Lombard

Flowerfield is in the Village of Lombard, just 20 miles west of downtown Chicago, but its open, rolling prairies and two-lane highways seem about as far as one can get from the Loop. Lombard is an unincorporated community with a surprisingly rich history for its small size. As one might expect, flowers are part of that history – lilacs, to be precise. But, as Alison Constanzo at the Lombard Historical Society says with a laugh, “We have no record of how Flowerfield got its name. We’ve looked through all the records. We just think the builders named it that because it sounds nice.” The median list price for a two-bedroom condominium is $175,000, but most residences in Flowerfield are single-family homes, with a smattering of Tudor-style apartment buildings constructed in the late 20th century. The median list price for a detached home is $230,000, and buyers will find a variety of homes in different styles, such as brick Cape Cods, colonial revivals and newer ranch-style and midcentury modern homes. “Most of the homes are within walking distance to Sunset Knoll Park,” says Kathy Volpe, a Realtor with RE/Max and longtime resident of Lombard. “And the schools are top-notch.” Madison Elementary School is a mile or less from most homes in Flowerfield, and it’s not uncommon to see parents walking their kids to school. The 500-student school received a B-plus from the school rankings website Niche. Glenn Westlake Middle School is 2 miles south of Flowerfield and received an A-minus ranking on Niche. Around 7:30 a.m., Glenbard East High School students can be found clustered around the bus stops, warming their hands and chatting. Glenbard East received an A ranking from Niche and has over 15 athletic programs and 30 clubs. Wheaton University is next door in Glen Ellyn. Lombard has been named a Tree City USA for the last 30 years and recently received a grant to upgrade its urban forest. Sunset Knoll Recreation Center and Park is in the center of Flowerfield and features over 36 acres of cultivated green space. The recreation center hosts a Kiddie Campus Preschool. Surrey Park is a smaller neighborhood park to the south, with a hill popular for sledding during the region’s long winters. Dog owners can take their furry pals to Spring Avenue Dog Park, just west past Interstate 355, known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway. The dog park sits within a linked series of vast nature preserves managed by Glen Ellyn, the village west of Lombard, and DuPage County. The 520-acre East Branch Nature Preserve is just west of and easily accessible for residents of Flowerfield. On the village government website, new residents can find out about keeping backyard chickens and numerous village events throughout the year. Alison Costanzo explains this is the centennial of the birth of Harold Gray, the Lombard resident who created the musical Little Orphan Annie. She says it’s their “’Annie’-versary.” Lilac Time is hosted by the Lombard Historical Society, whose land has a large lilac field donated by a village founder. Another near-century-old Chicago institution, The Original Rainbow Cone Ice Cream Shop, opened a location in Lombard a few years ago. Other local eateries include Jerusalem Café, which serves traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, and Kizuna Sushi Bistro. Locals are within a mile of Aldi, Trader Joe’s and a regional chain Pete’s Fresh Market branch. Flowerfield is considered a very safe area with an overall crime score of 3. Two hospitals are under 5 miles away, both to the south. The risk of flood and wildfire is low in this region. However, residents must reckon with winter temperatures regularly at or below freezing, resulting in occasional snow and ice. Flowerfield has a midwestern tolerance when it comes to religion. Lutheran and Methodist churches are the most common houses of worship, and there are a couple of mosques and synagogues within 3 miles. The Greater Chicago Area’s Metra Train stops in Lombard. Trains run every 5 minutes, and riders can be in the Loop in 45 minutes. Interstates 355 and 88 run north, south, east and west. The Census Bureau reported Lombard Village was home to less than 50,000 residents in 2022. Flowerfield is a small neighborhood in a small village near a very big city.

South of Roosevelt Road, South Lombard is the more suburban and retail side of the village of Lombard. South Lombard’s residential streets gather around its local parks, but residents are just a short drive from major shopping centers and retail chains along Butterfield Road on the southern portion of the neighborhood. Because South Lombard is still part of the village, people can also enjoy downtown Lombard’s local businesses and charm. “Everyone kind of knows each other,” says Realtor Michelle Vykruta with Keller Williams Premiere Properties and Lombard resident. “You walk into one of your favorite restaurants, and they know what your favorite wine is and have it ready for you when you sit down.” South Lombard might feel like a standard suburb, but with the culture of Lombard and the village’s offerings, people can take the time to get to know their neighbors and form a community. “The town has a block party wagon that you can rent at any time for any event, free of charge,” Vykruta says. In South Lombard, residents can enjoy chains and local restaurants along Roosevelt and Butterfield Roads. Chama Gaúcha Brazilian Steakhouse offers southern Brazilian cuisine in an elegant setting. Labriola Bakery Café serves pizzas and burgers on their covered patio lit with string lights. People can spend the weekends at the local mall—Yorktown Center. Closer to downtown, residents can find more local favorites, like Babcock’s Grove House, which boasts favorites like their pulled pork pie. “We also have an old Dairy Queen everyone goes to,” Vykruta says. “We have the original old-fashioned neon sign. It’s the little things like that that make all the difference.” For groceries, South Lombard features a Mariano’s and Jewel-Osco along Roosevelt Road. Many residents are within walking distance of South Lombard’s two community parks—Four Seasons Park and Knolls Park. At Four Seasons Park, people can stretch their legs along the half-mile walking trail or play on the fields and courts. People can boat and fish in the pond at the park’s center. In the winter, people gather in the park for sledding. Knolls Park features open fields and a sand volleyball court or stroll along the pathways. Just south of the community, Lyman Woods Nature Center and Preserve offers 150 acres of trails and protected nature, where people can spot local fauna like great horned owls. The nature center has a butterfly garden and grows native plants on the roof. South Lombard is a collection of different subdivisions and communities offering various housing types and styles. Most subdivisions showcase streets lined with siding split-levels, Colonial Revivals or brick ranches. When walking to the park, residents get some shade from the trees planted along the sidewalks. Many people plant small flower gardens in their front yards to add some personality and color to their properties. Single-family homes around South Lombard typically list between $400,000 and $575,000, but new construction can price even higher depending on the size and location. Closer to the mall, brick condo complexes featuring balconies list between $175,000 and $275,000. While some communities celebrate cherry blossom season, Lombard has Lilac Time. Every May, Liliacia Park bursts with lilac blooms. An organization tracks the flowers as they bud to help predict peak bloom for residents and visitors. For two weeks, the village celebrates with a festival featuring local businesses and live music to a parade as the grand finale on the final Sunday. "Around Thursday, people will start putting out their lawn chairs to stake out their spot for the parade," says broker Jodee Baker with Platinum Partners Realtors and lifelong Lombard resident. Saturday evenings throughout the summer, Cruise Nights and Summer Concerts draw people to downtown Lombard. Vintage cars fill the streets, where people can take in the different models and features. People set up their lawn chairs for the free concert from a local band. Downtown Lombard always has something going on, especially with so many local businesses. “They have wine tastings, and you go from business to business downtown to taste different wines,” Vykruta says. “Everyone participates.” Students start at Manor Hill Elementary School, which Niche grants an A ranking. Glenn Westlake Middle School earns an A-minus ranking. At Glenbard East High School, students can enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit courses to earn potential college credit. Niche awards the school an A and lists it as the 35th most diverse public high school in the state. While South Lombard residents have plenty to do close to home, Highland Avenue connects the community to downtown Lombard, about 3.5 miles away. The village’s Metrarail stop sits at the center of downtown, along the UP-W, running all the way to downtown Chicago, about 22 miles away. I-88 runs along South Lombard, connecting commuters to downtown Chicago and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, about 17 miles away. In the opposite direction of downtown Lombard, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is 2.5 miles from South Lombard along Highland Avenue.

York Center started with a big vision of shared ownership: after World War II, locals banded together with the goal of turning 100 acres into a community-owned neighborhood. Today, York Center is a slice of relaxed suburbia, dotted with parks, entertainment destinations and highly praised schools. <br><br>“This area is a quiet place to have your home, but it’s also a great shopping and dining mecca,” says Realtor Wendy Lee. <br><br>One of those meccas is certainly Yorktown Center, a shopping mall with more than 100 stores on two levels. When the mall opened in 1968, it was the biggest in the country – and in 2020, it became the first dog-friendly mall in Illinois. <br><br>Roosevelt Road, which runs east-west through the neighborhood, is another commercial corridor. Head to Villa Oaks Shopping Center for fun retail spots like Sal’s Beverage World, which offers all manner of wines. You can also take care of everyday errands at CVS, Aldi and Pete’s Fresh Market. For a hangout where you’re destined to see locals, swing by Anyway’s Pub. American comfort food is served in a relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of pubs you’d find in northside Chicago.<br><br>Gridded streets spread out from this central road, ensuring that everyone has equal access to these key amenities. Many homes are in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. On the former end of that spectrum, expect to see multi-level townhouses blending ranch and Tudor features – a mix of brick and tan wood representative of their late 60s or early 70s build date. On the latter end of that spectrum, you might encounter prewar homes with yards larger than a quarter acre. These tend to have the boxy shape reminiscent of American foursquare homes, and the interior has the spaciousness of an open concept layout. <br><br>Schools are integrated with homes, giving them a true neighborhood feel. Nearly 300 students attend Stevenson School, a K-2 institution. York Center Elementary is the sister school of Stevenson, and has 200 students at the 3-5 grade level. These two elementaries offer a dual language program, band, orchestra, choir and hands-on science experiments with the help of Elmhurst College. <br><br>Jackson Middle is a substantially larger school, with nearly 750 students enrolled at the 6-8 grade level. The school is known for its Destination Imagination program, where teams of seven students join together to creatively solve various problems. Once they arrive at a solution, it’s then presented to a live audience in the form of an interactive skit. Four challenges are STEM focused, whereas two of the challenges focus on the fine arts. Willowbrook High is easily the largest school in the area, with nearly 2,000 students enrolled at the 9-12 grade level. Theatre is a popular pastime here, with over 200 students involved in three annual productions. <br><br>Villa Roosevelt Park offers a playground, baseball field and a stretch of green space when you need a quick place to relax. But if you’re craving a bigger escape, check out the 18-acre Knolls Park, where walking paths circle a pond.<br><br>York Center aimed high at its inception and has now settled into a comfortable groove. If you value simplicity mixed with convenience, take a look around this neighborhood.