Cumberland’s history make for a charming neighborhood

A mosaic of homes, mature trees and well-tended yards create a pretty picture in the Cumberland neighborhood of Des Plaines.

Comprised of homes north of State Street, south of Rand Road, east of Cambridge and west of Wolf Road, Cumberland is one of the more attractive areas in Des Plaines, said Jim Grady, broker and manager with RE/MAX Suburban in Mount Prospect.

During the 1920s before the Depression, many Tudors were built there; then after the war in the ’50s and ’60s, a mix of housing styles — ranches, Cape Cods, bi-levels and two-stories — went up, complementing the older homes in the subdivision, Grady said.

This charming blend of homes attracted Howard and Debbie Post to the area 20 years ago when they purchased a two-story Colonial home, moving here from Glenview.

“We bought here because the houses had a lot of architectural interest and curb appeal,” Debbie Post said. “Our home was built a long time ago, so the interior also has some interesting architecture. We really like that.

“Plus the cost of the house at that time was something we could afford. We couldn’t have bought this house for the same price in Glenview,” Post said. “I was a little worried that the schools might not be as good as we thought, but we were pleasantly surprised at how good they were, and everything worked out well for us.”

The couple enjoys walking around the treed neighborhood and seeing all the birds and squirrels. “We even had a pair of foxes in the neighborhood,” Post said. “This is a lovely little spot.”

The pretty neighborhood with a walk-to-train location also appealed to Jim and Donna Grady more than 30 years ago. “I like the location,” Jim Grady said. “When I go to Chicago, I walk three blocks, get on the Metra, and I’m downtown in 26 minutes. This is a very nice, friendly and convenient neighborhood.”

The Cumberland Metra train station is on Northwest Highway just south of the neighborhood.

The Gradys purchased a home built in 1946 that has a two-car garage, which all homes did not have at that time, and a nice oversized lot. They were pleased with the neighborhood schools and high school, where their kids attended and did well.

Just as the Posts enjoy walking through the neighborhood, other residents like it as well. And kids walk to the elementary and junior high schools, the park and the pool.

Cornell Park is a popular place for ice skating in the winter. Then Chippewa Park features the park district pool, sports fields and playground — all so convenient, Grady said.

Other amenities in town include a state-of-the-art library that hosts events and programs of general interest and reading programs for children and adults. Dining options include a number of ethnic restaurants and newer places that have come to town. Local shopping abounds, and a major renovation will make Randhurst Village in nearby Mount Prospect an attractive destination for major shopping.

It’s easy to get around in Des Plaines. The town’s excellent transportation systems have always been important to homebuyers who settle in Des Plaines, Grady said.

Many homebuyers look for ease of transportation and how long it will take them to get to work. Des Plaines has two Metra stations, with one downtown as well as the one at Cumberland.

Residents can drive from Des Plaines to O’Hare International Airport in less than 15 minutes, a big plus for those who frequently fly for business. Also, the PACE bus downtown takes people to the River Road el station in Rosemont and to O’Hare, while major roads and highways go through town.

With a thriving industrial sector, Des Plaines is home to several Fortune 500 companies and international businesses. This gives the town a good tax base and thus low property taxes for residents.

For recreation, the Des Plaines Park District operates two golf courses, a driving range center, Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, as well as a full range of programs and activities including summer camps, trips, nature hikes and arts and crafts.

Cumberland

Price range: $250,000 to $550,000

Age of homes: 50 to 85 years

Schools: Cumberland Elementary and Chippewa Junior High schools in Des Plaines Elementary District 62 and Maine West High School in Maine Township High School District 207

Parks: Des Plaines Park District