Value, charm attract buyers to Mount Prospect

Mount Prospect is a strategically-located suburb which feels like a small hometown. Once people move in, they are generally reluctant to move out because of its tree-lined neighborhoods, excellent schools, enviable public services and busy calendar of activities and events for all ages, according to two local Realtors.

"Everybody knows everybody in Mount Prospect," explains Joanie Schwarzbeck, a broker at RE/MAX Suburban. "It is not as spread out as Arlington Heights or Des Plaines so you are likely to bump into someone you know quite often at Starbuck's or the car wash or the grocery store. It is a nice feeling."

Tom Zander of Picket Fence Realty agrees, adding that the community's unique location along the Metra Northwest train line, only minutes from O'Hare Airport and close to both the Northwest and the Tri-State Tollways makes it unequaled for people who need to commute or like to travel.

"This is a peaceful community with great neighborhoods which is convenient to the city and the airport and is close to shopping without being right on top of it and all of the accompanying traffic," Zander says.

"We are particularly popular with young professionals with no children or young infants who are moving out of the city," he explains. "We are suburban enough to provide the neighborhoods that young parents are looking for and many of them have heard about our great school districts."

"Mount Prospect has got it all. There is a strong community feeling; top-rated schools, library and parks; plenty for everyone to do; an up and coming downtown; tree-lined trees and it is affordable," Schwarzbeck adds.

Most of the village's housing stock, according to Zander, sits on lots of a sixth of an acre. However, some areas feature lots as large as half an acre. A few homes date back to the 1800s and very early 1900s. Another grouping of homes dates to the 1920s when developers first discovered the village.

A large number of homes were built in the 1950s and very early 1960s. Most of these feature hardwood floors throughout and were built in ranch, Cape Cod and Georgian styles. Homes built in the late 1960s and early 1970s make up the last large group of homes, Zander says. Most were split-levels and Colonials. Hardwood floors were no longer included as standard and wrought iron railings were popular.

"The housing stock in Mount Prospect is very diverse and all of the neighborhoods are different," Schwarzbeck agrees. "The center of town, for instance, has deeper lots and lots of character. The newer areas have smaller lots, but larger houses."

The community's German farming roots still shine and are obvious by the number of Lutheran churches. But Schwarzbeck says that Realtors and the schools are now seeing many Polish and Hispanic immigrants moving into town, too.

"Most people move into town in their early 30s when they are first able to own their own home," she adds.

But the population is very diverse with families with school-age children, empty-nesters, seniors and young professionals happily living together on virtually every block.

"Since I have lived here I have seen Mount Prospect's affluence increase considerably," Zander adds. "When I moved here in 1983, everyone cut their own grass. Now most have lawn services and BMWs are much more prevalent in driveways."

"A recent retail market analysis done by a developer shows that within a three-mile radius of Mount Prospect's downtown, we have lots of empty nesters and young professionals with incomes in excess of $100,000 who need and want more restaurants, bars and entertainment venues nearby so the village is working on getting more of them to locate here," says Zander, who also serves as president of the Downtown Merchants Association.

Historical timeline

1848: First church -- Saint John Lutheran

1874: Developer Ezra Eggleston names Mount Prospect and builds first train station

1882: John Conrad Moehling opens the first store

1896: First public school built

1900: William Busse, a prominent Mount Prospect citizen, elected to Cook County Commission

1917: Village of Mount Prospect incorporated

1926: Developer Axel Lonnquist opens first large subdivision -- Northwest Hills Country Club

1962: Randhurst Mall opens

Village facts and figures

Population: 56,265

By the percentages:

75 percent residential

15 percent commercial

10 percent industrial

Largest employers:

Caremark

Bosch Tool Corporation

Metropolitan Life

Cummins-Allison

Joanie Schwarzbeck

RE/MAX Suburban,

Mount Prospect

Call: (847) 385-3314

E-mail: joknee@wowway.com

Selling in Mount Prospect: 22 years

My favorite hang out: Submarine Express

Tom Zander

Picket Fence Realty, Mount Prospect

Call: (847) 259-8600

E-mail: zander@picketfencerealty.com

Selling in Mount Prospect: 18 years

My favorite hang out: Flamingo's Seafood Restaurant

Famous sons and daughters

• Sammy Skobel: Roller derby star

• Dave Kingman: Major League Baseball outfielder

• Terry Moran: ABC News Nightline anchor

• Kateryna Yushchenko-Chumachenko: Ukrainian first lady

• Bob Teitel: producer of "Men of Honor, Barbershop, Soul Food" and the upcoming "Humboldt Park"

Favorite events

Winter: Winter festival featuring nighttime parade and annual housewalk

Spring: Village-wide garage sale

Summer: Fourth of July Village Fair

Fall: Family Bike Ride