Clubhouse considered neighborhood amenity

As you drive along the tree-lined boulevard into Bloomfield Club, an impressive clubhouse sits straight ahead and sets the tone for this upscale community in Bloomingdale.

The beautiful clubhouse is a big attraction for people, said Vicki Martin, real estate agent with RE/MAX Accord in Bloomingdale. "It's unusual for a luxury home community to have a clubhouse. Amenities include an indoor swimming pool with spa and locker rooms, two entertainment rooms, and an outdoor pool with lifeguard, tennis courts and basketball hoops."

Bloomfield Club features luxury homes, leisure homes and townhouses, each with its own management association. Because of the variety of housing, there is a wide price range, and the community has a diversity of residents, Martin said.

Luxury homes do not include maintenance. Leisure homes occupy smaller lots and include partial maintenance -- lawn, snow removal and painting. And townhouses include complete maintenance -- roof, exterior siding, lawn and snow removal.

Luxury single-family homes typically have about 4,000 square feet and amenities such as large room sizes, two-story foyers and family rooms, granite countertops, large master bedrooms and baths, some whirlpools, and two- or three-car garages. Some homes back up to the golf course.

"It has a nice community feeling, and you get a lot for your money here," Martin said. "It's not as pricey as homes located farther east.

"The clubhouse hosts various events such as a champagne brunch, summer party, and holiday dinner. Sometimes people only have the opportunity to say hi at the mailbox, so it makes it easy to meet your neighbors. It breaks the ice, and people can get to know one another."

For Sue Ann and David Smith, the charm of their traditional luxury home was an attraction. "My style is a more traditional home, which is not as prevalent in this area, so this really appealed to me," Sue Ann Smith said. "We've even had people stop and ask us if we'd like to sell it.

"The community has a lot of green space and a good look and feel," Sue Ann Smith said. "It's very quiet with not much traffic."

"And we rarely hear highway noise," David Smith added.

"We use the clubhouse in spurts. I have used the workout room, and we enjoy the pool," Sue Ann Smith said. "We've used the clubhouse for several functions, some our own and some we joined in because they were sponsored by the community. They run it very well," David Smith said.

"One of the reasons we stay here is because of the neighbors. We have some very nice neighbors, and they're diverse, all at different stages of their lives," David Smith said.

"At Christmas I hosted a cookie exchange because we wouldn't see one another until the spring," Sue Ann Smith said. "The community also has a gourmet cooking group, bible study with different denominations represented, travelogue group, and on Valentine's Day men fix dinner for their wives. This is the type of community that has a lot of activities," Sue Ann Smith said. "I don't think a lot of other places have this."

Bloomingdale is 25 miles west of the Loop. The Eisenhower Expressway (I-90) is immediately east of the village. Drive time to the Loop is 35 minutes; O'Hare is 30 minutes away, and Midway is a 45-minute drive. Commuters can board a Metra train in Medinah or Roselle for the 40-minute trip to the Loop. Bus service is available.

Price range: $600,000 to $900,000

Age of homes: 14 to 17 years old

Schools: Erickson Elementary and Westfield Middle schools in Bloomingdale Elementary District 13 and Lake Park High School in Lake Park High School District 108

Parks: Bloomingdale Park District