Imagine Central Park
Riverwoods is sometimes hard to describe to former city-dwellers, especially considering the bulk of Chicago’s suburbs are densely packed with homes and amenities. “Imagine Central Park. In the middle of the city, you have this area full of woods, and a couple of roads where everyone’s houses are different. That’s Riverwoods,” explains Diana Marcus, a local Realtor with @properties. “Amidst the sea of suburbs that all look the same, here you have this little area of forests. Yet you’re still close to everything around.” The miniature pastoral haven sits about 30 miles north of Downtown Chicago, nearly equidistant to the Wisconsin border. “If you want to have your morning coffee on the back deck and not see a neighbor, it’s a great place to live,” she continues. “You can’t do that in most of these suburbs.”
Buying and building with flexibility
Homes in Riverwoods are surrounded by dense woods, with driveways and cul-de-sacs branching off of quiet, single-lane avenues. Prices in the area range from $300,000 for modest ranch-style homes to more than $1 million for custom builds exceeding 9,000 square feet. “There’s always been a mix of housing, but people definitely go to Riverwoods to buy land and build grand homes,” Marcus explains. “There’s a lot more property, and you have more flexibility in terms of what you can build because the zoning policies are so relaxed. I saw a house once that had a giant teepee in the backyard! What other areas have zoning laws that allow for that?” Luxury builds flaunt varying architectural styles, from French-style chateaus to modern farmhouses. Meanwhile, modest housing options often date back to the midcentury. The pastoral setting means old-growth foliage is a constant. Alternatively, sidewalks are rare.
Deerfield School District 109
“We have a very desirable school district,” says Ali Lerner, a broker with @properties. “My kids attend the schools here, and the curriculum certainly prepares students for the next grade level and higher education.” Deerfield School District 109 serves Riverwoods, with most families starting at Wilmot Elementary School. Earning an A on Niche, the school encourages a Peer Buddies program for older students to tutor their younger peers. Caruso Middle School earns the same Niche grade, while Deerfield High earns an A-plus. As part of Township High School District 113, the high school also serves students from surrounding communities. Tutoring is provided at the school’s Academic Resource Center, as Advanced Placement courses and college prep are highly encouraged. Of note is Deerfield High’s longtime rivalry with Highland Park High School, a tradition that makes its way to athletic state championships most years.
The forest preserves of North Chicagoland
Forest preserves and conservation areas abound in Riverwoods, where residents feel like they’re “living in a forest,” Lerner notes. “People here value nature, and there are rules in place to preserve the mature forests. Overall, residents place emphasis on natural ecology and privacy.” The Des Plaines River Trail extends 28 miles along the water, where one of the northernmost access points is nestled in Potawatomi Woods. The mix of paved and unpaved portions makes the trail is ideal for hiking and biking through Chicago’s suburbs on an unobstructed path. To the east, the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area houses many of the state’s pristine woodlands and endangered species. Due to the preserve designation, vehicles and pets are usually prohibited, which has led to its reputation as a prime hiking destination. Exclusive amenities are enjoyed at the Ravinia Green Country Club on Saunders Road, where a state-of-the-art fitness center compliments racquetball courts and a vast golf course.
Baked goods and casual eats surrounding Riverwoods
“In Riverwoods, you’re surrounded by the forest but still technically in the middle of everything,” Marcus says. “There isn’t any programming, like for children or seniors, but the closest Whole Foods is 5 minutes away.” Deerfield is just 3 miles east of the neighborhood, where Marcus’ described Whole Foods accompanies various casual eats, from Potbelly to Sweetgreen. In the same vicinity, Rosebud Deerfield is a beloved Chicago Italian chain first established in 1976. Serving centuries-old recipes, the restaurant invites guests to dine at elegantly set tables under the glow of the bar’s string lights. Buffalo Grove is 4 miles west, home to a secondary location of Deerfield’s Bakery. There, guests can grab everything from fresh bread to croissants, cookies and gelato, or head to one of the many surrounding businesses for errands, namely Target, Walmart and Jewel-Osco.
Driving to Deerfield, riding the Metra to Chicago
Deerfield’s Metra station is less than 3 miles east, providing ample commuter parking for those making the hour-long trip to Downtown Chicago. Drivers can instead take Interstate 94 about 30 miles south to reach the city. “You’re using your car all the time anyway because there aren’t any sidewalks,” Marcus says. “If you’re a professional who travels for work, you’re at O’Hare in 20 minutes because of the expressway. But there are so many corporate headquarters in Deerfield that most people are only a 5-minute commute to the office.” Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a 17-mile commute on I-294, to be exact, while Chicago Executive Airport is less than 5 miles south. The closest emergency room is located in Highland Park Hospital, 6 miles east.
Photography Contributed By
Nadia George
