Century Farms in neighborhood profile
Built on land that was originally the Erb Farm for more than a century, Century Farms today is a tight-knit neighborhood favored by residents for its north side location, attractive homes and active homeowners association.
Fran Bixler, Century Farms resident and broker associate with RE/MAX of Naperville, enjoys telling about Joshua Erb who traveled from Pennsylvania and arrived in Naperville in 1847 in a Conestoga wagon. With land priced at $1.50 an acre, he and his family settled and farmed more than 285 acres.
The farmland was developed by Kimball Hill Homes and Gladstone Builders with 253 single-family homes offering 2,400- to 4,000-square=feet of living space. Most homes have four bedrooms, 2½ baths, finished basements and two- or three-car garage.
The Kimball Hill plans feature open floor plans with 9- or 10-foot ceilings, two-story family room or foyer and dramatic architecture with niches and walls of windows. Gladstone Builders features more traditional style homes with 8-foot ceilings.
The pretty homes in Century Farms along with its great location off the highway and close to downtown drew Susan and Pete Swanson to the subdivision about 15 years ago. Both were born and raised in Elmhurst and looked at many homes in several towns before settling in Naperville.
The couple has made lifelong friends that started with a play group. "The kids are grown now, but the 'Thursday sisters' still meet for breakfast or lunch," Susan Swanson said. "I have never seen such a close knit group of friends. It's a nice family feeling.
"We love going downtown. I just dropped my oldest daughter off there. It's a safe place for shopping, walking along the river and maybe stopping for a yogurt. Naperville has so much to offer. I think we'll be here for a long time."
Century Farms is a family-oriented neighborhood with a lot of children where parents watch out for each other's kids when they're out playing at the park or riding bikes around the neighborhood.
Fences are not permitted in the subdivision, which means backyards are open, and kids come and go through all the backyards, especially in the summer. This is in keeping with the character of the subdivision that features 23 acres of open areas including ponds grassland and more than a mile of shoreline, Bixler said. "With the open areas and ponds, it seems like we're living in a little vacation area.
"It's been nice raising our children here. Everyone is fantastic, and our neighbors feel like extended family."
For fun and social events, the active neighborhood association plans activities galore including a shamrock parade for St. Patrick's Day, spring egg hunt, Fourth of July bike parade, National Night Out, annual garage sale and a bonfire.
When Bixler moved to the subdivision, the family had the option of a first- and second-floor master, which was important to Bixler because she was taking care of her mother at the time. Since her mother passed away, Bixler has become interested in helping seniors manage their transitions. Among several designations, she is a senior real estate specialist.
Century Farms sits a mile from the Diehl Road corridor and just a few miles from the train station. The surrounding area conveniently offers entertainment ranging from restaurants, theaters to fitness centers and shopping.
For recreation, the Naperville Park District maintains 130 parks, preservation areas and greenways, two golf courses, Centennial Beach aquatic facility, downtown Riverwalk, a skate park and in-line skating rink and offers more than 900 programs for people of all ages.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price:</span> $450,000 to $700,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> Built in late 1990s and early 2000
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Mill Elementary, Jefferson Middle and Naperville North High schools in Naperville Unit District 203
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Naperville Park District