highwood- fortsheridan place (Highland Park, Lake Forest, Highland: rentals, crime rate, luxury)

[ingal]

I am relocating to the chicago suburbs and will be working in lake bluff. I need a place near to the metra station from where I can commute to lake bluff. I found this place online called "Fort Sheridan Luxury rentals". It seems quite inexpensive and really luxurious.

Website is FORT SHERIDAN PLACE LUXURY RENTALS | HIGHWOOD | 847-433-5660 | HOME

I was wondering if anyone knows about this place. How is the area in general? I have a kid. It seems it is much less expensive than other properties in the area.

Any input will be welcome. thanks.

[dcisive]

I grew up in that area and my mother and brother still reside in Highland Park. From all indications it should be a rather nice place to be. The town of Highwood hasn't gotten particularly wonderful over the years having been largely over run by an increasing migrant hispanic population. I don't mean this to be racist in tone, other than to point out that due to the bars and restaurants that flourish in Highwood (nearby) it has a bit higher of a crime rate relating more to the excessive alcohol consumption there. Otherwise you are sandwiched between Lake Forest and Highland Park, 2 of the more affluent, clean and relatively crime free areas on the North Shore. The Ft. Sheridan set up should be fine.

[cohdane]

I've been living in the area for two years now and go up to Highwood regularly. It's about a two minute drive from where I'm typing. My impression of Highwood is that it's the epicenter of fine dining for the "Northern" north shore. I'm not kidding. Every other restaurant has valet parking. French, Italian, Nouveau, Irish, Indian, Mexian-- you name it, it's up there.

They also had a farmer's market on Wednesday nights this past summer that was particularly nice-- fresh pasta, exotic cheeses, live acoustic music, baked goods, party lights, the whole shebang.

Highwood does have a larger Latino population, but there's no "hood" vibe to it. Lots of families, blue collar workers, there might be slightly higher crime, but I wouldn't be afraid to walk on the streets alone at night. Everybody is really friendly. I guess what I'm saying is that I find the whole "over run," "excessive alcohol consumption" remark above alarmist and unfair.

The northern end of Highwood going into Fort Sheridan is a bit less tony, but still nice. The new development at Fort Sheridan is fairly upscale, while much of the surrounding area is the community that supported the original, functioning military base (which is still there, although smaller). That part has neat old taverns, taco stands, hot dog stands, Italian bakeries, 70's throwback restaurants-- "regular Joe" kind of stuff-- and for my money, food every bit as good as the valet restaurants.

My impression is that Highwood also has a sizable Italian American population-- there's a TERRIFIC small Italian grocery store with homemade pastas, sauces and sausages that is worth visiting just for the great smell that meets your nose when you walk in the place.

My bottom line, check it out for yourself. I think it's a decent area with access to a lot of great amenities.

FYI-- as a resident of either Highwood or Fort Sheridan, your kid will attend a Highland Park District 112 School, so visit their website for info on that. It's a good school system.