Neighborhood profile: Kingsport
Twenty-seven years ago, James and Vicki Wallace moved to the Kingsport subdivision in Wheeling from a smaller home in Hollywood Ridge, another neighborhood in the same suburb.
"My husband didn't want to leave Wheeling," Vicki Wallace said. "And at the time, this was a new subdivision with young families with children, and that's what drew us here.
"We really liked the open kitchen and family room in our house, and at that time, it wasn't even popular yet. We have a nice yard, which was a big attraction for us because I'm really into gardening. And we live on a cul-de-sac, which was a great place for the kids to play."
The Wallaces have seen some turnover in homeowners living in the subdivision.
"This is a wonderful neighborhood, and we'll never move. A lot of original people still live here; I don't think anyone wants to leave. It is starting to turn a little though; we're getting some young families moving into the neighborhood.
"This is a great location where kids can walk to the school, park and library. And we're also close to the expressways, which is a big plus. My husband travels for business, and he can get to the airport in 15 minutes. We're also close to the train and all the amenities in the neighboring communities."
Located north of Hintz Road just west of Elmhurst Road, Kingsport features 270 ranch, split-level and two-story homes on large lots, said Connie Hoos, real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Arlington Heights.
Houses range from 1,900 to 2,500 square feet with three to four bedrooms, partial or full basements and two- or 2½-car garages. Almost all the homes' exteriors have brick fronts or brick on the first floor. Many people who live in the subdivision are local move-up buyers who wanted to stay in the same school district.
Connie and Bill Hoos work as a team in real estate and also live in the subdivision.
"We've had four homes in Wheeling and worked our way up. We moved from a three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom home here. We're big fans of Wheeling.
"We love it here. It's a family-oriented subdivision with a nice mix of residents, and it has a nice neighborhood feel.
A lot of people know of Kingsport because of its Christmas decorations, and some people refer to it as Candy Cane Lane, Hoos said. "Families really enjoy the attention it brings, and it seems to grow every year."
Residents can walk to Wheeling High School, which is adjacent to the subdivision, and to the new Indian Trails Public Library. The subdivision also is near the Metra station and a PACE bus stop is at the corner of the subdivision.
Wheeling offers a park district with a variety of recreational opportunities and a performance pavilion, which features arts, cultural and music events such as free summer concerts.
For golf enthusiasts, the park district's Chevy Chase Country Club is open to the public throughout the year for golf, dining and special events. There is a full-service golf shop and food and drink at the Gable Room Bar & Grill. The golf course offers a variety of leagues, events, instruction and tournaments throughout the season.
Other area amenities include the popular Milwaukee Avenue "Restaurant Row" and Randhurst Village in nearby Mount Prospect that offers a beautiful open-air center with retail stores, restaurants and a 12-screen movie theater.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $300,000 to $400,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 32 to 38 years
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Betsy Ross Elementary, Anne Sullivan Elementary and MacArthur Middle schools in Prospect Heights Elementary District 23; Wheeling High School in Northwest Suburban High School District 214.
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Wheeling and Prospect Heights park districts