Although the rapidly developing south suburbs seem to change almost monthly, a comfortable stability can be found in the adjacent villages of Homewood and Flossmoor.
Here, the hustle and bustle of the region seems to slow to a more relaxed pace.
For example, the residential neighborhoods are rich in historic charm and also are places where wildlife are a common sight.
The quaint stores on Sterling Avenue in downtown Flossmoor have been in place since the 1920s. And the historic Illinois Central Railroad station, also on Sterling, has been the longtime link to Chicago.
Jim Bannon`s Floor Coverings shop at 18120 Dixie Highway in Homewood is housed in a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse. Visitors can take a look at the old cloakroom.
Homewood and Flossmoor are steeped in history. They are two of the older, more established south suburbs. Both are mostly residential, and there is little room for change.
Homewood and Flossmoor are also two of the most affluent of the south suburbs.
There are five (four private and one public) country clubs and golf courses within the communities. A few homes have edged up to a million dollars in the last few years.
Many local residents are happy with the status quo.
”Right now, Homewood is about as big as it`s going to get,” says shop owner Bannon, 57. ”We`re landlocked on all four sides. So there`s no worry about the town getting too big. And there`s a comfortable feeling knowing that the town is going to remain much the same.”
”Flossmoor has, of course, grown somewhat over the years, but the atmosphere here has stayed the same-it`s much like a small town,” says Bertram Heuer, 66, who has lived there for more than 60 years. ”And because there`s little room to grow, we`re assured that the small-town feeling will be around for a long time.”
A sense of community, especially the cooperation between Homewood and Flossmoor, also contributes to the small-town character. In some cases it`s hard to say the name, ”Homewood,” without automatically adding
”Flossmoor,” residents say.
”I`m not sure what`s nurtured the bind between the two communities over the years,” Flossmoor Mayor Frank Maher says. ”But the relationship is much stronger than the relationships between (most) other neighboring communities.”
”We do a lot of joint projects and programs,” notes Homewood Village President Manny Hoffman. ”The mayor of Flossmoor and I work hand in hand-and we`re personal friends.”
For example, the two communities share a park district, a high school and fire equipment and firefighters by mutual agreement. In addition, many community groups overlap, including the historical society, the Rotary and Lions Clubs, and senior groups.
The two communities also share history.
A farming region in the middle of the 19th Century, the Homewood-Flossmoor area grew rapidly after the Illinois Central Railroad laid tracks through the towns on its way to Kankakee from Chicago. Homewood incorporated in 1893, Flossmoor in 1924.
In the late 1800s, the area was something of a playground for Chicago`s elite, with several country clubs and golf courses opening.
As Chicago grew during the early part of this century, so did Homewood and Flossmoor. Because of the commuter railroad, many families left Chicago for the south suburbs along the Illinois Central line. Residential development boomed, and many of the homes standing today were built then.
Because of its original rural nature, open space remained an important component in the development of Homewood and Flossmoor. And today, much of the thick woodlands and green spaces for which the towns were named still remains in the communities. Homewood means ”home of the woods,” and Flossmoor is a Scottish word that means both ”gently rolling countryside” and ”dew on the flowers.”
In addition to the golf courses, more than 200 acres make up 30 park sites.
Providing for education was important in the development of the communities.
In addition to the shared Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, there are four elementary schools (two public and two private) and a public junior high school in Homewood and four elementary schools (three public and one private) and a public junior high school in Flossmoor.
”We are very family-oriented in nature,” Hoffman says. ”We are also a very involved community-there`s a tremendous amount of volunteering here. For example, we`re going to be 100 years old in 1993, and people from all corners of the village are already working on a large centennial” celebration.
”In addition to our reputation of having good schools, parks, housing, etc., our village has always placed a very high emphasis on aesthetics,” says Pat Finn, planning director of Flossmoor. ”We have an appearance commission that regulates signage in the community and the design and appearance of commercial and multifamily buildings. The village feels that those high standards are what make Flossmoor the community it is today.”
Stability in these communities, however, doesn`t mean stagnancy. To ensure continuation of the quality of life, Homewood and Flossmoor officials in recent years have been planning and implementing a number of developments geared toward the 21st Century.
Under economic development, Homewood is dealing with the new and the old. The new is the Washington Park parcel, a 160-acre site that was once the Washington Park racetrack, which burned down in 1977.
”The village is in the process of buying the Washington Park acreage, and then we`ll parcel it out to developers and sell it,” Hoffman says.
”We`re looking at it as space for office and research development. It may take four or five years to develop the property, but this is a major project.”
The Washington Park parcel is near two of Homewood`s existing shopping areas, the Washington Park Plaza and Washington Park Mall on opposite sides of Halsted Street at Ridge Road.
Other retail areas include the Southgate shopping area at 187th Street and Dixie Highway, the Cherry Creek shopping center at 183rd Street and Governor`s Highway on the village`s west side and Homewood`s downtown centered at the intersection of Ridge Road and Dixie Highway.
What`s ”old” in Homewood is its downtown, most of which was developed in the 1920s and `30s. The business area is slated for a $2.5 million renovation, officials say, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in June. The renovation will include sidewalk, sewer, lighting and some building facade upgrading.
”We feel we can increase the desirability for stores to locate in the downtown,” says Roger Bovenkerk, president of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce.
Another key downtown project is the proposed renovation of the former Homewood Theater, at 181st Street and Dixie Highway. The plan is to convert the shuttered building into a regional cultural arts center at a cost of $1.5 million. The Cultural Arts Center Foundation, a private fundraising organization, has raised about one-third of the funds needed for the project. The village also has committed $500,000 for the project.
To spur activity in the Washington Park and downtown areas, the village has created two tax increment financing districts, which allow a municipality to fund infrastructure improvements and other costs up front and recoup the costs later through the additional taxes that the new development creates.
Besides the Washington Park parcel, there are less than 10 acres of vacant property in the village, Hoffman estimates. But Homewood`s vigorous home market will keep economic development strong, he says.
”Our local real estate (people) have found that homes in Homewood are sold within a one- to two-week period” after coming on the market, Hoffman says. ”So we have a very small inventory.”
”We`ve noticed that (homes in) some of the older neighborhoods in Homewood are turning over to young families,” Bovenkerk says. ”I believe a lot of the young people who grew up in the (south suburban) area are moving back. They`re ready to raise a family, and they know the community has a lot to offer in the way of schools, parks, etc.”
One such couple, Stacy and James Nietfeldt, moved into Homewood in December from nearby Tinley Park, where they both grew up.
”When we were looking for a home, we liked Homewood because of its hometown atmosphere,” Stacy Nietfeldt says. ”And now that we have a 2-month- old baby, we`re concerned about good schools. So we`re very glad we`re here.”
”It`s heartening to see a change in our growth pattern,” Hoffman says.
”Even I have two children who just bought homes . . . in the community.”
One moved back to Homewood from Chicago, and the other moved to a house from a Homewood apartment.
The real estate market also is strong in Flossmoor, the smaller of the two suburbs, Finn says.
”We have a very diversified existing housing market that ranges from the affordable to very upscale properties,” Finn says. ”And more importantly, Flossmoor also has a built-in market recognition-a reputation that has been around since its founding. People are usually sold on the community and want to know what they need to do to build or buy a home here.”
Like Homewood, Flossmoor also has only one large parcel in its planning area left for development. Known as Sunnycrest, which was the name of the farm at the site, the 160 or so acres are on the southwest side of the village.
”We`ve recently hired a planning consulting firm to assist the village in putting together a long-range plan for Sunnycrest area,” Finn says. ”We want to know how the area will look 30 to 40 years from now when it is fully developed.”
Maher and Finn say initial strategies call for commercial development along the main streets such as Crawford and Vollmer Roads and Governor`s Highway, and residential projects for the rest of the parcel.
About 40 acres of the property have been annexed by Flossmoor, and the village has plans to annex the remainder.
Like Homewood, Flossmoor also is seeing some scattered new development and redevelopment.
”In certain sections on the southwestern side of town, we have several single-family homes on large multi-acre parcels,” Finn says. ”We`ve seen people purchase those parcels and break them down to two, three or four lots. We`ve also seen some older single-family homes demolished on certain lots and bigger homes built in their place.”
With the majority of the tax base in residential property, Finn says village officials are interested in expanding and diversifying Flossmoor`s commercial area. Besides the downtown, along Sterling Avenue between Flossmoor Road and Park Drive, Flossmoor has only one other shopping district-Flossmoor Commons at Vollmer Road and Governor`s Highway.
”There`s a great customer base here,” says Larry Kluger, owner of Kluger Furs Ltd., which opened in Flossmoor Commons a little more than a year ago. ”They`re sophisticated and loyal buyers. It`s not the greatest of times to go into a new business venture, but we`re very happy with response so far from the community. And we`re looking forward to even better times here.”
Officials of both communities also are aiming for better times. They hope their planned improvements will enhance the communities without changing their nature.
”When someone moves into Homewood, they move into a community where schools and parks and community spirit are important,” Hoffman says.
”We want that strong quality of life to always be here.”
”We`re known throughout the entire Chicago area as a quality community,” Flossmoor`s Maher adds. ”And we`re working hard for it to remain that way.
”We want to keep offering everything that a family-oriented person would want in a nice neighborhood.”
