Where can a family live without a car? (Naperville, Arlington Heights: condos, movie theater)

[solarballoon]

Expanding the question: Which suburb, exurb, or rural town (in Illinois) has a dense enough commercial/residential area that could allow someone to access everyday conveniences without the use of a car or public transportation?

Conveniences located within a square mile:

• grocery store
• hardware store
• park
• gym
• library
• bar
• restaurant
• post office

Such a place may not exist, but if it does, you all may know of it.

[nikitakolata]

Downtown Elmhurst has all of those things within a square mile (actually, it's probably in a smaller area than that). Downtown Evanston also has everything on your list.

I'd imagine that the downtown core of a lot of suburbs have everything you listed. I don't know first hand if there's a hardware store in Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Naperville, or Geneva, but I bet there is. Evanston and Elmhurst definitely have everything.

[chet everett]

Many towns along the BNSF would make this a doable proposition, some even have hospitals within walking distance of their rail centric core -- Berwyn, LaGrange, Western Springs, parts of Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Lisle or Naperville might work.

Similar story along the UP-W line in Oak Park, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton & Geneva.

Of course you might get some stares truding around in the cold while your neighbors drive in heated comfort the mile or so that it might take to run all your errands, but it is doable.

[nikitakolata]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Of course you might get some stares truding around in the cold while your neighbors drive in heated comfort the mile or so that it might take to run all your errands, but it is doable.

So far I haven't personally found that to be the case. I walk just about everywhere.

[pvande55]

Many places. Toughest thing probably a hardware store. And I would almost ignore those with new condos right by the train station. Most of their residents rarely cook or do household repairs on their own.

[chet everett]

Western Springs, LaGrange, Hinsdale, westmont, and Clarendon Hills all have their hardware stores within a block or two of the Metra...

[Isotope-C14]

Originally Posted by solarballoon

Expanding the question: Which suburb, exurb, or rural town (in Illinois) has a dense enough commercial/residential area that could allow someone to access everyday conveniences without the use of a car or public transportation?

Conveniences located within a square mile:

• grocery store
• hardware store
• park
• gym
• library
• bar
• restaurant
• post office

Such a place may not exist, but if it does, you all may know of it.

Someone mentioned Geneva in their list. Sadly Geneva has all but the grocery store locally near the metra stop. There is a place called soup to nuts, sort of like a smaller whole foods, that is in walking distance, but it's really small and gloriously overpriced, you will not find a huge selection there. Josef's deli however, if you are a carnivore, is about the greatest place in the world which is right across the street from soup to nuts. There is a Dominick's and Trader Joe's out by Randall Road, and a Jewel equidistant but further north in St. Charles. If you have a bike and a sizeable backpack, it's an easy flat ride for the most part.

Ace hardware is right downtown as is the post office and Library. Library has an exchange system so that if they don't have a book on-hand they can get it from St. Charles/Batavia/whoever has it.

Lots of park areas, the bike trail runs north-south along the fox river, through many park areas, and you can fish there on the fox as well. The dam there has some giant carp, and I've caught bass there as well. (None too gigantic). Wheeler park is a bit north of this area, and that's more for kids and mini-golf.

Anytime fitness is downtown, 24/7.

Plenty of bar/dining options, though I don't consider most of them breathtaking, the Bangkok is some pretty awesome Thai for the burbs. Plenty of pub-style food and friendly crazy suburbanites.

Depending on family, age and number of kids, there are pretty well regarded public schools in the area as well.

OK, good luck!

[solarballoon]

Thanks to everyone who posted replies. I'll sum things up for anyone who comes across this thread in the future:

Full Convenience Suburban Downtowns:

Elmhurst
Evanston
Western Springs
LaGrange
Westmont
Hinsdale
Berwyn
Clarendon Hills

*Possibly Full Convenience
Downers Grove
Lisle
Naperville

*No Grocery Store
Geneva

[chet everett]

I am not sure that the original request was about having the various conveniences in the downtown core, just within a walkable distance ...

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by solarballoon

Thanks to everyone who posted replies. I'll sum things up for anyone who comes across this thread in the future:

Full Convenience Suburban Downtowns:

Elmhurst
Evanston
Western Springs
LaGrange
Westmont
Hinsdale
Berwyn
Clarendon Hills

*Possibly Full Convenience
Downers Grove
Lisle
Naperville

*No Grocery Store
Geneva

Add Arlington Heights to the list. The Hardware Store might be 1.5 miles, otherwise everything else on the list is there PLUS movie theater and live theater.