Metropolitan Square in Des Plaines (Chicago, Joliet: renting, waterpark, condos)

[bodolo]

Anyone live on any of the Pearson Ave buildings in Metropolitan Sq in Des Plaines? We liked the downtown square, esp. how close it is to many restaurants and shops, even nicer that the tiny courtyard area in downtown Mt. Prospect. We looked at condos but still wondering if we buy one, how safe is the area after dark? Will it be a nightmare to sell the condo in a few years (assuming the housing market gets better, of course)? Particularly interested in finding out what it's like living in the 665 or 656 Pearson condos--the two buildings right across from the other on Pearson.

[chet everett]

I like what Des Plaines has achieved. Those are nice buildings, priced fairly, with some smart planning. If you are a settled person (40's?) it could be a great option. If you are younger and thing you might want to relocate/buy a detached house in less than 7 years or so I would NOT recommend it. There are neighborhoods in Chicago that are going to remain far easier to resell, but even then if you are looking a time horizon of 5 years or less you have to get a SCREAMIN' deal to do better than renting...

[MisUszatek]

Hi Bodolo,

We are looking in that area too, and actually I found a few great deals on the web. Metropolitan Square is even greater in person. We visited this place few times to check the neighborhood, and I love it.....the proximity to almost everything you can use on daily basis, stores, train station, banks, restaurants ... you don't really need a car. I'm starting a new contract in Chicago downtown and train station is on the other side of the street, so I can keep my car in garage

I found a listing on MetropolitanWay.com ,with few pictures of the neighborhood, and pretty detailed list are a attractions.

[Humboldt1]

I office in Des Plaines and walk to Metropolitan Square quite frequently. Des Plaines is certainly overbuilt and there will be a lot of vacancies in new condo construction for awhile, so be careful that you do not overpay when you buy. Also, there are not as many restaurants as I would like. You have:

Olivettis (Italian) and Lalos and Quiznos south of the tracks and Potbellys, Panera, Jimmy Buffet Cheeseburger Paradise, Leona's, and several local diners, but not a whole lot of options for as big as Des Plaines downtown is. You also have bowling alley by the tracks and several banks (obviously, why I am here). I think the downtown is pretty and look forward to when it catches up with say Arlington Heights.

[rose125]

I'm not really a fan of Des Plaines- however this metropolitan square does look nice & have some nice dining options. If you can afford it I think that buying in DT arlington heights would be better option.

I love that driving range in the picture above- even though I really suck at golf (big time) but it's 24 hours I believe and all season so thats kind of fun. One thing I just thought of you might want to consider is the flooding, obviously living up in a building you wouldn't need to worry about your possessions being ruined, but make sure you plan out alternate routes and stuff if the river does flood and shut down roads and stuff.

[chet everett]

rose:

Do you have any idea that 58,000 people live in DePlaines?

Of that 58,000 perhaps 1% live in homes that are EVER effected by the river, but the TV stations LOVE LOVE LOVE to send out the news to crew to cover THAT as frequently as they can...

As as needing to "plan an alternate way out" you realize the Des Plaines river is not exactly the Mississippi. At is wideest you could probably lay an extension ladder across it, though it runs from about Kenosha all the way south of Joliet...

Have you ever been in the town, or just seen the hyped coverage during "flooding???

[cubssoxfan]

The Mystic Waters water park is really fun. The rare waterpark that is just the right size for the kiddos and their Mom and Dad, the Big Kiddos.

[rose125]

Originally Posted by chet everett

rose:

Do you have any idea that 58,000 people live in DePlaines?

Of that 58,000 perhaps 1% live in homes that are EVER effected by the river, but the TV stations LOVE LOVE LOVE to send out the news to crew to cover THAT as frequently as they can...

As as needing to "plan an alternate way out" you realize the Des Plaines river is not exactly the Mississippi. At is wideest you could probably lay an extension ladder across it, though it runs from about Kenosha all the way south of Joliet...

Have you ever been in the town, or just seen the hyped coverage during "flooding???

Yeah actually since I spent 20+ years in Mount Prospect I have been in Des Plaines. Which would explain why I was able to comment on the driving range, as well as nice dining options in the location she is talking about.

As for being there when it's flooded I can tell you that I have driven through and seen sandbags. I think perhaps you misinterperted what I wrote or perhaps you are just looking to nit-pick .

I said "obviously living up in a building you wouldn't need to worry about your possessions being ruined" so I wasn't saying that the OP needed to worry about having their potential home/condo be effected by water. It's not my fault that the media may portray it that more homes are effected. but I clearly did not say that the OP need be worried about this.

I also never said you'll need to find a way out, rather what I said exactly was "make sure you plan out alternate routes and stuff if the river does flood and shut down roads".

I think that it is a very reasonable thing to consider when making a choice on where to live, if you are planning to take river road to get to work, you might want to think of a different street to use (ALTERNATE route) Or if you will utalize public transportation such as Pace I recall seeing an article back in September that 9 routes were effected/detoured. (Here is the article I recalled seeing 9 Pace routes detoured in Des Plaines River area - Chicago Breaking News)

I never said don't move here because the river floods, I just said that it's something to be aware of.

[chet everett]

Sorry. My wife grew up in MP it bothers us when we see the news crews with GIANT BANNER over their live reports from an over flow of the river. It is not Katarina afterall!

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Sorry. My wife grew up in MP it bothers us when we see the news crews with GIANT BANNER over their live reports from an over flow of the river. It is not Katarina afterall!

I drove through the area during the worst part of the flooding in September and well, a couple lanes on a couple streets were blocked off. The foot traffic going to see the high waters was slowing traffic more than the weather.

Not to minimize those with flooded basements BUT ... that is one of the perils of living adjacent to the river.