Need some info on Oak Brook area (Berwyn, Downers Grove: section 8, apartment complexes)

[Decepticon]

Can anyone tell me if this area has a lot of traffic, or is that just the downtown area. I have also read that this city is really expensive to live in. Is there another city within 10 miles either way that has excellent schools as well? Maybe in the 350k range?

[allydriver]

Oak Brook does not have a downtown per se, but does have the mall which can be a very congested area (rt83 and 22nd street).Additionally, housing is very pricey and 350K wouldn't get you much, if anything within the city limits. The immediate surrounding communities of Hinsdale,Elmhurst, LaGrange, Western Springs and Clarendon Hills are not very doable for 350K either.
The town that best meets your distance and price criteria is probably Westmont, which is located just southwest of Oak Brook.You might also look in Downers Grove and Lisle which is a little further west.

[cavewoman]

I agree... this person knows the area.
Darien is close to Downers as well but housing has gone up a great deal.

[hawkfandan]

The CEO of McDonalds lives in Oakbrook, as do several others. You cant touch a house there for under $1 million - and that's for a shack.

[ChampWSox05]

Almost all towns in the west suburbs are way, way overpriced. If you must look for something around Oak Brook, may I suggest Westchester. It is the next town over directly to the east. You will find many nice houses that fit your price range. It is a very quiet suburb w/ good schools and a very convenient location. I used to live there ;-)

[NSH]

Champ, Westchester is the new Berwyn, there is a reason houses are cheap. Why you're at it why not recomend Melrose Park?
Who you crappin?

[allydriver]

You are right NSH, Westchester is no real alternative

[ChampWSox05]

NSH, allydriver, are you guys saying Westchester sucks because a few blacks have moved in over the last few years? I know you guys aren't nieve, but there are blacks, latinos, etc. in almost every suburb nowadays. I saw a few people mention Downers Grove, Darien, and Westmont. You don't think there is section 8 housing in those communities? You got the "real ghetto ones" that live in apartment complexes in DuPage County now since they've torn down alot of the projects in the city. I live in DuPage now and trust me, it is not all white like you guys think it is. Westchester is a decent town to live in and is not comparable to a run down, white trash ghetto like Melrose Park.

[MR BLU]

What do you mean Westchester is like Berwyn? Homes start at $320. Elm and Middle schools are great along with the private catholic school. Diversity is great. Older retired couples and young career families. The high school issue are being address. We are working on opening our own high school by combining the ELM(k-2) and the Intermediate(3-5) and using one of the buildings for a high school. There are professionals whites 50%, blacks 5% and 2% Latinos the rest are retired/blue collar whites 43%. 90% of the community is catholic. Home prices will never allow it to become a Berwyn. I am a young professional of a Fortune 100 company with a wife and three kids. Yes too many of one ethnic group can be to much. To many black/ Latinos is just as bad as to many white people. This is no Oakbrook; however only 15mins away, 20 min to O’Hare, 25 to 30 min to the loop for under $400.

So if you want to say that Westchester is becoming Berwyn because of black people. They you should research the type of black folk that live here.


Glad to know that my being a black veteran, educated and professional will bring a neighborhood down.

[nanannie]

NSH and allydriver said nothing about race being an issue of why not to move to Westchester .That was someones assumption