 school building, housing the museum and the surrounding Leclaire area are sponsored by the Friends of Leclaire.

The nursery exhibit also offers a family resource area with advice on parenting or health issues.

Proceeds from a coin drop in the veterinary exhibit go to the Hawthorne Animal Hospital’s Angel Fund for care of retired service animals.

Fall hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  Admission: $7/person, ages one and over.

–Metro East Area News Briefs–