Downtown Crystal Lake (Chicago: fit in, to buy, schools)

[Rockwell1]

My wife and I are looking to buy SW of the old train station.

We use the train line to commute downtown and the ability to walk to the train, schools, library, and shopping is very appealing to us. We both grew up in the NW suburbs closer to Chicago but I went to school in the area for a while. We have friends in town and off that train line. Our friends in the area went CL central and recommended the area.

We have walked the area, visited the library and a church, and took our son to the downtown for trick or treating on Holloween. Everyone we have met so far have been very friendly and we have felt comfortable. We also saw a far number of Obama signs before the election compared to the one or two I saw where we currently live.

We live in another town that is growing but still a little too small for us. The people where we are currently are a little to close minded and (old fashion) conservative.

We are both a little more to the left and the area we are now is way to far to the right. That and it appears the town is ran by the good old boys network that do not seem to like anyone that didn't grow up in town.

Any thoughts about this particular area in Crystal Lake would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Rockwell1

We live in another town that is growing but still a little too small for us. The people where we are currently are a little to close minded and (old fashion) conservative.

We are both a little more to the left and the area we are now is way to far to the right. That and it appears the town is ran by the good old boys network that do not seem to like anyone that didn't grow up in town.

I really do not know if you will fit in. Most people in Crystal Lake are busy raising families and living their lives and less interested in discussing politics - of either stripe. Local issues - like the lack of parking in the central business district and the businesses closing along US 14 - dominated conversation.

There is a large divide between the "old-time" Crystal Lake residents who want to preserve everything in Crystal Lake and the new arrivals who want to see the area grow.