Lakewood Grove focus of neighborhood profile
James Russell loves his man cave.
Ten years ago, when he and his wife Melissa bought a new home in Lakewood Grove, they had the room built to their specs, which was an option. The room boasts a pool table and kitchen/living area with sink, refrigerator and microwave oven.
"For entertainment, I don't need to leave the house," Russell said. "I have a large TV with surround sound, so it's pretty nice to play pool and watch sports."
The couple had looked in the Wheeling/Buffalo Grove area, which was closer to their jobs at the time, but found they got a lot more for the money farther north in Round Lake. They have been happy with that decision.
The couple and their two young girls like their large backyard that abuts open, wooded area. Russell only owned a push mower when they moved into the home, but after 20 minutes of mowing, he was off to Sears to buy a riding mower.
"Now it only takes about 45 minutes to cut the whole yard," he said.
"It's so quiet, and we like the wide open spaces," Russell said. "We have a bonfire every weekend with neighbors. The kids have s'mores. It's really nice."
Russell enjoys any activity that involves biking, running and exercise. For jogging or walking, it's about a mile around the whole subdivision, he said.
Situated off Route 60 and Cedar Lake Road, Lakewood Grove features newer, single-family homes with open floor plans that range from 1,500 to 4,200 square feet, most with three to four bedrooms, 2½ baths and two- or three-car garages.
A big draw to the neighborhood is its resort-style living with a community clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and several tot lots, said Leslie Radzin, broker with RE/MAX Suburban in Arlington Heights.
Also, once a year the neighborhood closes off its streets and have a sidewalk sale for the whole subdivision, which is a popular event.
From the subdivision's inception, Radzin sold homes for the original builder so she is very familiar with the floor plans and community amenities, including three large detention ponds. She now is marketing a large home here with 3,400 square feet including two family rooms, five bedrooms, three baths, an English basement and three-car garage.
Lakewood Grove also offers duplexes and townhouses.
Homes in the subdivision feature attractive exteriors with a range of standard and optional exteriors and different color packages, Radzin said. "When you drive through the subdivision, it looks very nice. It's laid out well and isn't crowded. Also, residents are permitted to fence their yards."
Students in the community are in two different school districts, both highly rated, Radzin said. "Kids who grow up here have some nice friendships that last forever."
This is a great area for young families or young people starting their families because it's an affordable area, pretty well located north but not as far north as some other suburbs
Even though the economy had a slow down, it is slowly recovering and prices are coming back up, Radzin said, adding that Lakewood Grove is still an affordable area for people who want to move now because interest rates are very attractive.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $170,000 to $310,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 11 years old
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Fremont Elementary and Fremont Middle schools in Fremont Elementary District 79 and Mundelein High School in Mundelein High School District 120. Some students attend Grayslake Elementary District 46 and Grayslake High School District 127.
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Round Lake Area Park District