Condominum dwellers in River Grove have the best of both worlds. This small community is just next to a peaceful oasis of trees, plants and wildlife, but is only about 11 miles from Chicago's Loop.
Anyone seeking a condo with proximity to nature and open spaces will like what they find in River Grove. This community is bordered on its entire western edge by Thatcher Woods, a 300-acre, extensively forested property that is owned and maintained by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
The original owner of the woods was Ashbel Steele who settled in 1834 in the area. He was joined in the 1850s by David Thatcher for whom the woods are named. Today, condo dwellers who like the outdoors will be pleased to know that neither Steele's nor Thatcher's lands were ever plowed or graze. Their land now is Thatcher Woods and is blessed by a pristine landscape that remains much as it was in pre-settlement days.
Other amenities such as 290 acres of golf courses and cemetaries, 35 acres of public school property and six acres of parkland add to the community's ample green space.
Condo owners may wish to invest in units that college students might rent. Triton College, on the village's southern border, opened in 1964. The college has a variety of educational programs from architecture to health.
Condos in River Grove tend to be in mid-rise brick buildings that feature units that have been updated with contemporary features to appeal to today's buyers. Granite counters, cherry or oak cabinets, Brazilian cherry or blonde wood floors, ceramic tile in kitchens and baths, and heated garages are common elements among these condominiums.
Meanwhile, the village is seeking to add more condos. It is the process of redeveloping its main commercial corridor, Grand Avenue. Redevelopment plans call for an urban mix of single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. Grand Avenue is a four-lane highway that has evolved as the community has grown from its rural roots to the rapid residential development that occurred in the 1950s and '60s.
Condo owners in River Grove are drawn by its convenient location. It is served by a commuter rail system that takes people to Chicago and other suburban locations. It is close to two airports, O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport. Nearby expressways include the Eisenhower, the Stevenson and the Tri-State Tollway.
While a prime location is important to condo buyers and investors in River Grove, they also seek a small-town atmosphere that the village provides in good measure. The park district, for instance, provides summer concerts at a charming gazebo in one of its parks. There are likely to be children playing baseball or biking its streets in summer and make snowmen in the parks and their yards in winter.
As the village looks to add more condominiums to its residential landscape, River Grove looks like a community that will continue to be a solid investment for buyers who purchase condos in which to live or as investment properties.
