Arlington Heights a top downtown destination and place to call home
Over the past several decades, the Village of Arlington Heights has invested significantly in its downtown, creating a destination filled with over 30 eclectic boutique shops, numerous restaurants, do-it-yourself arts and crafts businesses like Bottle and Bottega and Thrown Elements Pottery, entertainment venues like The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre and Hey Nonny all supported by plentiful multifamily housing.
Today Arlington Heights boasts a "dense, mixed-use downtown with a Metra station that connects it with Chicago and neighboring suburbs," according to Michael Mertes, Business Development Manager for the Village. And ever since the onset of the pandemic, plentiful outdoor dining has been added to the mix during the warm months via Arlington Alfresco.
"We have a large daytime population of workers, as well as a large nighttime population of residents, which add to the energy and atmosphere of Arlington Heights," Mertes stated, "and we hold periodic special events, like our new Harmony Fest featuring the Taste of Arlington Heights which will take place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1."
So, it is hardly a surprise that Daily Herald readers named Arlington Heights the local community with the Best Downtown Atmosphere.
But the Village's winning ways also extend beyond the downtown area. In fact, readers also voted it the Best City/Town to Live In.
"Our quality of life in Arlington Heights is literally second-to-none," Mertes said. "We take great pride, for instance, in our highly rated schools, both public and private. In the past 10 years, six schools have earned the coveted Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education."
"Our Arlington Heights Park District is also a source of pride with its nearly 60 parks and facilities, which are within walking distance of most any local home. They include swimming pools, outdoor ice skating, sports courts and much more," he said.
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is also a feather in the Village's cap. It is a 10-time recipient of the Library Journal's Five-Star designation (the publication's highest honor). It is also becoming known for its new "Makerplace," which offers the opportunity to use 3D printers, sewing machines and a fully stocked commercial kitchen.
Across the street from the library is the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, where local history is preserved through a comprehensive, multistructure campus, including the Frederick Muller House. The museum shop sells souvenirs of Arlington Heights' rich past, including freshly bottled Arlington Club soda pop like that produced on-site by the Muller family for many years.
Northwest Community Hospital, a 509-bed facility now part of the NorthShore Health system, is another highlight of Arlington Heights. It is ranked one of the top 20 hospitals in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report and is nationally ranked for its urology care.
"When you combine all of those attributes with the fact that Arlington Heights has unequaled access to transportation, including O'Hare International Airport, the Metra, I-90, IL-53 and more, you can understand why Arlington Heights is such an attractive place to live and work," Mertes concluded.