La Grange Park, IL Makes Forbes America's Top 20 Home Markets
Chicago Suburban Market Stability Follows Careful Land Use Planning
CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Forbes.com's America's 20 Most Stable Housing Markets list, recognizing towns where home owners stay put and home values increase, included Illinois Cook County's tiny Village of La Grange Park, the only municipality from Illinois to make the grade. Local residents attribute the honor to a long-range comprehensive land use planning.
With a small-town character and 20-minute express train to downtown Chicago, La Grange Park is a decidedly bedroom community. Protecting residential zoning and home values has been a focus of the Village's government and citizenry.
La Grange Park has been in developers' sights more than once. Quiet towns with centralized green space are frequent targets for developers of profit-rich, multiple-family or mixed use high rise construction. Suggestions to alter the town's comprehensive land use plan in 2004, to encourage rezoning of residential neighborhoods and a landmark park for businesses, sparked a fury of opposition at public hearings.
"The community's response was an updated Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2006, to embody the will of the community," recalls Tina Sonderby, former board member and member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee charged with strengthening land use policy following the 2005 local election. "A year-long process included significant input from residents. The language and the community values are crystal clear and protect our homes and parks while defining objectives for redevelopment of our commercial areas."
"There is a character to the Village that is worth protecting," says Village President James Discipio. "Families put down roots in our neighborhoods. Our stable home market sustains a healthy property tax base and vice versa."
In 2009-2010, La Grange Park services were largely unaffected by local economic stressors, while surrounding sales tax reliant suburbs cut services as sales taxes evaporated.
"Our residents support measures that protect their investments and quality of life," adds Discipio. "The Village land use policy reflects that. I doubt we'd be on the Forbes list had we taken a different path in 2006."
About La Grange Park
The Village of Lagrange Park, founded in 1892 and having a population of 13,000, is located 15 miles from downtown Chicago.
Contact the Village of La Grange Park: |
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Julia Cedillo, Assistant Village Manager |
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Phone: 708-354-0225 ext 108 |
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http://www.lagrangepark.org |
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SOURCE Midwest Civic Group
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