Hoffman Estates' Evergreen making waves
Sue and Roy Manning's home in the Evergreen subdivision backs to a private lake where father and son have spent many hours fishing together.
With boating and an abundance of smallmouth bass and other fish, the beautiful, five-acre lake is a big draw for residents and potential homebuyers.
"We love looking out on the lake," Sue Manning said. "We have a gorgeous lot, beautiful backyard, and lake views from our kitchen and family room."
Pioneers in the subdivision, Sue and Roy were the first buyers to select a lot in Evergreen 25 years ago when Kennedy Builders started building homes there.
The couple and their son lived in a townhouse in Palatine, and they wanted a newer, larger home in a good school district. "We liked the schools, and that was the main thing for us," Sue Manning said.
"Even though there were no models, we had lived in a Kennedy townhouse and looked at homes in another subdivision they built, so we knew how our home would look.
"The neighborhood is just so friendly, and we have the best neighbors ever. We have a lot of activities, too; our bunco group has been together for 21 years."
Evergreen, situated on the far north side of Hoffman Estates, is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the Hoffman Estates and Barrington area, said Larry Rowan, managing broker at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a 22-year resident of the neighborhood with his wife, Sue.
Homes range from a three-bedroom ranch with 2,200 square feet to the largest Bordeau plan at 3,400 square feet. Lots vary from a quarter acre to an acre with 17 of the lots one-half acre or larger. Ten home sites offer walkout basements, Rowan said.
"Residents have such pride of ownership," he said. "Many have spent $40,000 to $80,000 remodeling their kitchens and baths and replacing windows and roofs. Ninety percent of the homes have finished basements. There has been a lot of investment in the neighborhood."
Rowan said the neighborhood has a lower turnover of homes than most neighborhoods because people love living here. "When a nicely manicured home comes on the market, it sells in one or two weeks," he said.
Residents enjoy the diversity of the neighborhood, which is family-centric and includes adults and children of all ages. You see signs of family life - mothers walking babies in strollers, children playing outside or kids waiting for the school bus - when driving through the area.
Evergreen offers a real sense of community with a full calendar of activities, Rowan said. Residents are social and enjoy all that the neighborhood has to offer. An all-day fishing derby and picnic is a favorite summer activity each year, and people like to light up their homes during the December holiday season, he said.
Recreation abounds in the area. The adjacent Juniper Park with its playground and baseball and soccer fields is a popular spot, and there is a great sledding hill within the subdivision.
Lovers of wildlife will enjoy seeing fox and deer along with several red tail hawks, great horned and barn owls that call the area home.
Evergreen sits two miles from the Crabtree Nature Center Forest Preserve, a popular place for birders that features ponds, marshes, woodlands and restored prairie. A short bicycle ride away is the large Deer Grove Forest Preserve with walking paths and bike trails that wind through hundreds of acres of wooded and prairie areas.
Residents enjoy the location for its more rural feel away from the high traffic congestion of other nearby towns. Yet it sits only five minutes from grocery and convenience shopping, banking and restaurants while major shopping areas nearby are in Schaumburg and Barrington. The Palatine Metra station is 12 minutes away.
Listing sheet
Price: $385,000 to $505,000
Age of homes: 24 years old
Schools: Marion Joy Elementary and Walter Sundling Junior High schools in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Fremd High School in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211.Parks: Hoffman Estates Park District