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Real Estate

It was cited by Frommer’s as one of the top 100 “Best Places to Raise Your Family” and most recently listed as one of “BusinessWeek’s 25 Best Affordable Suburbs in the U.S.”

Tucked in the western part of Lake County, this village of some 19,000 residents seems to enjoy the best of both worlds – a rather informal, rustic, lakefront ambiance and an enviable corporate base housing headquarters of such major companies as Boeing, Motorola, McDonald’s and Sears.

Its above-average school system [test score index: 111.5] and nonexistent crime rate [violent crime index: 29], are rightful points of significant pride. And though the median price for a home is $659,900, a range of housing is available across the township.

Gy Sathe, a Broker Associate with Gy Sathe Prudential Great American Real Estate, spends about 20 percent of her time working with corporate re-location clients.

“I just love showing off Lake Zurich, and with resources galore and homes ranging from $129,000 to over $2 million this is a great area for families.”

As the Branch Manager of Lake Zurich Midwest Bank (previously the State Bank of Lake Zurich), and as a resident on and off since her toddler years, Muffi Painter especially appreciates the corporate commitment to the community. “From the school system to the American Cancer Society we’re involved and strongly committed.”

As a 17-year veteran of the Ela Township Board, the past two years as supervisor, Lucy Prouty has been Township Supervisor providing general assistance for citizens that fall through the cracks. And for having been a hairdresser 47 years, she remembers some of the first beauty shops in town. Among them a “Steel Magnolia’s” sort of haven owned for many years by Betty and Dill Brau. These vintage Lake Zurichians now own property at 52, 54 and 56 East Main.

Whether the needs are transitional or permanent, Property Manager Jennifer Young delights in showing clients the
gracious apartment homes of The Landings of Lake Zurich. This exquisite, three-story property is surrounded by wetlands, and the luxurious one- and two-bedroom apartment homes range from $1,025 to $1,765. Seemingly every amenity is offered at this pet-friendly property with its 24-hour fitness center and outdoor heated pool. The gracious and practical apartment homes have full-size washers and dryers, handsome crown molding and a staff committed to exceeding their residents’ expectations.

John Sfire, president and owner of The Fidelity Group, Ltd., and his wife moved to Lake Zurich in 1978 to raise their family. He sits on a number of boards and is strongly invested in the area with some 185 tenants on properties ranging from 500 to 65,000 square feet.

As the area grows, Sfire feels it is meeting its challenges and is managing in its schools and in its infrastructure to keep up with that growth - commenting on such projects as the master plan for downtown redevelopment with townhouses and condominiums and the Route 22 Bypass diverting heavy traffic away from the downtown area to facilitate pedestrian traffic.

An especial responsibility of Sfire is to chair the fledgling School District 95 Educational Foundation that was created a little more than a year ago and currently operates on a projected $150,000 budget. The 501C3 Foundation’s mission is “to gather and disburse resources to CUSD95 to support activities that enhance, enrich and supplement instructional opportunities for CUSD95 learners consistent with the School District core values and mission.”

The foundation board feels a strong fiduciary responsibility to the growth of the district and to prosper as significantly in the long term as it has in the short term. Several months ago they went out to the community members, teachers, and parents to ask them to dream of what they would like to see. The resulting hundred or so projects were narrowed to four that are now ready to solicit funding for: Teacher Innovation Grants, Broadcast Journalism equipment to upgrade the current offerings, Portable video conferencing equipment for the district, E-School Plus Home Module equipment that will increase parent involvement via their access to real time data regarding their students.

Lake Zurich shows as a very strong community in many ways. In addition to the remarkable scholastics, Lake Zurich has great variety and depth to offer their learners in athletics, band, choir, theater and more. “It is so much more than just classes nine periods a day,” says Mike Carlino, President of Cambridge Bank and longtime family residents of Lake Zurich. “That variety builds strong individuals and strong individuals build a strong community.”

Atrium Garden Center Winter & Springttime Tips

The folks at the Atrium Garden Center know well that while the winter winds howl, nothing beats curling up by a fire with a fragrant cup of tea and dreaming of next year’s gardens. With generous input from Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and the Atrium staff these wintertime tips for edibles, ornamentals and houseplants will help you organize.

Ease into this delightful project by wandering through the garden catalogs and magazines you’ve been saving for just such moments. Perusing the pages you’ll be inspired seeing the crisp and succulent options you’ll have for next year’s vegetable garden. After all, now is the time to order seed for the upcoming season, so you’ll be ready as springtime arrives.

One day you’ll get the urge to poke around in your winter sleepy yard and gardens. To help avoid winter dehydration, water your evergreens if the soil is not yet frozen, and while you’re about, remove rose cones if the day is warmer. You’ll prevent heat building up inside the cones. Just be certain to re-cover as the temperature drops. If there are slippery sidewalk spots to melt, throw down sawdust, sand or kitty litter instead of salt. Salt kills nearby plants. While you’re poking about, check your perennials for frost heaving. If necessary push, them back into the soil and give them a coat of mulch.

Back in the house, check your houseplants for brown, dry or tattered edges. Likely they could use more humidity. And if you’re looking for a growing project – make it mushrooms! Whether Shitakes, European gourmet or the grocery everydays, they can all easily be grown in your basement, bathroom or a closet.

Stop by at the Atrium Garden Center and introduce yourself to store manager Angie Kinney and to Russell Johnson and Sarah Ewald in the Greenhouse. You’ll be glad you stopped by – and you might find a fountain or statuary that will add just the touch to your springtime gardens!