Kenosha, a city beside Lake Michigan, has a lot going on. "McKinley is an older neighborhood in the center of the city, with a dense radius of moderate single-family homes," says Dennis DuChene, president of Visit Kenosha, the city's official travel resource. It's in an optimal spot in terms of proximity to uptown, as well as downtown's boutiques, museums and shoreline scenery.
Mostly all the single-family homes were built before the 2000s. Examples include early-1900s Dutch Colonials, some midcentury ranch-style homes and 1970s split-levels or duplexes. Homes can range from about $100,000 for a two-bedroom with less than 1,000 square feet to $300,000 for a home with more than double the space. In a gridded layout and with sidewalks, the residential streets feature neatly spaced lots, and many homes have a driveway and garage.
There are several shops and restaurants in the north end of the neighborhood. Peggy Gregorski, executive director of Kenosha Public Museums, recommends Tenuta's Deli, an Italian delicatessen and liquor store. "It started out as a mom-and-pop, and still is — it's been in the Tenuta family for at least three generations." This is the place for homemade cannoli or lasagna any day of the week. "You go in, and there's a wonderful aromatic smell of Italian herbs," Gregorski says. McKinley is about 2 miles west of downtown, the top spot in the city for museums, boutiques and restaurants. Even closer to home, uptown is transforming as part of the city's $400-million-plus revitalization plan. The mixed-use development, Uptown Lofts, will have retail, including a grocery store and a restaurant. For now, spots to buy veggies and other pantry goods include Piggly Wiggly or, on Saturdays, Kenosha HarborMarket, a year-round European-style market with local produce, goods and more.
Kenosha residents can plan on a full calendar. Kris Kochman, community relations liaison for the city, says annual events, many by the lakeside, are well-attended. One of the biggest is the multiday Celebrate America, a Fourth of July festival. The Sunday before the fourth, there's the Civic Veterans Parade. Other community favorites include the Outta Site Kite Flight, the Kenosha Classic Cruise-In car show and the Snow Daze Festival, complete with ice sculptures and an ice rink.
Kids may attend public schools like McKinley Elementary, graded C by Niche. The school participates in the United Way Readers are Leaders program for kindergarten through third-grade tutoring. With McCubby the Jaguar Cub as its mascot, the school offers after-school intramural programs for fourth and fifth-grade students. Following elementary school, students can move on to Lincoln Middle, graded C, and Indian Trail High School and Academy, which has a B grade.
Those going on to higher education might attend Gateway Technical College, where there are over 75 career programs. Only 2 miles from McKinley, the college serves as a center for the surrounding community, with annual special events and other programming. Lee Colony, manager of communications and media relations for the college, says, "We host events in our conference center, and the public can rent out space." Another option, Carthage College, which is approximately 4 miles away, is a private liberal arts college with more than 50 subject areas.
With over 70 parks to partake of, Kenosha residents have many outdoor opportunities. Davis Park in McKinley is a small space that's a favorite for the little ones, who enjoy the playground while parents can watch from a bench. Nearby, Charles Nash Park is a much larger space with a bigger playground. It also includes baseball diamonds and a soccer field. Keep Kenosha Beautiful offers volunteer opportunities for those who wish to contribute to the city's upkeep, including maintaining and preserving neighborhoods, parks and beaches.
Public transportation includes Kenosha Area Transit buses that run throughout the city. The neighborhood has access to state routes and interstates for commutes and travel. Milwaukee is about 35 miles north, compared to Chicago, 60 miles south. Avoiding a car drive to the Windy City is possible via a train at Kenosha Station, the only Metra station in Wisconsin.
Steve Robe Elite Team*
Real Broker LLC
(262) 300-8930
89 Total Sales
3 in McKinley
$225K - $315K Price Range
Vincent Devall
Coldwell Banker Realty
(262) 300-8057
45 Total Sales
1 in McKinley
$242,000 Price
Lou Ann Pitts
Bear Realty , Inc. Ken
(262) 300-5680
65 Total Sales
3 in McKinley
$162K - $280K Price Range
KH
Kinyata Hendriex
Reign Realty
(414) 677-6004
130 Total Sales
1 in McKinley
$150,000 Price
Felicia Pavlica
RE/MAX ELITE
(262) 440-2470
747 Total Sales
20 in McKinley
$130K - $328K Price Range
Ryan Douglas
Land-Quest Realty, LLC
(262) 686-4371
16 Total Sales
2 in McKinley
$180K - $235K Price Range
On average, homes in McKinley, Kenosha sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in McKinley, Kenosha over the last 12 months is $220,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$1,550 per month
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Comfortable Kenosha suburb within 3 miles of Lake Michigan's shoreline
Early 20th-century homes around a neighborhood park and school
A major mixed-used development is transforming this area close to downtown
An older area of the city, with an innovation neighborhood in the works
Suburban shopping hub, minutes away from the Kenosha shore
A small neighborhood with older homes and a spacious park nearby