Harvard, IL (Chicago, Arlington Heights, Palatine: renting, homes, neighborhood)

[Stoneybrook]

Hi everyone,

Great advice on a lot of things. I am considering a new job in Harvard, IL, but would like to live a little closer to the city-- perhaps Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Barrington. All of these places look to be very close to route 14. Does anyone have any thoughts about a commute from, for example, Arlington Heights--> route 14--> to Harvard, IL? Would appreciate any input. Any thoughts about these places, or others? We are looking for good schools, diversity, family areas. Thank you

[tcs1366]

Harvard, huh? wow, that's up there. All of the towns you mentioned are quite nice. Barrington is known for being pretty expensive.

I am a bit south of that area, so i wouldnt be able to help much ... more bumping back up your message.

and, wanting to be closer to the city... all those towns are still pretty far out from down town.

for housing, you will find more reasonable housing closer to Harvard ... Woodstock or so ... but again, i'm not too familiar with it... though i do know where Harvard is. ;-)

[HOWELL_STREET]

Dear Friend:

Harvard, IL is a very nice town but as the previous thread suggested, it is a fairly long distance from the closer towns (of Chicago) that you mentioned.

Harvard is somewhat famous for the huge Motorola plans of a number of years ago. Motorola built a multi-million dollar facility just outside of the town and kept it running for a few years.

Today, I believe Motorola's "white elephant" is still sitting dormant with only a security force in place. So Motorola gave Harvard very 'great expectations' and then snatched out the rug from beneath the town's economic expectations.

A different sort of transportation idea that I offer to you would be to take the METRA railroad system (Harvard is the western end of that particular line) - - towards Arlingthon Heights or any other town along that railroad system. Then, wherever you get 'off', walk to your parked 'beater' of a car in a private residential garage that you might rent. Then, with your 'beater', you can disembark to wherever you decide for employment. And then repeat the process returning home. In this manner, you can avoid any inclement weather on your way out to Harvard.

If you choose renting a reitred lady's garage for your beater, then have an electrical outlet so that you can keep an electronic battery charger on the battery of your car. Use an 'electronic' charger, only, since a non - electronic charger might set your car and garage on fire. That happened in my own neighborhood several years ago.

I recommend this method because IL - 14 and many other roads can become very nasty during an unexpected severe snow storm / blizzard that the Chicago area experiences.

'Hope this helps with your decisions.

Carter Glass,
Wheaton, IL

[rgb123]

yes, you can work in Harvard and live in Arlington Heights or that area......its really just a reverse commute, it is in your favor. Its just the same as someone living in Chicago and taking the metra to Arlington Heights.

You have the metra on your side if you stay along the rt 14 corridor.

Arlington Heights is quite close to the city (I dont understand some peoples perception of a long distance, but then I am quite used to commuting, and have lived in the suburbs most of my life...and other places that are actually quite far from a big city).

Harvard is nice, and in my opinion you would be just fine there, and anywhere up to about Arlington Heights, if you rely on Metra, but you could drive as well.

Crystal Lake is nice....and in my opinion a nice manageable distance from the city, if you just want to go there on weekends for entertainment.

Arlington Heights is just more congested, and a bit closer in....but what does it matter if you are not going to be in the city on a regular basis?

[Stoneybrook]

Thank you for all the input. I will probably need to drive to work in Harvard, but I wil definitely consider the "beater" idea.

[ReederWI]

I am very familiar with Harvard and I enjoy it. It has a nice small town feel to it. The downtown eating areas are dirt cheap and pretty good quality. Harvard is very close to Woodstock (15 minutes) and Crystal Lake (30 minutes). Both of those are very nice communities as well. Harvard is the last stop on the Metra and the ride is about 1 hr 30 mins.

[Brock Landers]

LOVE Woodstock/Bull Valley, these areas are still rural, yet not too far from the big city to casue a problem. Look there, as Harvard is well withing the distance you desire!

[openspace]

If you want something newer consider Algonquin or Lake in the Hills area

[IbeDavid]

Originally Posted by Stoneybrook

Hi everyone,

Great advice on a lot of things. I am considering a new job in Harvard, IL, but would like to live a little closer to the city-- perhaps Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Barrington. All of these places look to be very close to route 14. Does anyone have any thoughts about a commute from, for example, Arlington Heights--> route 14--> to Harvard, IL? Would appreciate any input. Any thoughts about these places, or others? We are looking for good schools, diversity, family areas. Thank you

REPLY: Harvard is on the other side of the earth from Arlington Heights and not real practical for a daily commute. Consider Lake County like around Antioch, Lake Villa, or even Richmond. With the exception of Richmond, this area has alot of shops and things to do while having a good country feel to it . I live in Lake Villa myself. Youd take Route 173 west all the way to Harvard. Homes are cheaper up here than Arl. Hts. too. Alot cheaper.

[fatsy]

I work in Harvard and my husband works in Chicago. We live in Barrington. That seems to be the half way mark between Harvard and Chicago. Plus Barrington is richy neighborhood and has great schools! The train goes from Harvard to Barrington to Chicago. The drive from Harvard straight to Chicago is 1hr and 30min. If you stay around the Barrington area you will have about a 45 min drive to Harvard and about a 45 min drive to Chicago.