Local celebrations reinforce a strong sense of community in West Chicago
Affordable housing, family festivals, cultural diversity and a thriving downtown contribute to the unique hometown spirit of West Chicago.
With the betterment of the city during the past several years, Daniel Czuba likens West Chicago to a sleeping giant slowly starting to stir.
"It's funny that a lot of people who end up in West Chicago start out to purchase something in Glen Ellyn or Wheaton. In their minds, that area is the cat's meow," said Czuba, broker and president of Daniel and Associates Real Estate. "But when they come here, they're pleasantly surprised with the warmth of the community, and they're proud to call it their home."
West Chicago housing opportunities include lower-cost ranches, quaint bungalows, beautiful old Victorian homes and custom estate homes on some acreage. With the average price of a home at $208,000, West Chicago is one of the few communities where you can get in a nice starter home for less than $200,000.
Cheri Gilson, broker-manager with Prudential Old English, quotes from MLS statistics as of Aug. 1: "There were 308 active properties on the market, five homes at $1 to $2 million, 35 homes at $500,000 to $999,000, 123 homes at $300,000 to $499,000; and 145 homes priced less than $299,000.
"The community has grown, but it's not overgrown. So you can be in town where there is a good mixture of older homes or out away from everything in the country with some land," Gilson said. "There are quite a few newer subdivisions, and there is a mixed-use development in the downtown area."
The mixed-use Gateway Centre project has brought in new and exciting shopping, dining and luxury loft-type and traditional-style condominiums. The new Texan Bar BQ and the Tampico Market with its new facade blend with older neighbors such as Santa Maria Ristorante, Jackie's Barbershop and Tastee Freeze. St. Vincent's, a resale store with many treasures, has always been a strong draw. "And they're bringing in the PACE bus, which in itself is kind of exciting," Czuba said.
West Chicago's many community festivals bring residents together, some celebrating the city's rich cultural diversity.
"We have such a melting pot of cultures, and everyone is very accepting, friendly and helpful," Czuba said. "When people say this is a great community, they're so excited that you'd think they found it themselves.
"Community officials are very active in the community and all the separate entities - library, police and fire departments - do a fine job of working together for the various events. It's great. It shows another side of the community that people don't see - the giving side of town.
As an example, Czuba mentions the Blooming Fest.
"It began when the local garden club started selling flowers downtown. Then the city threw in its support, and it has been very successful," he said.
"The city opened up a couple unused buildings for artists to display or sell their wares or give demonstrations, which even attracted people from outside the community. They're always stirring something up and trying to take advantage of some of the opportunities for the community."
For recreation, you can hike, bike or run along the Illinois Prairie Path, a nature trail system that winds through West Chicago. Facilities at Reed Keppler Park, the largest of local parks, features pavilions, baseball diamonds, a skate park, groves of oak trees and Turtle Splash, a five-acre enclosed water park.
And if golf is your game, Prairie Landing is an 18-hole links-style course designed by Robert Trent Jones, while St. Andrews Golf and Country Club is a premier 36-hole course and educational facility.
Another center of development is the DuPage National Technology Park located near the DuPage Airport, which is one of the most advanced business parks in North America. It is the future home of the Northern Illinois proton treatment and research center. The park has the communications infrastructure to overcome today's bandwidth constraints.
West Chicago's easy access to highway, rail and air transport gives it a leading edge for business development.