Small Triangle is hidden treasure near downtown Mount Prospect
Joanie Schwarzbeck wanted to live in the Small Triangle area of Mount Prospect because it reminded her of the neighborhood where she grew up in Park Ridge.
Schwarzbeck, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Suburban, watched for a home in the area to come on the market. Little did she know that the historical Martin Masz House, once the St. Paul Lutheran school house, would come up or sale.
"Within hours after the house came up on the computer, I made my husband leave work and we went and bought the house," Schwarzbeck said. "The second I walked into the house, it felt like home."
The Martin Masz House was built in 1913, moved in the 1920s and transformed into a single-family home. Martin Masz was a teacher and later principal of St. Paul Lutheran School where he remained for more than 50 years.
Schwarzbeck and her husband Mike are only the second owners of the house.
"My husband is a carpenter, so we wanted something we could renovate and still keep the character of the home," Schwarzbeck said.
Built in the 1950s after the war, Small Triangle is comprised of older tree-lined streets and homes with character -- Georgians, ranches, Cape Cod cottages, two-stories and older farm homes along with some new homes that have replaced teardowns.
Situated in the triangle created by Central Road, Northwest Highway and Mount Prospect and Elmhurst roads, the Small Triangle is an established neighborhood with little turnover. Homes are still affordable for families and include some good starter homes. The neighborhood Owen Park features a playground, baseball diamond and basketball court.
Seeking good farmland, German immigrants Johanna and Friedrich Busse moved from Chicago to Mount Prospect where they played an important role in establishing the community. Some streets in the historic Small Triangle are named after the five Busse sons -- Louis, Edward, Owen, Albert and George. The other streets are Elm, Maple and Emerson.
A lot of people are drawn to the area because it's a great in-town location, and people love that downtown feeling. They can walk to the library in town, restaurants and the train. On Saturday mornings, we always see people walking home from Starbucks or Caribou Coffee with a cup of coffee in their hand, Schwarzbeck said.
"It's a friendly neighborhood. We walk our dog Wolfgang just about every night, and we're never out walking alone. In the summertime, people are walking, rollerblading, and riding their bikes."
Residents who live on the east end can walk to the Cumberland train station while those who are at the west end are near the downtown train station.
A member of the downtown merchants association, Schwarzbeck wants to see the downtown continue to thrive and grow.
For recreation, the Mount Prospect Park District offers a variety of classes, activities and facilities including the Lions Recreation Center with the adjoining Big Surf Wave Pool; the Mount Prospect Golf Club, RecPlex with swimming pool, gym, fitness center and more, and the Friendship Park Conservatory with 30 acres of lush landscaping, classes and special events.
The chamber sponsors a mid-summer downtown block party, and other community events include the Fourth of July Parade, Farmers Market.
Mount Prospect sits 22 miles northwest of Chicago, close enough for residents to enjoy its attractions. Rand Road and Northwest Highway are east-west thoroughfares that lead to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). Drive time to the Loop is 50 minutes while O'Hare is about a 15-minute drive and Midway is 55 minutes away. Commuters reach the Loop in 39 minutes via express train and in 45 minutes on the local.
Price range: $300,000 to $700,000
Age of homes: 50 years old and newer
Schools: Fairview Elementary and Lincoln Middle school in Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 and Prospect High School in Northwest Suburban Township High School District 214
Parks: Mount Prospect Park District
Joanie Schwarzbeck
RE/MAX Suburban, Mount Prospect
Call: (847) 259-0202
E-mail: joknee@wowway.com
How long in the business: 22 years
Why I like what I do: "I love meeting new people and helping them achieve their dream of home ownership. I also love selling real estate because no two days are ever the same."