"You've Caught the NET!"

Hey, Gang!  Get your single-game Chicago Cubs tickets yet - today is first day of box office sales?  No need to rush, though - as usual, most of the biggest Cub games this coming summer are already sold out!

You might have heard of Evanston IL.  It's the home of prestigious Northwestern University.  This conservative North Shore town, formerly dry, was also home to the Prohibition Stalwarts, the Women's Christian Temperance Union for many years (I'm sure there are a few die-hard members left over!)

Well, Evanston, one of Chicago's older and larger suburbs, and one of its most well known nationally, is sleepy no more!  The city has added nearly 1,600 new, mostly luxury condominium units in the heart of its downtown area, along with classy restaurants, shops, and live theatre.  All located within three blocks of beautiful Lake Michigan, and about 35 minutes, by METRA Commuter Train or CTA L, to Downtown Chicago and The Loop, about 13 miles directly south.

Other old Chicago suburbs have entertained massive condo development projects in their downtown areas - Des Plaines, La Grange, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, and several others, but none with the scale of Evanston.

High rise buildings over twenty stories cluster in an area formerly populated by small shops and businesses.  Area vibrancy and culture are heightened, but congestion, noise, and far-tighter parking as a result is unnerving many long-time residents.

The few who complain are not negatively impacting condominium sales, however, even among long-time Evanston residents.  Many older Evanstonians are buying downtown condos as their children grow older and leave home, and they seek a lower-maintenance lifestyle.

Condos in downtown Evanston IL are not cheap - most range from the low $300's, to over $1.5 Million, generating cries to expand more affordable development in the city's less-prosperous western section.  Others are concerned about many of the older, smaller-scale buildings being removed to accommodate the new high-rise luxury condos.  The city does have a Historic Preservation Commission in place to monitor growth, and keep the scale of construction projects manageable.

See our post today at BlogChicagoHomes.com, as well as Dan Rafter's story in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune for more details, and photos,

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO