Homeowners enjoy living along the waterfront

The calm serenity of a river is an attraction for many potential homebuyers.

Along the scenic Fox River running through Kane County, homeowners living near its banks have the pleasure of waking to a beautiful landscape each day, as well as the amenities that small, quaint river towns have to offer.

Sandy and Rick Eckblade purchased a condominium in the popular Quarrystone Pond development in Batavia four years ago.

"I've lived my whole life in Batavia and I grew up in a home that backed on to the river," Sandy Eckblade said. "I have many fond childhood memories of the river. So when Rick and I made the decision to give up shoveling snow and mowing the lawn, we decided to look into living in a condominium. Having Quarrystone Pond in Batavia was ideal, because I love my hometown."

For the Eckblades, location was important, not just for access to the river but to downtown restaurants, park district facilities and the bike path.

"We are so close to everything: the river walk, the library and our church," she added. "Everything is within walking distance."

Security was an important factor for the couple when choosing their home, and the condo met that need. It also offered heated, indoor parking. However, the biggest draw for them was the river.

"There is something so calming about the river," Eckblade said." It's the sound and the gentle moving water. At night, I feel like I am sleeping right under heaven, with the stars up above and the reflection on the water."

With a balcony overlooking the Fox, their condo offers a great place for a morning cup of coffee. The unit offers an open floor plan with a great room, dining room, dinette and kitchen space. The unit has a master bedroom with attached bath along with a second bedroom, a den and a second bath.

The condominiums at Quarrystone Pond range in size from 1,574 square feet to 3,016 square feet, with prices ranging from $374,700 to $834,000. The development is in the center of Batavia, a city of about 25,000 people that was recently voted the best small town in Illinois by CNN Money magazine.

For information about Quarrystone Pond Condominiums, call R. Russell Builders at (630) 761-0033.

Further up river in the town of Geneva, a 4,800-square-foot home that backs up to the Fox in on the market.

"This home has spectacular views of the river," said Jamie Daniel of Miscella Real Estate. "It is especially scenic since the opposite shoreline is the beautiful Island Park."

Built in 1989, the home features a large private courtyard for outdoor entertaining as well as landscaped terraces along the river. Designed for ultimate views of the river, the home has a large open floor plan that allows for river views in almost every room in the house. The home features a luxurious master suite with two additional bedrooms with private baths. Two distinct features of the home are the music room and the library with built in book shelves and a massive stone fireplace.

"I have been selling homes in Geneva since 1977 and have sold many along the river," Daniel said. "This one is a very private retreat with river views that are unlike other properties because of the beautiful park across the river. It is close to the train station, the public library and the shopping district."

Geneva, a community of 24,300 residents, offers easy commuting to Chicago with a Union Pacific rail station in its downtown. The city is known for its charming shopping district with features quaint shops, boutiques and a variety of restaurants.

The home is listed at $1.29 million. For information, call Jamie Daniel at (630) 232-1570.

Julia and Andy Faville have spent 26 years living along the river in Geneva and have enjoyed every minute of it.

"It wasn't easy when my kids were younger because we had to be so vigilant," said Julia Faville. "Kids love to make mud pies at the river's edge and walk on the ice, so we'd have to watch them constantly. Now that they are older, the river is much more calming."

The river isn't always still and serene. The movement of the water changes from day to day, offering visual variety.

"Sometimes it is very still and sometimes the water will be moving so much that there are white caps," she said. "The color also changes. It can be dark and murky and almost blue at times."

The Fox River has enjoyed many clean up efforts in the past decade and the river has benefited.

"It's much cleaner than it was and there is so much wildlife to watch," Faville said. "We see bald eagles and a variety of other birds. Even though the beavers can be destructive, it's fun to watch them at work. We chose this home years ago because of the river. I can't imagine living anywhere else."

One mile north of the Faville home is the community of St. Charles, which is undergoing a downtown revitalization with new shops, restaurants and residential properties. The development has included the addition of brick brownstones along the river.

"We currently have an end unit available in the Brownstones with magnificent views up and down the river," said Wayne Reuter of RE/MAX Excels.

The 3,300-square-foot home features three bedrooms and 31/2 baths with an open floor plan. Built in 2004, the seven-room townhouse has a fully finished, walkout basement with an attached two-car garage. There is a landscaped patio for outdoor enjoyment of the riverfront. It is listed at $599,800.

St. Charles is a community of around 33,000 people and is known for its support of music and the arts. Like its neighboring communities, it treasures the river and has parks and walking paths that allow for public use.

The river is the lifeblood of the community and those who live along its banks value its natural beauty and peaceful sanctuary. It is a peaceful respite from a busy world.