Like Clint Eastwood is a Man’s Man, Oak Lawn is a Suburb’s Suburb.
Once known as Black Oaks Grove and then called Agnes — after the first postmaster’s wife — the Village of Oak Lawn was incorporated in 1909. Located about 14 miles southwest of the Loop, the bucolic farming village initially attracted residents in spite of its relative inaccessibility.
By 1950, the population of Oak Lawn was just under 9,000. But the village exploded in the post World War II suburban boom: the population tripled to 27,000 by 1960 and then more than doubled again to 60,000 in 1970.
Oak Lawn, however, was not the prototypical bedroom suburb. Even though the 1970s and 1980s saw little growth, the village refused to stand still as many aging inner ring suburbs did, instead beginning a decade ago to reinvent itself in ways that would complement what it hoped would be a resurgence of younger families moving into the village.
“The town has been progressive,” says Herb Gary, a resident since 1965 who lives in the 9400 block of Massasoit. “There’s been a lot done to 95th Street, the center of town. I still like Oak Lawn, though it’s changing with more ethnic diversity, and it’s less of a blue-collar place than it used to be. We’ve raised six children here, and four of them returned to live, at least for a while. I can see why people have called it the `gem’ of the Chicago suburbs.”
Community Development Director James Webb believes the village’s efforts are already paying off in terms of residential demand.
“According to the Realtors’ reports in town, and we have many, the town’s getting younger. New housing stock is moving quickly at very high prices to young families, who are looking for a good stable community with good schools,” Webb said. “We have a lot of seniors, but most of them are snow birds. Many of them buy condos or townhouses, and have sold their homes to their children.”
“At the same time, when people shop, the newer storefronts and ease of parking is what they’re looking for. We’re trying to adjust to that throughout the whole community,” Webb said. “There’s a mix of the residential and the economic development — you can’t break them apart.”
The 81-year old village currently finds itself in the midst of an economic redevelopment, as an aging streetscape has been given a modern facelift. Red paving brick now marks the downtown area like the Freedom Trail in Boston; colorful potted plants are found at street corners and store fronts, and a new library and municipal center serve as testimonials to the village’s healthy tax base, currently ranked in the top 20 in the state.
“There are good services for your tax dollar. The Park District, groups for kids, and the schools are good,” added Meghan Fitzgerald, a 15-year resident living in the 108th block of Kilbourne. “And it’s obvious the downtown area has been improved.”
Oak Lawn boasts 14 car dealerships, the major economic engine of the community. Retail sales tax generates over $1 million per month, with dealerships contributing about 45-percent of the revenues. Not surprisingly, Village manager Joseph Faber says auto dealers and banks have been the forerunners in revitalizing the appearance of commercial properties.
“In the last few years, six or seven of our dealers have actually leveled their showrooms and rebuilt them, because it was time to reinvest,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of businesses with deep pockets, like banks, come in and buy properties, knock them down, and put up new buildings.”
He said Oak Lawn has been working with businesses up and down 95th Street, big and small, to continue that trend. “In Oak Lawn, there’s no `status quo’. You’re either moving back or you’re moving forward,” Faber adds. “We don’t want to fall below the bar where people don’t want to invest in the commercial corridors. We’ve hired an economic development director, created a parking lot fund, a small business low interest loan fund, and done two large TIF (tax increment financing) districts. Keeping the retail going helps pay for all the services we give our residents.”
Officials say that in addition to the emphasis on retail and economic development, Oak Lawn’s housing stock has continued to grow, even though the community is virtually landlocked.
Today, many new homes are commanding prices of $300,000, despite the median price for a single-family home in 1999 of $147,000.
“There’s an economic reality here that a lot of other communities like Tinley or Orland Park might not have,” Faber said. “Young families can buy a very nice home in Oak Lawn for $150,000.”
In the last 10 years, vacant parcels located along Central Avenue from 107th to 115th Street have been developed, adding about 1,000 units, including town homes, condominiums, and approximately 300 single-family homes.
The Eagle Ridge project that is still under way spans more than 100 acres and includes plans for 363 single-family homes, three 24-unit condominium buildings and 14 eight-unit condominium buildings.
Just east of Eagle Ridge is the Acorn Glen subdivision that includes 106 town homes, and six multi-unit buildings, with 6, 12, or 24 condominium units each.
A mile farther to the south is the Foxwood subdivision that includes 24 single-family units, 55 town homes, five multi-unit condominiums, and a strip mall.
Webb believes the village’s active housing market has necessitated changes in the local retail marketing structure, among them the interest of larger, brand-name franchises looking to establish more of a presence in the village.
“We’re really family oriented, and we want to take a look and make sure they’re places where you’d want to take your wife and kids,” Webb said. “We’re not a bar community, per se. We have bars and taverns, but they all serve food. We want to keep it that way — it makes for a nicer town.”
Many of the southwest Chicago suburbs, including Evergreen Park, Bridgeview, and Oak Lawn, boast of their proximity to the city as well as access to major roads and airports.
The growth of Oak Lawn’s younger population and economic development must also be tied to the Metra rail service that was added before the current redevelopment began. In 1981, a line was created between the village and downtown Chicago. “Back then, there were no stations, no lots,” Faber said. “We built a small station and a 400 space parking lot. By 2003, Metra plans to have 24 trains in and out and add weekend service, the same as all the other Metra stations. Trains run from Orland Park to Union Station, and we’re the largest stop on the route.”
Pace Bus service was also added at about the same time as the train service, and included stops adjacent to stations. Webb said both services helped increase the number of residents working downtown, but living in Oak Lawn.
“Kids went to school and then wanted to live and work downtown, so they could have fun,” he said. “Suddenly, things get serious, and they’re back here, buying a house to raise their family while they keep their job back in the city.”
Plans for another Metra parking lot and a parcel that has been assembled for redevelopment and will feature name-brand retailers and restaurants, stands ready to join the downtown area of Oak Lawn. Officials say they’re ready to sell parcels to the right businesses.
The local park district has kept up with the growth of the village by adding an impressive collection of amenities, including the Oak Lawn Pavilion, which includes a soccer field, basketball courts, and a recreation center. Other new amenities include a new indoor ice-skating rink, and Stony Creek, an 18-hole golf course that includes a driving range and a miniature golf course.
Village services have likewise kept pace with the growth in population. Mayor Ernest Kolb said the maintenance of the village’s infrastructure, a new police station, radio room, and village hall have all been completed with an eye to the needs of the future.
“We oversized a number of things and came under some criticism for it,” Kolb said, “but there were always problems with the older buildings. We’ve also learned we need to cost-share with other communities with things like our radio room, which we’ve expanded five-fold. We cost-share this with Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Roberts Park and other smaller fire departments.”
The Police Department has 104 full-time officers, making it one of the largest in all the Chicago suburbs.
“We have a lot of programs here we do with our youth, and we try to address issues before they start,” said Lieutenant Robert Smith. “Theft and shoplifting are our biggest problems here, and we’ve gained a reputation for being vigilant. People who get arrested here know our reputation, and don’t want to get caught here. We’ve had arrests where people say, `I didn’t know I was in Oak Lawn.'”
The investments have paid off, resident Fitzgerald says.
“I feel safe living here,” she said. “I’ve left my door unlocked and walked down the block and been comfortable about it.”
