Neighbrhood profile: English Meadows
Six years ago, Rita and Evan Abban moved from the north side of Chicago to English Meadows in Grayslake because they sought a good education for their two boys and a safe, suburban lifestyle.
"We liked the warm and inviting feel of the neighborhood, and the homes were so pretty. They looked like a picture on television. The houses are not too close and not too far from one another; there's just enough space where you can visit with your neighbors," Rita Abban said.
"We liked the size of our house and the floor plan. I especially enjoy the family room. From the couch, you can see the whole house and look out on the street where you have the feeling of being outside. It's a special space where I love to sit and relax with a cup of hot tea or coffee. It has such a warm feeling."
Shortly after the couple moved into their home, they felt a sense of community and support with the neighbors.
No matter what one's interests, there are so many things to do within 15 minutes - the forest preserves, parks and bike riding, Abban said. Grayslake features an extensive communitywide bike trail system, which the village, park and school districts have expanded to allow greater access to and from neighborhoods, schools, downtown, parks and other amenities.
Located off Route 83 south of Shorewood Road, English Meadows was built in the early 1990s by Lexington Homes and features 676 houses comprising midlevel, tri-level and two-story homes with 1,148 to 2,503 square feet of living space, said Mark Naughton, real estate broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes.
Naughton works for a new real estate agency that will celebrate its grand opening Aug. 7. Owners Jim and Susan Starwalt are excited to bring the first Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agency into Illinois. The company features 400 real estate offices nationwide.
English Meadows is a desirable neighborhood with mature trees and well-kept yards. "We get a lot of first-time buyers for the lower-priced homes, and then many then move up to a larger home in the subdivision without having to leave the area and school district," Naughton said.
It's a popular, family-oriented area with the middle school, two parks and tennis courts within the subdivision and near the Redwood Golf Course. Naughton said you see a lot of people outside - kids playing and people walking their dogs. A path leads to the library, pool, skate park and sprinkler park for toddlers.
The Links of English Meadows, which sits between the main part of English Meadows and the Redwood Golf Course, features larger, mostly two-story homes with basements. In both areas, 22 homes have sold in the past 12 months.
Grayslake is known for its great park district where there's something for everyone. It's not just built around soccer and baseball.
Grayslake's central location puts residents within a 15-minute drive to major regional shopping centers, several golf courses, the Chain of Lakes, Lake Michigan marinas, state parks, hundreds of acres of forest preserves, winter skiing and snowmobiling, and Six Flags Great America amusement park.
The village is also home to the Lake County Fairgrounds, which hosts a summer county fair and offers space for year-round exhibits and events, such as the RV and Camper Show.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range: </span>$195,000 to $300,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 19 to 23 years
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Meadowview Elementary, Frederick and Grayslake Middle schools in Grayslake Elementary District 46 and Grayslake North High School in Grayslake High School District 127
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks: </span>Grayslake Park District