Sugar Grove or Geneva (Chicago, Wheaton: house, neighborhood, construction)

[samman2]

Okay, here is my situation. My husband and I have been looking at homes in Geneva/St. Charles area as well as Sugar Grove. We both love the Fox Valley area and love downtown Geneva and all the trees. As for towns, it is not even an argument between us.

What we do like is in Sugar Grove we can afford a much larger home and we are looking into the Hannaford Farms neighborhood and love the look. The major down side for us in Sugar Grove is there is nothing there. It is too country for our liking and have talked to a few residents who all say that the economic development team in the village is horrible at bringing in retail/commercial.

We now live in closer to Chicago, but looking for a bigger home. So in the forumers mind and this is my first post, but any possiblity Sugar Grove will have any dining/retial in the near future(being 3 years) or should I stick with Geneva.

Just confused. Thanks!

[stewartthrower]

Commercial and retail will come in when Sugar Grove gets more residents. The economic development team can only do so much. I love Geneva, but Sugar Grove has potential. Probably ten years away before it could compete with any of the other mature suburbs. On the positive side, your investment there should grow a good bit. The downside, is you'll have to do some driving to enjoy entertainment, dining, etc.

[sgresident]

we have lived in sugar grove for 20 years. we are very active in the community and I can tell you that there is some commercial development on the way. it is coming slower than we had hoped, but the housing slowdown is a big part of that. a few things on the horizon are a brand new 27,000sq ft library..set to break ground this spring. a new middle school will also be breaking ground this spring. there is currently a private preschool..Chesterbrook academy..under construction and will open this fall for school. there are numerous offices being built. there are supposed to be some doctors offices moving in. plans were approved for a commercial area on rt 47. one of the tennants is a dunkin' donuts. our vet, who has been in town for over 10 years, is going to be building a brand new animal hospital on Main Street.
I know that to many, it doesn't sound like much, but it really is alot. even though we have to drive out of town for "big" shopping. geneva commons is only 12 miles away and takes 15 to 20 minutes. shopping at the fox valley mall is only 25 minutes the other direction. there is new shopping in north aurora along the tollway, which is only 15 minutes away.
the homes in hannaford farm are beautiful. I know the developer. he is also very active in the community and sits on the village's plan commission. you should really check out the area.

[irish setter girl]

Samman2, check your direct messages. Thanks

[samman2]

Thankyou Irish Settler girl for the mssage along with all on this board. Again we really like the opportunity to build the type of house in Sugar Grove, but again there is nothing there. Don't mean to sound snobby, but a Dunkin Donuts is not something to jump up and down about.

I just cannot believe with all the homes there and location that nothing has been built? Is it with the village? Again coming from some residents I did speak to they were very pessimisitic about how they pay taxes through the roof for schools that are at best okay and then have nothing to do in the community. Sounds like they may need some type of board in charge of attracting business becuase obviosly they don't have any. Just very weird.
On a positive note, it does look like Geneva. Well established and actually has stores and dining. Downside is smaller home.

Probably make final decision in a month or so.

[irish setter girl]

Samman2, just sent you one more message. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted!

[irish setter girl]

sgresident, I know what you mean. The developments you mentioned in your post are big for Sugar Grove even though they don't compare to what you see along Randall or Orchard Rd. Congrats on the referendum passing. I am very pleased to see the new middle school coming alive! The old school was just too crowded and the commute was outrageous for those on the south end of town! Hopefully a second high school will be on the books soon. I know the commute to the high school is a big issue for people moving to SG. However, my neighbors sent their kids to Bennet in Lisle and another went to Wheaton Academy in West Chicago which is obviously much further than Kaneland Are plans underway for the Corn Boil? I always enjoyed that!

[sgresident]

the plans are underway for the corn boil. it is the last weekend in july. they do have a have a cornboil website that you can check for more info.
and samman2 i know you don't think a dunkin donuts sounds like much, but to those of us who are watching our community grow from the inside, it is. when your population is less than 10,000, it is pretty difficult to get the major chain restaurants to take a look at you. we do have some private people looking to build a restaurant off of route 30, but the plans are very preliminary..too preliminary to offer details.
good luck with your move to geneva.

[samman2]

Wow again, thank you for all the replies. My husband and I will be going to Geneva to look at homes next week. We both discussed about how the best thing would be if they could magically move the Hannaford Farms neighborhood to Geneva.

Again we don't know yet where and are waying all the pros and cons.

I realize Sugar Grove has a population of about 10K, but within a 10 mile radius that figure has to be well over 100K. I have been to small towns of 1000 people within a 10 mile radius where there is more stuff to do in Sugar Grove. I just don't get it. Sorry for the rant, jus really love that neighborhood. Have never seen an area with so much beautiful homes along Bliss road and nothing for its residents to do.

[Drover]

I don't even understand why it's a contest. For me it would be much more important to like where I live than to have a bigger house.

By the way, I know a very, very good realtor based out of Geneva. Let me know if you need contact info.