Neighborhood spotlight focuses on Greenwood Place

When Martha and Mark Germano relocated from Michigan to the Chicago area, they knew they wanted to live in Arlington Heights. At one time they had lived in town near Recreation Park, so they liked the community and felt comfortable here.

Working with Coldwell Banker 15 years ago, they purchased a home in Greenwood Place, a new development of 44 custom houses built by D.R. Horton Homes.

"This is a little gem that's tucked away off Rand Road and Route 53," Mark Germano said. "Most people don't know about it because it's a small subdivision, and townhouses face Rand Road."

On moving day, the couple heard a knock on their door and thought they were already getting a salesperson before they even moved into their house. But they were pleasantly surprised when it was a neighbor welcoming them to the neighborhood.

"I thought how nice," Germano said. "How gracious."

The next day other neighbors invited them over for a neighborhood get-together because they were all new to the area.

"It was very neighborly from the start and has continued," Germano said. "We have block parties, progressive dinners, a neighborhood website. With the nice weather, we'll be standing around chatting in front yards.

"It's very nice. We've watched the neighborhood kids grow up, go to proms and go on to college. It's very friendly, and because there are only 44 homes, it's a pretty tight-knit group."

Greenwood Place is a great place to live in Arlington Heights, said Mary Beth Sauer, real estate broker with Coldwell Banker. It's a newer, upscale area, so homes feature current amenities buyers want, she said.

Sauer said the neighborhood, well kept with a neat appearance, was built in 1999 and 2000 and now has a nice mix of young families and families with teenagers.

With three adult children, the Germanos love their spacious home with two-story entry and plenty of room for family and friends.

"We've had as many as 27 people here for four days during the Thanksgiving holiday. It's fun entertaining," Germano said.

The finished basement with pool table, big TV and full wet bar is a great entertaining space with plenty of room for children to play. Outside, they have a cedar fence, so their granddaughters can go out the back door and run around and chase grandma and grandpa.

The schools are fantastic and a big draw to the neighborhood, Sauer said. Greenbrier Elementary School sits just a few blocks from the subdivision. The school is the smallest elementary school in the district and accommodates children with special needs.

With the school nearby, Germano said their kids could walk to school and it was easy to be involved with the PTA. As they got older, they played sports at the park, Germano said. "It's really an easy place to live."

Residents have access to plenty of shopping along Rand Road and at the intersection of Rand and Arlington Heights roads. Downtown Arlington Heights offers a thriving downtown with an eclectic mix of restaurants and pubs, live theater performances, outdoor concerts and shopping.

Arlington International Racecourse offers fun for the whole family while Arlington Heights Memorial Library has one of the largest collections in the state.

Sauer now is marketing a single-family home with five bedrooms, 3½ baths, finished basement and three-car garage with a nice front porch and rear patio.

Greenwood Place also features 96 townhouses built by Ryland Homes that offer 1,508 to 1,977 square feet.

Listing sheet

<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $500,000 to $800,000

<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 15 years

<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Greenbrier Elementary and Thomas Middle schools in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 and Buffalo Grove High School in Northwest Suburban High School District 214

<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Arlington Heights Park District