Grand Central
Urban Pioneer Neighborhood in Springfield, Illinois
Sangamon County 62704
Exposed woodwork, detached garages and vintage flair
Homes in Grand Central were mainly built from 1900 to 1930 in various vintage styles. Bungalows have cozy front porches, and a few Dutch Colonial Revivals feature barn-like rooms. Interiors frequently have original exposed woodwork, and most backyards contain detached garages — indicating that the homes were built before owning a car was common practice. With cracked sidewalks and overgrown curbs, the neighborhood doesn't have a manicured look. But homes here have personalities, often decorated with flags, front gardens and porch hammocks. Prices start at around $50,000 for fixer-upper homes and go up to $150,000 for newly renovated properties. Some of the houses here are rented out.
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Pickleball at Iles Park and concerts at Washington Park
Iles Park is the closest green space, about a half mile from most homes, a walkable distance with sidewalk-lined streets. The park has well-maintained pickleball courts, a playground and a baseball diamond. The city's biggest recreation hub, Washington Park, is just over a mile away. Washington Park spans 150 acres with sports courts, walking trails and a botanical garden open for free public entry. The gardens are home to one of the country's largest carillons, a bell tower that can be played as an instrument. There are regular concerts at the bell tower, with the spooky Halloween show being one of the most popular events.
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Public school zoning and the local Lawrence School
Homes north of Laurel Street are zoned for Butler Elementary School, which gets a B-minus grade from Niche. Then it's on to Franklin Middle, rated B. Homes south of Laurel Street are zoned for Black Hawk Elementary, rated C-plus and Jefferson Middle, rated C. Regardless of location, all high school students are zoned for Springfield Southeast High, rated B-minus. The neighborhood is also home to the Lawrence School building, which is used for Springfield Public School's adult education and high school diploma courses. According to Rachel Dyas, the Public Relations Coordinator with Springfield Public Schools, the building is under construction with no official reopening date as of 2024. One of the school's notable features is a library built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Though the library is technically open to the public, Dyas confirms that it is mostly intended to be used by students.
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Community support in a "front porch neighborhood"
Grand Central has an active neighborhood association that plans local events and encourages neighbors to get to know one another. Residents can post on the private Facebook page to report lost pets, ask for favors or discuss issues. "Grand Central is a front porch neighborhood where people talk to each other," says Mark Mahoney, president of the Independent Coalition for Our Neighborhoods, also known as ICON. ICON is a collaborative group of local neighborhood association leaders that includes Grand Central. "We mostly focus on advocating for problems that affect Springfield's older neighborhoods, like pushing for a more comprehensive garbage system," Mahoney explains.Ten-minute bike ride to downtown Springfield
Downtown Springfield is 1 mile away, and the city's medical district is 2 miles away. Several bus lines pass through Grand Central, including one that runs to the nearby Hy-Vee in eight minutes. However, commuting to the downtown medical district requires longer trips and transfers. Bike lanes running along most of 2nd Street also make biking a popular option for commuters. A bike ride to downtown takes about 10 minutes. Downtown is also home to an Amtrak train station for longer trips.Quick eats and a nearby grocery store
There are several quick-service restaurants within walking distance. Gabatoni's has been serving handmade pizza for over 60 years, and Mel-O-Cream Donuts is a regional chain that's been serving Springfield since 1932. Big Sharks Fish & Chicken, a much more recent addition in 2023, focuses on crispy comfort food made to order. Mekong Café, which combines Vietnamese, Thai and Lao flavors, is a popular place to grab takeout. For groceries, Shark's Food Mart has some essentials. But most locals head to Hy-Vee for a larger selection, just one mile south.
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Reduction of railroad noise in the coming years
The Springfield Rail Improvement Project is working to transfer all rail traffic from the Third Street corridor to the Tenth Street corridor. The project is expected to be completed in 2027 and will eliminate the persistent train noise in Grand Central. In addition, the lack of railroad crossings will reduce car traffic, making for easier commutes around the city.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Corey West
Video By
Ennis Warlick
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Phil Chiles
Phil Chiles
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Capital
(217) 606-8574
280 Total Sales
3 in Grand Central
$62K - $109K Price Range
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Diane Tinsley
Diane Tinsley
The Real Estate Group, Inc.
(217) 860-0719
445 Total Sales
2 in Grand Central
$84K - $109K Price Range
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JULIE DAVIS
JULIE DAVIS
The Real Estate Group, Inc.
(217) 860-0893
459 Total Sales
5 in Grand Central
$62K - $123K Price Range
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Jim Fulgenzi
Jim Fulgenzi
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Professionals
(217) 993-8699
779 Total Sales
6 in Grand Central
$65K - $140K Price Range
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Tracy Shaw
Tracy Shaw
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Capital
(217) 860-0193
330 Total Sales
1 in Grand Central
$168,000 Price
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Dominic Campo
Dominic Campo
Responds QuicklyCampo Realty, Inc.
(217) 860-0849
264 Total Sales
3 in Grand Central
$41K - $105K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Iles Park
Union Square Park
Washington Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Grand Central | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Grand Central Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Grand Central, Springfield sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Grand Central, Springfield over the last 12 months is $123,500, up 20% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$125,000
Median Sale Price
$123,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$123,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
6%
Last 12 months Home Sales
14
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
20%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$74
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
280
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1915
Months of Supply
2.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,366
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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$159,900
- 3 Beds
- 2.5 Baths
- 1,621 Sq Ft
- 1921 S Spring St
Recently updated 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home, 2 car detached garage, big fenced in yard. Mechanicals are all newer in good condition and has newer appliances. Nice color choices throughout, humongous closets, newer flooring, easy to maintain and live in. Low maintenance exterior exterior is in real good condition. Nice deep basement & basement has both interior and exterior access. This very
Sandra Alexander Coldwell Banker Cornerstone
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$64,900
- 4 Beds
- 3,024 Sq Ft
- 1502 S Pasfield St
Good investment opportunity for experienced investors.
Griffin Smock Craggs REALTORS, Inc.
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$80,000
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,356 Sq Ft
- 1514 S Spring St
Bring your belongings and move-in! Charming front porch to swing on, plenty of room to entertain in this home. Main floor living room, dining room, and kitchen bonus office/game room in the partially finished basement. Both bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs. Plenty of closet space. This home has an epic man cave/garage, drywall, wired for surround sound, plenty of room for pool table, extra
LISA LARUE RE/MAX Professionals
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,149
Median Age
37
Population Density
16 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$47,899
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$70,542
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.8%
College Graduates
34.2%
Advanced Degrees
18.5%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
69.6%
On par with the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
62
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
65
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
36
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Harvard Park
Vintage homes at some of the most affordable prices in Springfield
Iles Park
Historic homes around a public park just over a mile south of downtown Springfield
Old Aristocracy Hill
One of Springfield's most historically significant neighborhoods
Springfield South Corridor
Well-maintained midcentury homes just south of Downtown Springfield
Vinegar Hill
One of Springfield's oldest neighborhoods, and home of the State Capitol
Bunn Park
Affordable, older homes within 3 miles of downtown Springfield
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