As you drive through Clarendon Hills and Westmont, you see the Forest Hills Apartments, then another Forest Hills, and still more.
This community has five buildings scattered within a few blocks of each other — four of them in Clarendon Hills, one in Westmont. The developer, who still owns the complex, bought sites for the 286-unit apartment community as they became available.
The buildings were constructed in phases during the 1970s. Although they are in disparate locations, they have some things in common. They are all two-story structures with red brick facades and white shutters flanking the windows. They also are well-maintained by a two-person, 24-hour maintenance staff.
The buildings also are on quiet residential streets where views from patios or balconies are of nearby houses or back yards. The community is within walking distance of downtown Clarendon Hills, which has a Starbucks, a couple of restaurants, a variety of shops, a public library and a Metra station. A supermarket is also nearby.
Forest Hills was built some 30 years ago, updated. improvements made in recent years include new roofs on all buildings, new windows in all units, new carpet in common hallways and relocation of the mailboxes from the exteriors to the foyers.
Unlike many apartment buildings that date from this era, the common-area interiors at Forest Hills are brightened by natural sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows in the entry foyer and at the ends of the interior hallways.
The one-bedroom unit we visited is on the first floor of one of three buildings that have garages. A space in the detached garage is $40 a month.
The front door opens into a 20-by-13-foot living room that is carpeted in beige. A coat closet is next to the front door. A wall unit provides air conditioning. A sliding glass door leads to a patio with a view of lawn that separates the property from the fenced back yards of houses.
An open doorway from the living room leads into the 10-by-8-foot kitchen with a beige linoleum floor; off-white appliances, including a dishwasher; almond-colored counters; and oak cabinets.
A second open door, on the opposite side of the kitchen, connects it to the 10-by-8-foot, beige-carpeted dining room with brass chandelier.
A short hallway between the living and dining rooms leads to the bathroom and bedroom.
The bathroom has the same beige linoleum floor as the kitchen and its oak vanity matches the kitchen cabinets. It also has a white tub/shower and a large mirror.
A hallway outside the bathroom that has extra deep shelves could serve as a place to store linens.
At the end of the hallway is the 13 1/2-by-16-foot, beige carpeted bedroom. . It has a double closet on one wall and a walk-in on another. If you needed space for a home office, you might be able to turn the latter closet into a computer niche and use the first for storing clothes.
The bedroom has a window with the same view to the east of grass and back yards as the patio’s.
The communal laundry is on the first floor, where a storage locker is provided for each unit.
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The vital stats
Address: Forest Hills Apartments, 5500 Tennessee Ave., Clarendon Hills
Size: One bedroom, one bath
Rent: $699
Security deposit: One month’s rent
Utilities: Resident pays electricity. Gas heat is included.
Parking: Outdoor, unreserved. Some buildings have garages. A space is $40 a month
For rental information, call 630-325-7775.
