Buffalo Grove: Quality schools, recreation

Known for its top-rated schools, excellent park district and bountiful green space, Buffalo Grove offers an ideal place to raise a family.

The No. 1 search for people relocating to the area is the schools, said George Seaverns, Realtor with RE/MAX Experts. "Buffalo Grove schools are highly rated from first grade through high school. Stevenson's ACT scores get higher every year, and Buffalo Grove High School is right up there also."

The schools are constantly being upgraded, and their excellence contributes to Buffalo Grove having one of the most stable real estate markets in the area, Seaverns said.

Andee Hausman, broker-owner of RE/MAX Excels, echoes Seaverns' comments and adds that the park district is also a key draw to the area. "My clients love the park district with all the programs they offer for the kids."

Organized sports through the park district include softball, volleyball, baseball, football, basketball, soccer, martial arts, lacrosse, skating/ hockey, aquatics and more. Other organizations also offer sports for residents in football, cheerleading and soccer. Plus the park district maintains 50 park sites and several facilities throughout the community.

An abundance of green space with a quarter of the village's land devoted to nature preserves and parks adds to the village's ambience. "A lot of parks are spread out through the town and connected by a bike path," Seaverns said.

Open space also includes two village-operated golf courses, Buffalo Grove Golf Club adjacent to village hall and The Arboretum Club on Half Day Road on the site of a former tree farm with a backdrop of scenic subdivisions.

Although many subdivisions offer quiet neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and well-maintained homes, the community offers a variety of housing.

"We have everything from entry level to million dollar homes, so you get the full spectrum here," Seaverns said. "We have homes 40 years old to brand new construction including maintenance-free single-family homes and townhouses."

"We have after-war houses in Cook County, known as Old Buffalo Grove, and as you go farther north, you've got larger, newer homes in Lake County, Hausman said. "There are some beautiful areas there."

Another plus for the community is its central location with shopping in every direction and within 20 miles of the headquarters of several big industries, which is another reason for the stable real estate market, Seaverns said.

"Of course we have been affected by the economy, but it will bounce back because all these companies are still here. We have a lot of drug companies, and they will always be in business; they're not going anywhere."

Two train stations - on Deerfield Parkway and Half Day Road - offer those who work in the city convenient commuting and plenty of parking. The ease of commuting is also a big draw for buyers.

Other amenities include eSkape, an entertainment center with bowling, laser tag, arcade, corporate conference rooms and a restaurant called Grillworks. "It's really nice for the kids and adults," Hausman said. There is also horseback riding off Gilmer Road, which is not in Buffalo Grove, but very close for kids who want to take lessons, she said.

Buffalo Grove also has a rich arts and cultural scene that includes the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band started in 2001, the BG Singers, a community chorus and theater for children and young adults through the park district.

Timeline

1834: Early settlers arrived from New England and established the area's first farms.

1852: St. Mary's Catholic Church built for $300; the first Mass held Sept. 16.

1900: Mike Firnbach builds his tavern and hall called "Little Mike's Place" (now the site of Lou Malnati's Pizza).

1931: Ed Gerschefske opened his barber shop in the basement of the Firnbach Tavern.

1957: Residential development began in the late 1950s when local builder Al Frank obtained 100 acres of farmland and built a number of ranch homes, now known as Old Buffalo Grove.

1958: Buffalo Grove incorporated as a village.

1962: The first Buffalo Grove Days held, which remains a popular annual event.

1969: Beth Judea becomes the first synagogue in the area; Buffalo Grove Park District is formed.

1981: The Buffalo Grove Commerce Center constructed followed by the Corporate Grove Industrial Park and the Buffalo Grove Business Park.

2008: Buffalo Grove's 50th anniversary.