Northshire in neighborhood profile
When R.M. Arcuri purchased a brick ranch in the Northshire subdivision in Des Plaines, it wasn't necessary for him to research the area.
"I was born and raised in this neighborhood, and my parents still live here, so it's all I've ever known," Arcuri said. "I wasn't married at the time I bought the house, but it was affordable and I really liked it."
Arcuri also liked the people in the neighborhood. "It's not like you come home from work, wave at your neighbors, go in your house, and that's it. People are friendly and spend a lot of time together."
Now married to his wife, Liz, who is also from Des Plaines, the couple likes the area because of its central location, convenient to shopping, Metra and the schools. Property taxes are good for the region, and there are a lot of employers in the area, which is a big draw for the community, Arcuri said.
"Residents have made a lot of improvements in their homes, and the shopping has gotten better. A lot of people are happy about Mariano's coming in right here by the subdivision."
Construction of the grocery store will soon begin at Golf and Mount Prospect roads.
"The subdivision is also changing with many younger families moving into the area, and there are a lot of little kids here, which makes it nice to have a mix of original residents and new people," he said.
Located north of Golf Road, south of Northwest Highway and east of Mount Prospect Road, Northshire is a well-kept community of single-family homes typically built in the mid-1950s, said Jan Goczkowski, real estate broker with Century 21 Langos & Christian in Mount Prospect.
"The community started out with 245 small ranch homes, many of which have been expanded up and back," she said. "There are also some newer homes that have replaced teardowns."
A big draw to the neighborhood is the friendly people. People enjoy a nice camaraderie that you don't always find today, Goczkowski said.
"It's almost like life in the '50s when the subdivision was built. People are out walking their dogs, children playing in the park in the center of the subdivision. There's a neighborhood garage sale, and they have block parties in the summer," Goczkowski said. "It's a unique little spot and a wonderful neighborhood."
The area is unique in that it's near many amenities, so you don't need your car every time you go out. A bus stop is in the neighborhood, and it's close to the Cumberland Metra train station, schools, shopping, the Frisbee Senior Center and Lattof YMCA, which offers many recreational opportunities for residents.
Besides residents making improvements to their homes, the neighborhood will see even more improvement with the revitalization of Blackhawk Park, and the park district will put in a walking path behind the subdivision.
The Des Plaines Park District receives rave reviews from residents and is among the most beautiful and well-maintained park districts in the state. It offers more than 300 recreational programs and special events.
The park district also operates several recreation facilities, including Mountain View Adventure Center with mini golf, batting cages and BMX bike and skate park; Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center with a leisure pool, tall slides, lazy river and cafe; and Prairie Lakes Community Center, which includes a fitness center and theater.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $205,000 to $427,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 62 years old and newer
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Terrace Elementary and Chippewa Middle schools in Des Plaines Elementary District 62 and Maine West High School in Maine Township High School District 207
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Des Plaines Park District