Arlington Heights Real Estate

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Arlington Heights

Then and Now

The earliest recorded history we have of Arlington Heights is the area's first land purchases, which took place in 1835, made mainly by eastern settlers. Like most Chicago suburbs, settlement and development were relatively slow until commuter trains connected Arlington Heights with the rest of the world. In 1853 a local resident named William Dunton managed to convince the Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad to make a stop in the town, which for convenience sake (and for no self-serving purpose whatsoever) he named Dunton. The Civil War era saw a general rise in the region's German population and by the late 1860s most of the area was inhabited by German farmers.

Arlington Heights was incorporated in 1887 with a population of roughly 1,000 people. The town was still an agrarian community, but after its incorporation it started to attract craftsmen and people that worked in Chicago. Over the next several decades the building of the Arlington Park horse racetrack created quite a stir for the small town settlement. The track, for which the town became nationally and internationally known, opened in 1927 with 20,000 spectators in attendance for the first race. The track set the standard for modern horse racing on many fronts, including its PA system, photo finish camera and closed circuit TV system. Arlington was even host to the world's first million-dollar race in 1981.

Arlington Heights experienced its biggest growth in the 1950s and '60s when American suburbs had their rise with the popularization of passenger cars, which had recently become an affordable and fashionable means of transportation. The size of Arlington Heights in square miles swelled several times between 1950 and 1970, and the town's population increased proportionately. Even after its borders ceased to expand, the city's population continued to climb, nearly tripling from around 28,000 in 1960 to more than 76,000 in 2000.

Now, Arlington Heights is one of the most desirable and popular Chicago suburbs. The village recently experienced a boom in condo development, which resulted both from the success enjoyed by the Arlington Heights central business district and from the recent boom in home and condo construction. It is the largest community in the far northwest suburbs.

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Park is the Place

One of the most beautiful and easily the number one weekend destination in the summer months is 93-acre Lake Arlington Park, a sizeable recreational area on the eastern edge of Arlington Heights. Both sailboats and paddleboats are available for rent and use on the large lake, which is the main attraction for the majority of visiting families. Fishing is also permitted at the lake, but catch-and-release is required (and enforced). In addition to the lake itself, the park features a two-mile bike and walking path around the perimeter of the water. A small concession sells snacks, and the park features an attractive picnic area and playground.

Melas Park (1500 W Central Rd, 847-577-3000) is the next largest park, and it is host to more recreational activities than most of the other Arlington Heights parks combined. Melas features a soccer field, two sand volleyball courts and four lighted softball fields, in addition to a bike path, picnic area and the largest playground in the Arlington Heights Park District. For maintenance purposes, softball and soccer players are required to obtain a permit before playing on the ball fields.

Just south of Melas Park is Heritage Park (506 W Victoria Ln, 847-577-3020), an older outdoor green space that fills all of your summer recreation needs-wading pool, diving pool, ball fields, lighted tennis courts, volleyball court-but it also has some winter attractions, too. The ice skating rink is the place to be in January and February, and there's also a lighted sled hill for some frosty nighttime fun. To accommodate Heritage Park's active set of visitors, two locker rooms and a small snack concession are also situated on the grounds.

Speaking of winter, the Arlington Heights Park District offers facilities for indoor tennis with the Heritage Tennis Club (7 W College Dr, 8470398-7780), which is not actually connected with Heritage Park. Located in north Arlington Heights, the tennis club features eight indoor courts, a professional teaching staff, pro shop, locker rooms, and even child care. In addition, the clubhouse offers up a few perks with a lounge, sauna and snack bar.

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Hit the Links

Of all the recreation options that Arlington Heights has to offer, golfers enjoy some of the best facilities around. The Arlington Lakes Golf Club (1211 S New Wilke Rd, 847-577-3030), which is operated and maintained by the Arlington Heights Park District, is one of the premier courses in the northwest suburbs. The 18-hole golf course is spread out over 90 acres of beautifully manicured greens and fairways that are peppered with 106 sand traps and 14 lakes. Several leagues compete at the Arlington Lakes Golf Club and professional instruction is available for an hourly fee. In addition to the course itself, the clubhouse features a pro shop, a snack bar, a locker room and a banquet room.

Arlington Heights's other 18-hole golf course can be found at the Rolling Green Country Club (2525 E Rand Rd, 847-253-0400) which, unlike the Arlington Lakes Golf Club, is a private club. The club was first opened in 1924 and its history has grown with Arlington Heights in the past 80+ years. The club opened as a 9-hole course in the 1920s, but it quickly expanded to a 27-hole course over the next few years. Since then, several changes have taken place. The original 9 holes were moved across the street and formed into the Old Orchard Country Club and a new clubhouse was added to the remaining 18 holes in 1964. Those weren't the only changes that the multigenerational club has experienced; most recently, the old Pro Shop was completely demolished and rebuilt, along with new caddy facilities. Today, the Rolling Green Country Club hosts several golf tournaments and continues to provide its members with an excellent patch of grass for their favorite pastime.

Nickol Knoll Golf Club (3800 N Kennicott Dr, 847-590-6050) is a 9-hole course run by the Arlington Heights Park District. Nickol Knoll is more youth-oriented than the other golf courses in Arlington Heights, as golf lessons are offered for kids between eight and 17 at bargain rates, and private lessons are available for $40 per half-hour. The course details: 1,163-yard par 3 with 27 sand traps with beautifully manicured fairways and greens.

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Real Estate

The real estate landscape in Arlington Heights is defined by its open, casual atmosphere. Families flock to Arlington Heights, Illinois for its excellent schools, thriving commercial sector and convenient proximity to Chicago. What's more, families find an unparalleled real estate market in this attractive suburban setting.

The thing that really sets Arlington Heights apart from other Chicago suburbs is the impressive range of properties available in this Illinois town. Homes scaling a wide spectrum of size and price fit the needs of both small and large families with all sorts of budgets. Most of the homes in Arlington Heights feature large front and back yards with grassy lawns that are great for pets and young children.

On average, two-bedroom, detached real estate in Arlington Heights sells for around $325,000; three-bedroom homes go for about $375,000; and four or more bedrooms will jump the average sale price up to approximately $548,000. There are several detached, single-family homes valued at over a million dollars in Arlington Heights. Most of these properties are grand, new construction two-stories with four to six bedrooms, sprawling lots and multiple-car attached garages. On the other end of the price line are well-kept, brick ranches and older, one-story frame houses that start around $250,000 for a two-bedroom. You'll find many of these residences do not have updated kitchens or renovated interiors, but they generally have good-sized properties with plenty of space to make improvements or expansions.

The residential real estate in Arlington Heights offers homebuyers attached living options, in addition to the large inventory of detached, single-family homes. Condominium units here start at around $80,000 for a one-bedroom and there is a selection of two-bedrooms available in the low $100,000s. On the upper end, you'll get elegant, upmarket condos and townhouses with two-car garages and fully upgraded amenities and finishes for anywhere from $500,000 to $900,000 or $1 million+. The average sale price for a one-bedroom unit in Arlington Heights is around $150,000, for a two-bedroom it's $210,00, and three-bedrooms go for around $300,000, on average.

Arlington Heights Residential Real Estate Info for Single-Family Detached Homes

Average Sale Price 2005-2006 Average # of Days on the Market Number of Sales 2005-2006 One Year Price Change Price Change Since 94
$441,081 78 576 6% 125%

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois

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What's on the Menu?

With all of the epicurean activity in Arlington Heights' central business district, you'll never go hungry. However, despite the wealth and breadth of choice that's available to Arlington Heights residents, most people will probably tell you that their favorite restaurant in the area is a pancake house. That's because Walker Bros Original Pancake House (825 W Dundee Rd, 847-392-6600) has more loyalty with its patrons than most other places could ever dream of. Walker Bros opened their first location in 1960 in Wilmette, but the Arlington Heights site wasn't opened until the mid-1990s. What's more important, though, is that the Walker Bros in Arlington Heights uses the same mouthwatering German apple pancake that was introduced at the original location. German apple pancakes, if you've never had the pleasure of trying them, are to pancakes as deep dish is to pizza. They generally serve up to four people (do NOT attempt to eat one of these on your own!) and are stuffed with apples and topped with caramelized sugar.

The other Arlington Heights standout that attracts people from outside the community is the upscale French bistro, Le Titi de Paris (1015 W Dundee Rd, 847-506-0222). The ornate, Old World dining room is one of the most elegant in the entire northwest suburbs and the decadent French fare complements the décor perfectly. Michael Maddox, the restaurant's chef and proprietor, has been spinning out contemporary French bistro fare in this space for more than three decades, yet the place is still as fresh as it was when it first opened.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Dondi's Pizza (1041 Arlington Heights Rd, 847-439-5250), a little hole-in-the wall pizza and sandwich joint that is carryout and delivery only. Dondi's serves a thin crust pie that no other northwest suburban pizzeria can compare to. The crust is light and crunchy, almost like a flatbread, baked to a perfect crisp. People are rumored to drive all the way from Chicago's north side for a taste of Dondi's, and if you try a bite of this stuff, you'll understand why.


If you're looking for a nice meal for a reasonable price, your best bet will probably be the Bankok Café (17 N Vail Ave, 847-398-1989), a small Thai spot that's been operating in Arlington Heights for more than 15 years. While nothing at the Bankok Café will knock you off your feet, you can expect consistently high-quality meals ranging from the Panang Curry to the popular coconut milk Tom Kha Gai soup over-flowing with fresh morel mushrooms.

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Getting Around

If you talk to anyone from Arlington Heights, you'll find there are two very different types of transportation needs that area residents have: the first is getting around town to run errands and visit friends, etc.; the second is getting to and from Arlington Heights and commuting to other northwest suburbs and Chicago.

For the first scenario -- intra-Arlington Heights travel -- having your own car is the easiest and most convenient way of getting around. Most residents have vehicles and drive regularly, and the town accommodates car travel well. The bulk of Arlington Heights homes have their own garages and driveways, eliminating parallel parking on the street from the list of daily annoyances. But you should know vehicle stickers are required for passenger cars in Arlington Heights, and they'll cost you $30.

If you happen to commute to and from Chicago with any frequency, the Metra commuter rail is by far the easiest and most comfortable transportation option. Metra trains are much different than urban rapid transit trains: the seats are deep and comfortable, the trains operate on a set schedule, and conductors pass through the cars collecting tickets from passengers. During morning and evening rush hours, Metra will get you to Chicago much faster than the highways, and it will save you the headache of fighting commuter traffic. A one-way ticket sets you back $3.90, but there are several ticket packages that offer a significant discount.

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School's In Session

The number one reason families choose Arlington Heights over other Chicago suburbs is not because of the town's golf courses, transportation, or even for the famed Arlington race track; they are attracted to the schools, both public and private. For elementary and middle schoolers, Arlington Heights public schools educate about 5,000 students each year. Arlington Heights School District 25 is known for its excellent scholastic programs, which extend much further than reading, writing and arithmetic. For teenagers, Arlington Heights District 214 high schools offer a diverse academic curriculum that include more than 600 different courses of study, as well as hundreds of extra curricular activities. And, to help give you a better idea of the academic landscape in Arlington Heights, here's a list of schools, public and private:

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Baisc Needs

Dining

American Cuisine

  • Birch River Grill - 630 E Rand Rd - (847) 818-8821
  • Chin's Restaurant - 10 E Miner St - (847) 255-9082
  • China Kitchen - 1302 E Hintz Rd - (837) 797-0800
  • Gumrai Thai - 170 N Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 590-1000
  • Kitakata Japanese Restaurant - 20 E Golf Rd - (847) 364-7544
  • The Palm Court - 1912 N Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 870-7770
  • Paprikash Restaurant - 602 W Northewest Hwy - (847) 253-3544
  • Rokbonki Japanese Steak House - 876 W Dundee Rd - (847) 506-1212
  • Santoka Ramen - 100 E Algonquin Rd - (847) 357-0286
  • Sun Shui - 155 W Rand Rd - (847) 870-8888
  • Wild Fish Sushi - 60 S Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 870-8260
  • Yen Yen Restaurant - 4226 N Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 259-3400

French Cuisine

Italian Cuisine

  • La Zingara - 2300 E Rand Rd - (847) 398-3700
  • Pompeii Ristorante & Pizzeria - 4216 N Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 259-0560

Latin American Cuisine

  • Fuego Mexican Grill - 17 W Campbell St - (847) 590-1122
  • La Chicanita Mexican Restaurant - 200 N Dunton Ave - (847) 255-7075

Pizza

  • Brandt's Pizza - 4 N Dryden Pl - (847) 632-0132
  • California Pizza Kitchen - 3 S Evergreen Ave - (847) 590-5975
  • Dondi's Pizza - 1041 Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 439-5250
  • Garibaldi's Pizza & pasta House - 132 E Golf Rd - (847) 364-1111
  • Gatsby's Pizza & Pub - 427 E Rand Rd - (847) 235-7200
  • Gino's East of Chicag, the Original - 1321 Golf Rd - (847) 364-6644
  • Pizza-RIA - 719 E Dundee Rd - (847)577-0033
  • Regina's Restaurant & Pizzeria - 27 W Campbell St - (847) 394-2728

Seafood

Spanish Cuisine

Vegetarian

  • Chow Patti International Vegetarian Cuisine - 1035 S Arlington Heights Rd - (847) 640-9554

Nightlife/Bars

  • Boston Blackies - 222 E Algonquin Rd - (847) 952-4700
  • Cygnus Pub - 303 W Salt Creek Ln - (847) 454-2700
  • Fox & Hound Smokehouse & Tavern - 910 W Dundee Rd (847) 590-9019
  • Sports Page - 1330 E Rand Rd - (847) 392-5332

Emergency Rooms

Grocery Stores

  • Jewel-Osco - 440 E Rand Rd - (847) 255-8735
  • Walgreens - 235 E Palatine Rd - (847) 394-2420
  • Dominick's Pharmacy - 325 E Palatine Rd - (847) 870-9630

Pharmacies

  • Osco Drug - 440 E Rand Rd - (847) 255-8735
  • Walgreens - 235 E Palatine Rd - (847) 394-2420
  • Dominick's Pharmacy - 325 E Palatine Rd - (847) 870-9630

Post Offices

  • US Post Office - 909 W Euclid Ave - (847) 253-7100

Fitness Centers

  • Xsport Fitness - 960 W Dundee Rd - (847) 577-0756

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