Large, wooded properties preserve Prospect Heights' rural feel

Prospect Heights offers the best of two worlds. A rustic atmosphere pervades on the city's West side, where large single-family homes sit on sprawling lots with mature landscaping, while the East side exudes an urban feel with several condominium buildings and a more dense setting.

Most single-family homes in Prospect Heights occupy a minimum of half-acre lots, said Connie Hoos, broker-associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. "It's one of the only areas where you can still get an affordable home on a half acre of property."

Until about five years ago, most of the homes were small ranches or split-levels. Then builders realized that on a half acre you could build a 4,000-square-foot home with a three-car garage and still have a nice back yard, said Jeane Williams, broker-Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

Before incorporation, a lot of builders and craftsmen wanted to live in a town where there was room for trucks or a home business. You could have that in Prospect Heights, but not in some surrounding towns, so a lot of people came here for that reason, Williams said.

When it comes to housing, Prospect Heights has the distinction of having some of the oldest and newest properties in the Northwest suburbs, Williams said.

"Just last year I sold a home that turned 100 years old; it was an original home on Creek Court. A lot of newer subdivisions have been built on previous farmland," she said. Mushroom farms and horse farms of 40 or 50 years ago gave way to new subdivisions.

"With so many different builders, all the homes are different from one another, and many people have built additions on their homes," Williams said.

"I live in a house with four additions. It started out as a two-story, but now it's quite a big bigger, and it's something we'll live in forever," she said. "It's a safe place to live with people out walking their dogs and taking evening strolls down the block. It's a friendly place."

While Williams, who has lived in Prospect Heights for 35 years, never tires of singing its praises, Hoos joins the chorus.

"I think it's the most wonderful place. With its own train station, it's close to Chicago, the airport here; it has lots of parks and a couple golf courses.

"It's close to Restaurant Row (in Wheeling), the library and expressways. The Pace bus takes people wherever they need to go. And MacArthur Middle School received a 2008 award in education; it was one of 380 schools honored," Hoos said.

"I love the schools, the area, the yards. There's just so much to love about Prospect Heights."

A major asset of the city is the Chicago Executive Airport, the third largest airport in the Chicago area and one of the busiest small airports in the country. The airport benefits area businesses such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centers.

Businesses can look to the Wheeling-Prospect Chamber of Commerce to enhance the economic growth of the community. It hosts many promotional and networking events for people to make contacts and an annual golf outing.

Also working to better the community, the Prospect Heights Lions Club has been very active for more than 50 years. It built the first swimming pool and was involved in forming the Prospect Heights Park District.

Prospect Heights has no real estate property tax, which is another good reason for families and businesses to take up residence there.