Brit moving to Chicagoland, help needed please (Arlington Heights, Evanston: trip , bars)

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by yakijy

..If you want a cheap place, you could look at Waukegan or North Chicago...

Good thinking, with a $500,000 budget, they could buy a whole block of homes in those towns!

Why doesn't anybody want to live in the town where they will be working, especially when it meets their criteria? He said he wants a vibrant town center. Well, that may be relative in the suburbs, but there is no town center period in places like Hoffman Estates or Vernon Hills. Libertyville, on the other hand, has a quaint town center, it's in their price range, has good schools, and no commute. That would seem to be the place to live.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Good thinking, with a $500,000 budget, they could buy a whole block of homes in those towns!

Why doesn't anybody want to live in the town where they will be working, especially when it meets their criteria? He said he wants a vibrant town center. Well, that may be relative in the suburbs, but there is no town center period in places like Hoffman Estates or Vernon Hills. Libertyville, on the other hand, has a quaint town center, it's in their price range, has good schools, and no commute. That would seem to be the place to live.

I'd definitely agree with that in general (of course, I commute from the suburbs to the Loop, but at least my wife works in the same town in which we live) - maybe the OP can specify why he wouldn't want to look at Libertyville itself? It does fit almost all of their criteria and basically has a similar type of population as Vernon Hills and Glenview along with having no commute. I'm having a very hard time understanding why the OP isn't considering that town as an option at all especially when the other towns they are looking at are very similar in terms of both character and price range.

Also, if you're looking at places like Wilmette and Evanson (along with having criteria as having a strong town center with nice restaurants), I don't think you're going to be very interested in Waukegan or North Chicago at all.

[swedgeman]

Once again many thanks to everyone for your advice. So why not L`ville?? Simply because a lot of my work colleagues live in L`ville. As much as i like them and enjoy working with them, my wife and i want to get away from work at the w/e. After much research we are strongly considering Arlington Heights. Downtown seems to have a lot of character with a good choice of wining/dining and shopping. Commute to L`ville i am told is 30 to 40 mins which i don`t mind and the housing choice is considerable.

[noplacelike]

I recently read an article, wish I could remember where, about how Libertyville is now considered a charming and attractive place to live. Consider this closely as it is best to avoid a commute.

[noplacelike]

Sorry Swedge, just read your recent post. With due respect to those who live in Arlington Heights: an ugly cultural wasteland. I'd go with Evanston, avoiding the south end. Beautiful architecture, lakefront, beaches, good restaurants: a city person's suburb.

[LadyPleiades]

Originally Posted by tcs1366

I'd think if you want to keep your commute short[er]

and Uggg, i was in Evanston over the weekend and traffic was awful ... it was snowing, but streets seem more narrow than i'm used to and way too many cars.

I would think a European would have NO problem with narrow streets. You can't believe the streets I made U-turns on in Italy!! I would have never thought it was physically possible but saw someone else do it!

ETA: Glenview has a pretty cute downtown (much smaller than Evanston or Wilmette) and lower taxes than Evanston or Wilmette but does not have the beaches the other two do have. Highland Park has a very nice downtown. Do NOT go to Waukegan. The Glen in Glenview is very popular but is a planned community place like Celebration in Orlando. And that's undesirable to many.

The downtown in Wilmette has a few restaurants but it's not used very much. But you are so close to downtown Evanston. Li

[brenty]

I have been living in Evanston since November. I really like the area. It acts like a bridge between Chicago and the suburbs to the North. It is what I would call 'urburban'.

Evanston's town center is very nice and active. There are many high-rise condominium's and five high-rise office buildings. Evanston's town center has many shops. They are nice mid-range shops like, Pier1 Imports, Levi's Store, and Ann Taylor Loft. There are still some locally owned businesses but many have moved away. There are two nice mom & pop shopping areas. Central Street is very high end and is almost all locally owned businesses and Main-Chicago which is middle range locally owned businesses.

If Characture is high on your list, you will love Evanston. Evanston has many beautiful homes, streets, trees, parks, beaches, and buildings. Evanston had a few brick paved streets in the northeastern section. Evanston's streetlights are very interesting and were designed by Tallmadge & Watson. Evanston has a nice town center, which we call Downtown Evanston. There are some nice restaurants, cafes, and shops. Downtown Evanston has quite a few high-rise condominium buildings. New residents and I love the high-rises because they provide a nice contrast between the typical street car suburban Evanston neighborhoods. Many past residents hate them because they do bring some traffic into the community.

There are many cultural opportunities in Evanston. Evanston is home to Northwestern University which has extensive programs for local adults and children. Northwestern has a beautiful lakefront campus that is open to the public. There are lakefront playing fields and bike paths. Evanston Township High School also have some nice programs. I have an older neighbor who visits the Levy Senior Center every week.

Evanston taxes are extraordinary. My taxes are quite high. My home was close to $500,000. I have a renovated 4 bedroom 2.5 bath in Southern Evanston on Asbury. It is a very nice historic neighborhood. We are close to an Elementary and Middle School.

Many people say Evanston has a lor of racial diversity. I really disagree. Evanston's Southeastern, Eastern, Northeastern, and Northwest sections are close to being a White and Asian. Evanston's Western, and Southwestern areas are mostly Black and Hispanic. I live in a neighborhood that is mostly white and between Eastern and Western Evanston. Evanston does seem to have some racial tension in the school system. There is also a large gap in incomes here. The White and Asian areas tend to be of the Upper Middle and Upper Class. While the Black and Hispanic are of the Middle to Lower Classes.

Evanston is a large suburb so the town as a whole rarely gets to gather. Evanston, like Chicago is a community of neighborhoods. The neighborhoods vary greatly in demographics, incomes, and style. Evanston's neighborhoods are very tight knit. In fact the wealthier neighborhoods tend to be less tight knit.

Evanston has been a Tree City USA for close to 30 years. We have an extensive tree canopy as with most of the Northern Suburbs. Evanston has an extensive Forestry Department that constults you on tree care and maintains trees on parkways, treelawns, and in parks.

There are 4 major parking garages in the Downtown area. There are also several smaller public garages and parking lots in some of the newer buildings and in the alleys behind shops. Many of the Vintage Condominium and Apartment buildings do not offer off-street parking. Sometimes you can purchase parking spaces for $15,000 to $25,000. The newer condominiums and apartments (built after 1960) have garage or parking spaces usually included for free.

I right now have to commute to Schaumburg from Evanston, which takes me about 60 minutes. Evanston is within 40 minutes of the rest of the Northern Suburbs near the lake. Evanston is about 45 minutes from Downtown Chicago by car and 25 to 35 minutes by train.

$500,000 gives you a variety of different options. You could have a newer construction condominium in downtown. Maybe a smaller or older home in Northwest Evanston or in my neighborhood around Asbury, Ridge, and Dempster. It really depends on what you want. You will want to stick to Northwest Evanston so that you are closer to the Edens Expressway because you are working in Libertyville. Evanston is not very congested at all after 10PM. Most of the residential neighborhoods excluding those lining the lakefront are quiet most of the day. Some parts of Asbury can have traffic, but not like city traffic. Ridge is a high speed road, Dempster gets backed up on school days at 8:00AM and 4:00PM.

Here are some examples of what you could have:

Condominium Just outside of Downtown
Condo/Townhouse/Co-Op - 1228 EMERSON Unit: 2D, Evanston, IL, 60201 - Realtor.com

Small Renovated Home in Northwest Evanston
Single Family Home - 2421 Prospect AV, Evanston, IL, 60201 - Realtor.com

South Central Evanston Home
Single Family Home - 1403 MAIN ST, EVANSTON, IL, 60202 - Realtor.com

Condo Close to the Lake in Southeast Evanston
Condo/Townhouse/Co-Op - 525 KEDZIE Unit: 304, EVANSTON, IL, 60202 - Realtor.com

[brenty]

The southend of Evanston is not bad at all. There was recently a million dollar home sold 1 block from Howard Street on Dobson. Southeast Evanston is a very hot area. No houses for $500,000 but you could get a very nice condominium.

[LVMommy]

Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Lindenhurst, Lake Villa would also be family orientated with little commute to your work.

[swedgeman]

Once again thanks to everyone for your advice..i am soooo confused. I hear great reviews for Arlington Heights, Evanston/Wilmette and Highland Park. I will be visiting "chicago" over the next few weeks so i will take time out and check the downtown and surrounding areas of the above. does anyone have any thoughts on AH and HP??