Hawthorn Woods (Mundelein, Lake Zurich, Barrington: house, buyers, school districts)

[phvtran]

My wife and I are thinking about moving to Hawthorn Woods. How is it like living in HW? Are there sections in HW that are better than others? How is LZ High School compare to Stevenson High School? Thanks!

[Loves mountains]

The only thing different about Hawthorn Woods is that there is no town actually - it's just a group of subdivisions! No downtown at all. You can private message me about Barrington High School which has excellent test scores and opportunities.

[pvande55]

That is not true. Hawthorn Woods is indeed an incorporated village, with mayor and village board. And it is not just a "paper village" that exists only to keep other villages from taking it over. It has a police force and a municipal aquatic center. I believe the village will soon get Lake Michigan water. It is split into different High School districts. I believe Mundelein, Lake Zurich and Stevenson.

[billiken]

Stevenson is the best of those high schools academically, and very well regarded. It's also completely humongous. Feel like each graduating class is over 1,000 students. This can make it difficult to make sports teams, etc.

[middle-aged mom]

HW is beautiful.

Having said this, be aware of issues:

It feeds into 3 different school districts with very different perceptions and property taxes.

Do your own due dilligence as it relates to HW Finance Committee minutes, bond ratings and the Acquatic Center debt load.

If and when 53 is extended north of Lake-Cook, some properties will be impacted. This risk is offset to some extent by lower property values. Be aware this Rt 53 thing has been going on for a generation, now.

The blah-blah about the potential costs associated with some day tapping into Lake Michigan water can be found in village minutes. This issue is bigger than HW and impacts much of northern Lake County.

Proximity of some properties to the CNR tracks is a greater concern than it used to be because of the potential for increased train traffic. HW is most certainly not alone in being potentially impacted by increased freight train traffic.

None of this is meant to discourage you from HW. Rather go into it with your eyes wide open. All communities have strengths and weaknesses.

If you like the look and feel of HW, you may also like some parts of LZ, Kildeer, Deer Park, Lake Barrington, North Barrington and unincorporated Barrington.

[Loves mountains]

Originally Posted by pvande55

That is not true. Hawthorn Woods is indeed an incorporated village, with mayor and village board. And it is not just a "paper village" that exists only to keep other villages from taking it over. It has a police force and a municipal aquatic center. I believe the village will soon get Lake Michigan water. It is split into different High School districts. I believe Mundelein, Lake Zurich and Stevenson.

I didn't mean that it wasn't a town - just that there is no Main Street with shops, etc. There are gathering areas - like the aquatic center - but not an actual town center per se. But they do have a nice sense of community - a few years ago many people came out against a large mall that was planned for a nearby cornfield. Luckily the people of HW (and neighboring towns) stood up.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Loves mountains

I didn't mean that it wasn't a town - just that there is no Main Street with shops, etc. There are gathering areas - like the aquatic center - but not an actual town center per se. But they do have a nice sense of community - a few years ago many people came out against a large mall that was planned for a nearby cornfield. Luckily the people of HW (and neighboring towns) stood up.

Oh yes, I remember that one. There was a battle between Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington. Finally an agreement was reached that kept it from being built. And the 53 extension has been debated for decades. There was opposition and no funding for it. Because of a referendum last year, it is more likely to get built.

[Loves mountains]

You are right - I think the Route 53 extension is inevitable. Oh, if only I could sell my house in Lake Barrington to the OP!!

[MayMove]

They have been talking up the 53 Extension for decades. It will years before it happens, if at all. The area of HW that "could" be affected by the extension is on the outskirts of the village. Stevenson HS zoned area.

Lake Zurich schools are an excellent choice. We went with LZ schools across the board. LZHS is a much more manageable campus. Did not like the idea of Mundelein schools for K-8. Which is what you would get if you wanted Stevenson for HS.

[commentorinchief]

Hawthorn Woods has made an art of charging multiple fees. Plan on hundreds of dollars a year more licensing fees for personal property than surrounding communities. Also be aware that recent budget cuts reduced the police force so the current admiistration has directed all of the remaining force that if they want better work hours, they need to write enough citations to be able to afford more staff.

Home buyers should be very wary of getting stuck in Hawthorn Woods.