Newer, more urban/less sprawling suburbs? (Naperville, Arlington Heights: houses, landscaping, new construction)

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

It's not that I'm totally against regulation, it can be necessary at times -- health codes, safety, etc. I just don't want to require an application and month long approval process to install a motion sensing light!

Well that exists here big time with condo associations. I recommend you buy a SFH.

[cubssoxfan]

I went through Arlington Heights on Rand Road, going from Des Plaines to Palatine. Seemed very semi-rural to me anyway. But I did not see downtown.

That's like me driving down the 401 and saying, I've seen Toronto. You must also like extremely dense, if the large number of shopping centers along Rand Rd. strike you as semi-rural. DOWNTOWN Arlington Heights was recommended, not a place just off Rand Rd. Maybe Chicago is your true calling or Evanston or Oak Park.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Well that exists here big time with condo associations. I recommend you buy a SFH.

A lot of people don't think about it but condo and townhome associations can be pretty restrictive, and rules can change over time. For example, you can buy a condo with the intention to rent it in 5 years but the next year, the Association can vote to prevent rentals. They can also vote to nail you with a special assessment for windows, roof, new furnace, new pool, or whatever the case may be.

Not saying associations are bad or should be avoided but something to definitely think about before jumping in with both feet.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I wouldn't call either Oak Lawn or EP particularly new and, while not sprawling in the sense of Orland Park, they still have their main commercials strips along a big, ugly 6 lane road (95th street). Don't get me wrong -- I appreciate Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park (especially recent streetscaping in Oak Lawn) and think they are a good option for a family looking to be relatively near in to the city at a good price, etc. but I would imagine, based on the phrasing, that the OP is looking for a more walkable, quaint downtown area that is also a little spiffier and with less of an irrelevant 80s feel.

Lets see here, so far I've seen Arlington Heights mentioned, of course the city, Oak Park no doubt, Evanston, along with numerous other inner ring burbs... Question is, WHAT ONE OF THOSE TOWNS IS NEW without an 80s feel or in most cases 50s, 60s to 70s feel? Last time I checked they ALL are old, all built out, all have UGLY 6 lane roads... Oh wait sorry, this is Illinois under IDiOT rule, so most of them are crumbling pothold filled two or 4 lane roads that the capacities have been far exceeded making them downright dangerous to drive on since the 1980s.

So question is, what "walkable" inner ring burb is NOT old and not loaded with tons of traffic and ugly roads? If you know of Utopia here, please by all means let all of us and mainly me know, because I've been searching for it for years.

[ajolotl]

This is why so many people prefer Evanston and Oak Park. Obviously there are roads passing through the centers of each but it is absolutely nothing like Oak Lawn, especially Evanston. It feels relatively peaceful to walk around.

Originally Posted by NYrules

Lets see here, so far I've seen Arlington Heights mentioned, of course the city, Oak Park no doubt, Evanston, along with numerous other inner ring burbs... Question is, WHAT ONE OF THOSE TOWNS IS NEW without an 80s feel or in most cases 50s, 60s to 70s feel? Last time I checked they ALL are old, all built out, all have UGLY 6 lane roads... Oh wait sorry, this is Illinois under IDiOT rule, so most of them are crumbling pothold filled two or 4 lane roads that the capacities have been far exceeded making them downright dangerous to drive on since the 1980s.

So question is, what "walkable" inner ring burb is NOT old and not loaded with tons of traffic and ugly roads? If you know of Utopia here, please by all means let all of us and mainly me know, because I've been searching for it for years.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

This is why so many people prefer Evanston and Oak Park. Obviously there are roads passing through the centers of each but it is absolutely nothing like Oak Lawn, especially Evanston. It feels relatively peaceful to walk around.

One of my favorite aspects of OP is that no major, fast surface roads cut thru the town. It makes life easier for pedestrians and bikers.

[mendelman]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

One of my favorite aspects of OP is that no major, fast surface roads cut thru the town. It makes life easier for pedestrians and bikers.

I don't know about that. Madison is pretty "arterial" through the entire Village and Lake St. is no slouch (esp. east of Oak Park Ave.)

But certainly if Harlem went through the center of the Village then that would be disastrous.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by mendelman

I don't know about that. Madison is pretty "arterial" through the entire Village and Lake St. is no slouch (esp. east of Oak Park Ave.)

But certainly if Harlem went through the center of the Village then that would be disastrous.

I'd disagree about Lake St, its never more than 2 lanes (plus occasional turning lanes) and there are frequent traffic lights with cross walks. I'll agree that Madison is somewhat arterial being four lanes throughout the village, but at least east of OP Ave, there are center dividers for pedestrians/bicyclists to wait for traffic, and the traffic volume isn't quite up to arterial levels IMHO.

Harlem is a big mess for pedestrians. If I was king of Oak Park/IDOT with unlimited funding, I'd consider some way to improve pedestrian access at Harlem and Lake.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Lets see here, so far I've seen Arlington Heights mentioned, of course the city, Oak Park no doubt, Evanston, along with numerous other inner ring burbs... Question is, WHAT ONE OF THOSE TOWNS IS NEW without an 80s feel or in most cases 50s, 60s to 70s feel? Last time I checked they ALL are old, all built out, all have UGLY 6 lane roads... Oh wait sorry, this is Illinois under IDiOT rule, so most of them are crumbling pothold filled two or 4 lane roads that the capacities have been far exceeded making them downright dangerous to drive on since the 1980s.

So question is, what "walkable" inner ring burb is NOT old and not loaded with tons of traffic and ugly roads? If you know of Utopia here, please by all means let all of us and mainly me know, because I've been searching for it for years.

Arlington Heights has many condos and townhomes that are 10 years or newer, especially near downtown. HOmes also, but they're the more expensive teardowns. Downtown Arlington Heights is very walkable and is mostly on 2 lane roads with wide sidewalks and plenty of 4 way stops and traffic signals to make crossing easy. I live in an 80's development and it looks very nice and not at all out-dated. We also have a well run association with low fees, high reserves and well cared for properties.

No disrespect NY rules, but we either see things differently or you haven't seen the Arlington Heights I have.

And many of the established towns along the various Metra routes have revitalized their downtowns which includes newer condos/townhomes built in the downtown areas. Even Evanston has new construction in or near downtown. Other suburbs that have newer construction are Palatine, Mt. Prospect, Des Plaines and Park Ridge. It's the latest trend in urban-suburban planning & development. Arlington Heights was one of the first to sucessfully do this in the NW burbs and the other NW burbs have followed. It's what sets AH apart from say Buffalo Grove or Schaumburg. They do not have a "real" downtown area.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Arlington Heights has many condos and townhomes that are 10 years or newer, especially near downtown. HOmes also, but they're the more expensive teardowns. Downtown Arlington Heights is very walkable and is mostly on 2 lane roads with wide sidewalks and plenty of 4 way stops and traffic signals to make crossing easy. I live in an 80's development and it looks very nice and not at all out-dated. We also have a well run association with low fees, high reserves and well cared for properties.

I have to admit that back in April, I was bored and took Metra in to Arlington Heights to meet up with some friends. I headed there about two hours early and decided to kill some time. I headed south from the station, past all the retail and into the neighborhoods. Really great area, pleasant environment. The people were also very friendly and actually spoke as you passed, which is NOT uncommon in the Midwest but is very uncommon in the Chicagoland area.