Need input on Fort Sheridan PLEASE!!! (Chicago, Schaumburg: apartments, condominiums, house)

[jaynetarzana]

DH and I are liberal, tree hugging, vegetarian, modern architecture loving parents of two little girls. We are in our early 30's and considering a move to Chicago, more specifically Fort Sheridan. We were there 3 weeks ago and our agent drove us through the fort briefly. We thought it was such a neat concept to turn vintage military buildings into some pretty neat housing. We'd love some input. THANK YOU!!!!

[brenty]

This area is very, very expensive. Chicago's North Shore, lovely homes, lots of money, and very snooty. Highland Park is one of the more liberal towns but you will be surrounded by some of the most conservative sections of Chicago. I would recommend Evanston if you are artsy, liberal, and love architecture. Evanston has good schools and good private alternatives. Here is my brief description of Evanston that I give out to people:

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.

[USArmySoldier]

We moved into Highwood, the town that owns the land of Fort Sheridan, about a year ago. I work in the small army side of the Fort, so this was absolutely the best situation. The town of Fort Sheridan is absolutely remarkable, the concept, and outcome of those rehabs are nothing but amazing, not to mention the town itself is gorgeous... Tell me anywhere is more gorgeous on a snowy day!!

Outside of Fort Sheridan you have downtown Highwood, which is the more mixed community of the North Shore, you have a large older/retired Italian population, younger, hiper college aged people who commute to Trinity College, and mixed in with a mid-income hispanic community, which basically has taken the 'North Shore Estates" and turned it into little Mexico. (an apartment community directly across from the entrance to Fort Sheridan)

I love the diversity, the people around here couldn't be any nicer, its not as snooty as Lake Forest or Highland Park, and also, the taxes are very affordable.

Also, don't forget downtown Highwood has the BEST restaurants along the North Shore, La Casa de Isaac is the best Mexican food north of the border, hands down. (Trust me, you can hardly get a table in there after 6PM) Froggy's French Cafe, Miramar Bistro, Gabriels Italian, Del Rio Italian, Buffo's Pizza, just to name a few.

Downtown Highwood also has street fairs, art festivals, has about a half-dozen bars / clubs within 2 blocks, Gabe's Lounge, and the New Bridie McKenna's Irish Pub.. if you're like antiques, there are a dozen antique stores in town. And if you want to go downtown, the Metra is a short walk from Fort Sheridan, and you'll be at Ogilvie in 30 minutes!

Downtown Highland Park is 2 miles south down Green Bay Road, which also has stores, restaurants, shopping, movies, late night entertainment, and the worlds best Pancake House (Walker Brothers.. Yumm)

Downtown Lake Forest and Lake Bluff are a few miles north which also has shopping, antiques, and a great small-town east coast / 'Maine like' feel.

I recommend moving to the area, if you can afford it. Its a wonderful area, and you won't have to put up with the 'city elements' and less affluent areas of southern Evanston

Good Luck!

[brenty]

Southern Evanston is not all poor. Everyone who doesn't live here or doesn't really know the area always assumes that southern Evanston is not very affluent. Southern Evanston is certainly more affluent than Highwood. Highwood is the only North Shore suburb to fall below the national median for household incomes. In fact Southeast Evanston is very wealthy, members of the Crown, Prizker, and Cusack, have all called Southeast Evanston home at one time or another. In fact Nancy Cusack and the members of the Robert Crown family still live on the Lakefront. Evanston is a great place to live and to raise a family. School scores might not be as high as Winnetka or Highland Park, but that is because Evanston tries to accomodate its minority residents. Evanston is relatively segregated so they bus kids in to the white areas.

[USArmySoldier]

Well, I suppose everyone has an opinion, and in mine, you couldn't PAY me to live near southern Evanston / Rogers Park. Its creepy down there.

[brenty]

In between Rogers Park and Southeast Evanston there is a huge 20 acre cemetary that really solidifies the border between Evanston and Rogers Park. Evanston is a community of neighborhoods and everyone is different. Most of Evanston is affluent and safe. Evanston is not anything like it was 10 years ago, from what I have heard.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by USArmySoldier

Well, I suppose everyone has an opinion, and in mine, you couldn't PAY me to live near southern Evanston / Rogers Park. Its creepy down there.

This was exactly what our agent told us. When she met us, she said she didn't think that Evanston would be for us. She said it was a little too urban and the schools weren't great.

I like the fact that Oak Terrace Elementary is a Spanish immersion school. I think it is wonderful that our kids will learn Spanish.

[USArmySoldier]

Once again, take a look at the areas as a whole. Fort Sheridan is totally unique, beautiful, and unlike any other areas in Chicago. The area around Sheridan has as much to do as the 'closer to the city' towns, and without the questionable, and 'ify' streets, and not right next to rougher neighborhoods, and much MUCH nicer schools than even Evanston. I'm not downing Evanston, the area is wonderful to visit, I just wouldn't want my kids wandering around certain areas after dark....

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by USArmySoldier

I'm not downing Evanston, the area is wonderful to visit, I just wouldn't want my kids wandering around certain areas after dark....

It is exactly for this reason that we are not looking in Evanston. We are not fans of areas with really nice streets next to very sketchy streets. It just doesn't make any sense to kill yourself to pay your bills to live in a nice, safe neighborhood, only to feel unsafe when you walk a few blocks. We've lived in places like that in California and it stinks.