Palanois Park brought suburban style to Palatine
Palanois Park, Palatine's first suburb-style subdivision, was built after World War II when there were still dirt roads, some old farmhouses on Rohlwing Road and large open fields where you could see forever.
Today the subdivision remains a popular, well-kept area where many people have updated and expanded their homes.
Kathy and Rick Somerville moved from Chicago to Palanois Park in 1981 intending to stay there five years. "My husband works in construction and travels to job sites all over, so we wanted to be close to 53 and other expressways to easily get on 294," said Kathy Somerville, who is also a real estate agent with Prudential Properties Northwest in Palatine.
The couple started with a smaller ranch, and rather than move later, they built an addition on their house that doubled its size. "I really like the bay window we put in when we changed the windows and the big family room we have now," Kathy Somerville said.
"Some people come in as starters, and before you know it, the roof is coming off and they're building up another level. Some build out the back. People can expand nicely on 40 percent of their land, and it's easy to add a family room on the back."
Palanois Park features a variety of home styles -- smaller ranches, splits, two-stories and Chicago style bungalows, Kathy Somerfield said. "The neighborhood has a lot of trees, which are beautiful in the summer. I love to speed walk throughout the neighborhood, and it's nice to be in such a nice environment."
Twenty-five years ago when Melissa and Phil George were starting out, they heard so many good things about Palanois Park that they checked it out and bought a house there.
They live in a three-bedroom ranch with a nice front yard and deep back yard. "It's fantastic because our dogs Jazzy and Buddy have the back yard, and we don't have everything out in front. I plant flowers around the tree in front and had a small vegetable garden along the back of the garage until it got so big we had to take it elsewhere," Melissa George said.
"We raised four kids here; it's a great place for kids. They can walk to everything -- to town, the Fourth of July festival, summer Friday night concerts. Also, the park district is close, and they have so much to offer. The kids love to play basketball there and go to the pool. They were also involved in a lot of school activities -- football and swim team.
"The neighbors are great, and everyone gets along with each other."
Bounded by Northwest Highway, Rohlwing Road and the south side of Lincoln Street, Palanois Park is centrally located within a short distance of Woodfield Mall and Deer Park as well as several local strip malls.
For recreation, the Palatine Park District offers a variety of classes and programs for residents of all ages. The park district also maintains Palatine Hills Golf course, an 18-hole championship course, and the family Aquatic Center with two 180-foot slides and two tot water slides. The 15-mile Palatine Trail winds through neighborhood parks, the Palatine Hills Golf Course, Deer Grove Forest Preserve, and Harper College.
Palatine sits about 28 miles northwest of the Loop. Route 53 borders Palatine on the east, connecting with I-90 and I-355. The Loop is an hour drive while O'Hare Airport is 20 minutes away. Commuters can board a train in downtown Palatine for a trip to the Loop.
Price range: $249,900 to $800,000
Age of homes: 55 years old and newer
Schools: Winston Campus Elementary and Junior High schools in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Palatine High School in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211
Parks: Palatine Park District
Kathy Somerville
Prudential Properties Northwest, Palatine
Call: (847) 705-6500
E-mail: kathy.somerville@prudenthomes.com
How long in the business: 23 years
Why I like what I do: I like getting people to their destination. Whether people want to sell their home because of a transfer, divorce or bad health, I like helping them sell their home so they can get on with their lives.