Newer, more urban/less sprawling suburbs? (Chicago, Arlington Heights: HOA, house, camping)

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

Also, just wondering the rationale behinds restricting overnight parking. Is it because of snow removal?

I suppose that could be an issue with overnight/long term guests. Normally, not so much, but still a nuisance.

Snow removal is a major reason for the overnight restrictions. Also, street cleaning.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

Snow removal is a major reason for the overnight restrictions. Also, street cleaning.

And many suburbs just wish to avoid a crowded, junky appearance. And it's easier for the cops to keep tabs on things if the residents' cars are all hidden away.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by adele115

Actually, I have no problem boozin' it up in Oak Park

There's still a strange lack of bars in Oak Park, even though the town hasn't been dry in decades. But they're still kind of stingy with liquor license issuances.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Johnny Northside

OP, If you are looking for that elusive garage space, try this: 7739 W BRYN MAWR Ave, CHICAGO, IL 60631 | MLS# 07104627 5-car garage -- enough room for your vehicle(s) or clear them out and set up your own hockey rink.

I would pay 350 for that place. But it is a place to seriously consider even at 430.

[GQpilot3]

a great suburb with an urban core is evanston
some of the city older some newer
you will be close to the city proper with cta access to the city as well as metra

[mendelman]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

I went out to Arlington Heights -- nice homes, but a little semi-rural for my tastes I suppose.

Semi-rural? What part of the Village where you in? The area of the Village within a mile radius of the downtown is quite dense (for a suburb of its age) and not any hint of rural at all.

I think you may have been in Prospect Heights and thought you were in Arlington Heights.

[GQpilot3]

Originally Posted by mendelman

Semi-rural? What part of the Village where you in? The area of the Village within a mile radius of the downtown is quite dense (for a suburb of its age) and not any hint of rural at all.

I think you may have been in Prospect Heights and thought you were in Arlington Heights.

I cant think of any area in AH that would be concerned rual either. Maybe they hung out around buffalo grove somewhere. AH has a nice urban downtown you would probably enjoy it not to mention its close to woodfield and that area.

[johnm68]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

And many suburbs just wish to avoid a crowded, junky appearance. And it's easier for the cops to keep tabs on things if the residents' cars are all hidden away.

Exactly. It seems a small thing, but in moving from Chicago to a suburb with restrictions on on street parking, I noticed it right away. The streets look nicer and stay cleaner. I think it would be an impossible task to do this in a city or large suburb, but when it's feasible, restricting on-street parking is a really good thing.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by johnm68

Exactly. It seems a small thing, but in moving from Chicago to a suburb with restrictions on on street parking, I noticed it right away. The streets look nicer and stay cleaner. I think it would be an impossible task to do this in a city or large suburb, but when it's feasible, restricting on-street parking is a really good thing.

Not really. It may be hard to ban parking overnight in a dense inner ring suburb or City neighborhood but you could easily regulate it and get a lot of cars off the street. Give each household 2 free stickers to put on their rear bumper with the city's initials on it like Evergreen Park does in order to park overnight. If they want more than 2, it's $40/month for each one. And give people a $20 discount on their vehicle sticker if they forego the overnight sticker (meaning they're going to park in their garage). You could have a sliding scale for vehicle stickers for each household -- Car 1-2 $50, Car 3-4 $100, Car 5-6 $200, and so on.

Unfortunately, if you tried to do this, residents of most suburbs would scream almost as loud as they do when the sides of the streets aren't plowed in winter because there's too many cars!

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

Apologies in advance for choppy sentences as I am on a "smart" phone.

After more than 2 weeks looking in the area, I am leaning towards the city proper, as I favor high energy and busy environments. However, I would like to find at least one suburban option for comparison, but it appears what I am looking for does not exist.

The reason behind a suburban location would be largely parking related. Something bigger than a 16 foot garage (all but impossible to get out in one foot when you're over 6 feet and 200 pounds), and better on-street parking.

The problem is, I've done the huge lot thing before and hated it. In areas that are to spread out, my allergies suffer from too much vegetation, I get depressed from quiet, desolate roads and areas, and I'm just not up for yard work (allergies again). Also, being early 30s and single, the demographics of most suburbs are not to my suiting.

Are there any newer suburbs with a less sprawling feel, more like the suburbs of Toronto, Denver, or even Omaha? I've checked out Oak Park and Evanston but could not figure out the advantage over the North Side. Prices and housing seemed similar, and schools are not significant in my case. Norridge and Harwood Heights were okay, but again, I did not see a clear advantage over the city.

Thank you for your time and help!

I would say look around Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park. Both towns are very city like yet offer all the ammenities your car requires (gas stations all over offering gas without having to take out a second mortgage, free parking lots everywhere, wide streets to handle large volumes of traffic) yet both towns offer great mass transit to the Loop via Metra, have plenty of shopping, are safe, and not too conservative, but not super left winged liberals either. Rents are low to moderate, and homes are moderate in price.

http://maps.google.com/maps?mrt=real...ement&ct=title