Confused about "downtowns", and looking for advice! (Chicago: homes, private schools)

[mattywo85]

Originally Posted by supportyourschools

The problem with Bolingbrook is that there is no Metra service there. If your husband is planning on commuting by train, then Bolingbrook would not be ideal. If you like the look of the houses in Bolingbrook but want Metra service, look into:

--west side of Aurora--there is a Metra station in downtown Aurora
--far east Aurora/west Naperville near the Route 59 station

Both Aurora and Naperville have "walkable" downtowns, with Naperville's being much more desirable than Aurora's; however, both suburbs are very large and you would be able to find the type of house you are looking for without having to be in their downtown areas.

Some other spots to consider would be Tinley Park, Orland Park, Mokena, or New Lenox. These are all southwest suburbs with Metra service, newer housing stock, and fairly close to a UU congregation in Joliet.

Why would you tell them to move away from BB because a lack of Metra service? They could just drive into the Lisle or Naperville station so why would they live in BB but drive all the way to the RT.59 or Aurora station?

[ToriaT]

I would skip Bolingbrook and look into Naperville which is a really nice area and has a nice downtown. A walkable downtown usually means walk from your home to the downtown area. However some suburbs have no town core. In other words there is no town just subdivisions. Personally I am not fond of these. The towns that are the nicest and along train lines in Dupage are Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, and Elmhurst. There are others as well such as Lisle and Westmont. I am mentioning the ones I think are the nicest, have nice little towns and might have something in your price range. There are plenty of people home schooling in dupage. There is a Unitarian church in North naperville. All of these places have modern suburban homes. That is not generally the case in Skokie which has housing stock that was largely built in the fifties and sixties. I would skip Skokie. To me Aurora is too far away and I do not much like it so I would skip that in favor of the places I mentioned.

[divakat]

Walkable downtowns generally are towns on a train line that have lots of shops, restaurants and things to do. The nicest in the SW burbs are usually considered to be la grange, Hinsdale, wheaton, glen ellyn, Naperville, downers grove and elmhurst.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

I would skip Bolingbrook and look into Naperville which is a really nice area and has a nice downtown. A walkable downtown usually means walk from your home to the downtown area. However some suburbs have no town core. In other words there is no town just subdivisions. Personally I am not fond of these. The towns that are the nicest and along train lines in Dupage are Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, and Elmhurst. There are others as well such as Lisle and Westmont. I am mentioning the ones I think are the nicest, have nice little towns and might have something in your price range. There are plenty of people home schooling in dupage. There is a Unitarian church in North naperville. All of these places have modern suburban homes. That is not generally the case in Skokie which has housing stock that was largely built in the fifties and sixties. I would skip Skokie. To me Aurora is too far away and I do not much like it so I would skip that in favor of the places I mentioned.

Absolutely agree. I would also encourage them to visit Arlington Heights, Palatine and Barrington since they are close to the Palatine church location. Just to contrast with the W burbs. I have never read about parking issue along the Metra NW line and you are closer to O'Hare which is a plus. I do have to say the DuPage towns you mentioned would be on my list if I was new to the area.

[LookingForEden]

I used to homeschool and am considering it again. I found it very difficult to meet non-fundamentalists in DuPage co. Most of the hs classes include things like Creationism as part of science here. While you still may not meet many hs'ers in Skokie, you would be so much closer to the museums and all that Chicago offers. If you move into Chicago proper, you can choose an online school that offers the K12 curriculum for free. You are still tied to a charter school but it is a neat program.

[chet everett]

Highly doubtful. I taught science in public and PRIVATE high schools and NEVER encountered ANYONE that gave even a moment's thought to "creation science"...

Additionally, having lived in both the city and the suburbs AND worked at some of the science museums in Chicago I can state empathically that the surbanites are MASSIVELY over represented in both the attendance counts and membership rosters of the museums. There are a large number of actual working PhD scientists in the region due to presence of TWO DOE national labs, numerous R&D facilities and healthcare centers...

Originally Posted by LookingForEden

I used to homeschool and am considering it again. I found it very difficult to meet non-fundamentalists in DuPage co. Most of the hs classes include things like Creationism as part of science here. While you still may not meet many hs'ers in Skokie, you would be so much closer to the museums and all that Chicago offers. If you move into Chicago proper, you can choose an online school that offers the K12 curriculum for free. You are still tied to a charter school but it is a neat program.

[aragx6]

^I assumed she was talking about homeschooling curriculums when she spoke of creationism being taught. If not, then I am also confused.

[LookingForEden]

Originally Posted by aragx6

^I assumed she was talking about homeschooling curriculums when she spoke of creationism being taught. If not, then I am also confused.

Yes, I was referring to homeschool courses-- not high school. Expect anti-gay attitudes,too. One hs'ing mom let me know she was opposed to interracial couples, too (which DH and I are).

[LookingForEden]

Example of a very popular hs program here:

http://www.thelearningvine.org/science---grades1-8.html


Or, check out EDGE. They also show they teach science from the Creationist view: Gym & Enrichment FAQ | EDGE Homeschoolers.com

[supportyourschools]

Originally Posted by mattywo85

Why would you tell them to move away from BB because a lack of Metra service? They could just drive into the Lisle or Naperville station so why would they live in BB but drive all the way to the RT.59 or Aurora station?

I'm not suggesting they live in BB and drive to Rt. 59 or the Aurora station. I'm suggesting that they live in Aurora near one of those two stations.

As far as driving to the Metra stations in downtown Naperville or Lisle from Bolingbrook, I would not want to drive for 20 minutes (or more, depending where you live in BB) and then ride a train for 30 minutes (or more) to get to work each day. Much easier to live closer to the station. The OP stated that they did not care about a walkable downtown, so no need to live near the Naperville station. I don't know much about the area around the Metra station in Lisle.