Is the North Shore still regarded prestigious? (Chicago, Aurora: estate, mcmansions)

[Joe107]

Originally Posted by F355

I used to live in Lincolnshire waaaaaaay back in the day in the early to mid '90's. Back then the north shore was the place to be. Has it lost it's grandeur, or it is still the most prime location in Chicago.

It's still most expensive place in the area, but losing ground rapidly to Dupage as seen below.






Here is how the home prices have changed (data from Natl assoc of Realtors, posted in Chicago Magizine, Oct )


% Change in sale price since 1994


North Suburbs
Barrington 94.52%
Buffalo Grove 107.91%
Lake Forest 126.86%
Lake Zurich 100.46%
Libertyville 135.91%
Long Grove 91.23%
Wilmette 158.73%
Winnetka 155.65%
Lincolnshire 95.02%


Dupage
Burr Ridge 156.77%
Clarendon Hills 302.24%
Downers Grove 167.76%
Elmhurst 216.41%
Glen Ellyn 161.46%
Hinsdale 220.56%
Itasca 169.72%
Western Springs 149.38%

[Joe107]

Reasoning behind higher appreciation rates in Dupage vs. North Suburbs could be
1. North Side of City is making commutes from North Shore towns to Loop absolutely horrendous
2. More teardowns possible in DuPage

[reppin_the_847]

Well, a Wilmette or east Evanston commute to Chicago via Sheridan Road / Lake Shore Drive is still more reliable and less traffic ridden than commuting from Chicago to Naperville roundtrip. Not to mention a lot less distance.

Of course it's a different story if you have to commute roundtrip to Chicago all the way from say, Lake Bluff (also a North Shore town, but way further north).

Good thing there is Metra throughout the North Shore, and a very reliable, consistent 30-35 minute ride from the Wilmette / Evanston areas. From Naperville, you only get that kind of travel time if your lucky to catch the rush hour Metra express train.

I agree that north side traffic can get pretty bad on the Edens / Kennedy 90 / 94 into the Loop during rush hour times. If you can take Lake Shore Drive instead (via Sheridan), you can usually avoid that mess. 90 / 94 (Kennedy) even at its worst doesn't seem as bad as 290 (Eisenhower) at its worst, lol.

Originally Posted by Joe107

Reasoning behind higher appreciation rates in Dupage vs. North Suburbs could be
1. North Side of City is making commutes from North Shore towns to Loop absolutely horrendous
2. More teardowns possible in DuPage

[Chinolala]

If the topic is where are Chicago's most prestigious suburbs located, in my opinion, they're in the North Shore.

[trailerguy]

Definitely yes. The grand old suburbs like Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff and of course, the grand-dame of them all, Lake Forest, are just as elegant and charming as ever, and even more popular with the people with the bucks. Pretty much the whole lake shore north of Wilmette through Lake Bluff is millionaire heaven. Property values are starting to look like California.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by trailerguy

Definitely yes. The grand old suburbs like Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff and of course, the grand-dame of them all, Lake Forest, are just as elegant and charming as ever, and even more popular with the people with the bucks. Pretty much the whole lake shore north of Wilmette through Lake Bluff is millionaire heaven. Property values are starting to look like California.

Well said. My point exactly! Cities like Naperville still have that soccer-mom, track housing aspect that while attractive to the younger, white collar crowd, still can't hold a candle to the very real prestige of the towns that you mentioned. Sure, maybe Wheaton has some neighborhoods that are in comparision to that of Lake Bluff, but overall, they are still not nearly as elegant or hold the same quality of craftmanship that most of the North Shore towns do, period. Saying that the west burbs are more prestgious, is like saying that towns similar to Naperville, like Bloomington/Normal, Illinois are too! It isn't a matter of new money vs old money. I have been to LA dozens of times and have seen plenty of new areas that rank right up there with Kenilworth, and they are only a decade old. When it comes right down to it, almost everyone from Glencoe, or Lake Forest could afford anything the west burbs can put out out anyday. But the same cannot be said for most residents of the west burbs.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

Well said. My point exactly! Cities like Naperville still have that soccer-mom, track housing aspect that while attractive to the younger, white collar crowd, still can't hold a candle to the very real prestige of the towns that you mentioned. Sure, maybe Wheaton has some neighborhoods that are in comparision to that of Lake Bluff, but overall, they are still not nearly as elegant or hold the same quality of craftmanship that most of the North Shore towns do, period. Saying that the west burbs are more prestgious, is like saying that towns similar to Naperville, like Bloomington/Normal, Illinois are too! It isn't a matter of new money vs old money. I have been to LA dozens of times and have seen plenty of new areas that rank right up there with Kenilworth, and they are only a decade old. When it comes right down to it, almost everyone from Glencoe, or Lake Forest could afford anything the west burbs can out out anyday. But the same cannot be said for most residents of the west burbs.

Are you kidding me? There are MANY areas of the west burbs that are strikingly similar to the north shore burbs, with houses just as old (maybe older) and just as big (maybe bigger too). Ever taken a ride through Hinsdale? Oak Brook? Wheaton? Glen Ellyn? Barrington Hills? Geneva? St. Charles? I agree that the north shore burbs are more prestigious, but to say that western burb richies cant afford the north shore is ridiculous. My old boss, who lives in a 11K sq. ft home in St. Charles, could probably afford several homes in Lake Forest. Hell, he also has a 10 million dollar home in Park City, Utah and a home in Michigan as well. There are TONS of ultra-richies in the western burbs whod have no problem affording anything anywhere in the country.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Are you kidding me? There are MANY areas of the west burbs that are strikingly similar to the north shore burbs, with houses just as old (maybe older) and just as big (maybe bigger too). Ever taken a ride through Hinsdale? Oak Brook? Wheaton? Glen Ellyn? Barrington Hills? Geneva? St. Charles? I agree that the north shore burbs are more prestigious, but to say that western burb richies cant afford the north shore is ridiculous. My old boss, who lives in a 11K sq. ft home in St. Charles, could probably afford several homes in Lake Forest. Hell, he also has a 10 million dollar home in Park City, Utah and a home in Michigan as well. There are TONS of ultra-richies in the western burbs whod have no problem affording anything anywhere in the country.

You missed the key word, "most." Are you kidding me? Yes the "ultra-richies" from the west burbs could afford anything in the NS. Agreed. But then again, so couldn't most of the "ultra-richies" from any major metro area, so I fail to see your point. You conceded that NS area is more prestigious than the west burbs. The debate is over. I'm am just stating that "MOST" of the west burbs could not afford the NS. That rules out the "ultra-richies." I was just in the west burbs a few days ago, and saw a whole string of subdivisions that had house after house up for sale. This is not a scene I have ever seen in the NS area to date.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

You missed the key word, "most." Are you kidding me? Yes the "ultra-richies" from the west burbs could afford anything in the NS. Agreed. But then again, so couldn't most of the "ultra-richies" from any major metro area, so I fail to see your point. You conceded that NS area is more prestigious than the west burbs. The debate is over. I'm am just stating that "MOST" of the west burbs could not afford the NS. That rules of the "ultra-richies." I was just in the west burbs a few days ago, and saw a whole string of subdivisions that had house after house up for sale. This is not a scene I have ever seen in the NS area to date.

And "most" of the North Shore folks probably couldnt afford Barrington Hills either. Sure there are many pockets of ultra-wealthy folks in both areas that could easily afford any area, but most north shore folks probably couldnt afford Oak Brook as much as most Naperville folks couldnt afford Kenilworth. Make sense? Not everyone in the north shore can pony up 15 million for a Oak Brook home, same as not everyone in Naperville can afford a 15 million dollar Winnetka home. The rich are rich no matter where you are, and the ultra rich hardly make up an entire town or area as you suggest.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

And "most" of the North Shore folks probably couldnt afford Barrington Hills either. Sure there are many pockets of ultra-wealthy folks in both areas that could easily afford any area, but most north shore folks probably couldnt afford Oak Brook as much as most Naperville folks couldnt afford Kenilworth. Make sense? Not everyone in the north shore can pony up 15 million for a Oak Brook home, same as not everyone in Naperville can afford a 15 million dollar Winnetka home. The rich are rich no matter where you are, and the ultra rich hardly make up an entire town or area as you suggest.

OK pal. This is just a blog. I'm glad you like the Western Suburbs of Chicago. Some do, most I know don't. It's not because we are green with envy as the impression this blog seems to give off. It is because we like towns with souls, not subdivisions on steriods that hold thousands in an unhealthy amount of space. Towns like Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Joliet, Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia etc. etc. are not what anyone else in this ENTIRE world would ever call presigious, end of story! I would venture to say that while most like their respective towns, not a single person from Aurora or Batavia or Bolingbrook or Plainfield or Naperville or even St. Charles would ever call themselves prestigous. Historic, clean, popular, educated are all adjectives I am sure they would use. But prestigous, come on man! But I'm glad you see it the opposite way. Whatever works the best for you and yours. But I'm afraid to tell you that you are worng. The ENTIRE towns of Kenilworth, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Winnetka, etc. are ALL FULL of nothing but 'ultra' rich people. Find me a person within any of those towns that isn't living at least 50k above the average salary of a Naperville resident then I guess we can talk.