Northbrook

Part of Chicagoland’s North Shore region along Lake Michigan, Glenbrook Countryside offers acres of land and customs builds while keeping close to Northbrook. The town itself features a tight-knit community focused around its school systems with local restaurants in its small downtown, but Glenbrook Countryside’s big properties and location on the opposite side of a forest preserve create a more private and quiet environment. “They’re half-acre lots, which is very unusual in the northern suburbs,” says broker Bryce Fuller with Baird and Warner Glenbrook. “I think people really enjoy the amount of space you get.” Still, residents are just a short drive from Northbrook, so they can attend the town’s farmers' markets, annual festivals and youth sports events. Homes in Glenbrook Countryside feature custom builds with French and Colonial influences alongside modest ranches on half-acre lots that allow for spacious front yards and long driveways. “Glenbrook Countryside tends to draw more people who want newer construction homes but also want the land,” says Realtor Kati Spaniak with eXp Realty and Northbrook resident. Streets here have no sidewalks or streetlights, instead winding throughout the community to add to the unincorporated and private feel that residents like. The ranches typically list between $375,000 and $425,000, but the custom builds list between $875,000 and $1.3 million, with both options offering the same amount of land. However, Spaniak emphasizes that because Glenbrook Countryside is unincorporated from Northbrook, the taxes are lower than those in the town. Even though Glenbrook Countryside is unincorporated from Northbrook, its students will still attend the town’s schools. “In general, Northbrook is a very school-focused community,” Spaniak says. “That’s how most people meet their friends—through the schools and sports events.” Westmoor School is one of the elementary schools, serving grades kindergarten through fifth. Students continue on to Northbrook Junior High School for grades sixth through eighth. Niche awards both schools an A. At Glenbrook North High School, or GBN to locals, students enrolled in Glenbrook Academy of International Studies receive a curriculum focused on history, English and foreign language. GBN may also look familiar, serving as the filming location and setting for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club. Glenbrook Countryside’s homes center around Glenbrook Countryside Park, with a playground for kids, basketball courts, and a baseball diamond. Residents can take a stroll on the walking path shaded by trees. Along the southern border of the neighborhood is Sommes Preserves, where people can hike and bike through the protected woodlands and prairies. It’s also an excellent spot for birdwatching. Because Northbrook and Glenbrook Countryside are in the North Shore region of Chicagoland, residents can drive just 5 miles to Glencoe Beach to access Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Alongside swimming and kayaking, people can also play beach volleyball or cool off in the splash pad. Because Glenbrook Countryside is more residential, people typically head into downtown Northbrook for shopping and dining. The Landmark Inn is a historical and cultural landmark, with the building dating back to 1885 and functioning as a longstanding casual American joint for the community. At Trattoria Oliverii, people can order their favorite pasta dishes while enjoying the fresh air on the restaurant’s outdoor patio. “In addition, we have the local grocery store, Sunset Foods,” Spaniak says. “It’s been there since I was a kid.” For more grocery shopping, the nearest Jewel-Osco is just 0.8 miles away along Waukegan Road. Northbrook Court is the town’s shopping mall, located just east of Glenbrook Countryside and featuring its own movie theater. Glenbrook Countryside is just over 1.5 miles from Northbrook’s quaint downtown, accessible along Waukegan Road. Lake Cook Road runs east to west along the northern portion of the neighborhood, lined with shopping centers and grocery stores. “Just down the street is the Metra station that goes into downtown Chicago,” Fuller says, referring to the Lake Cook Road Metra stop. I-94 runs along the southern side of the neighborhood, connecting people to downtown Chicago, about 25 miles away. The traffic from this thoroughfare can be loud and may be noticeable to homes closer to it. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is 17 miles away, for those traveling beyond the North Shore and Chicagoland. The closest hospital is Advocate Condell Medical Center, about 14 miles away. Because Glenbrook Countryside is so close to downtown Northbrook, residents can join the town’s events. From June to October, the Northbrook Farmers Market occurs every Wednesday morning and offers produce and artisan goods. For five days in July and August, Northbrook Days features live concerts and carnival rides. 2024 will be the 100th year of this celebration.