urban living

Curious about Tower Crossing in The Glen?

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“Admit it.  You’re curious.”  So said the sign draped over the Optima condo complex in Skokie.  The building looks like it’s all glass, and indeed whenever I drove on I-94, I was curious.

The same goes for a terrific neighborhood in The Glen (in Glenview, Illinois, called Tower Crossing.  The development is adjacent to Glen Town Center’s many shops and restaurants.  There are 154 four-story Georgian brick townhomes in Tower Crossing, and as a homeowner I’ve seen countless people stare at these wonderful homes with obvious curiosity.  They don’t look like most townhomes.  First of all, they are huge, ranging in size from 3031 sq ft to 4105 sq ft.  Much larger than most townhomes! And the brick designs of the six models are creative and quite different than any townhome complex I’ve ever seen.

One day I was sitting on my front porch when a passerby asked me what level of my home I live on.  Huh?  I explained that the entire home was a single unit.  She didn’t believe me.  She speculated whether each townhome had three or four apartment units.  I explained that every Tower Crossing property, regardless of model, was a single unit with four stories.  She said I was wrong.  Even though I’ve lived in my townhome for 15 years, and as a Realtor who has sold more Tower Crossing homes than any other realtor, I explained that I knew everything about every model…and all were individual homes. For some reason she couldn’t get her brain around that one.

While many people are curious about Tower Crossing, my neighbors and I know that this is a great place to live.  Our homes are beautiful inside and out.  Most have three bedrooms, though some have two and others have four.  We can walk easily and quickly to all of The Glen’s restaurants, shops, Arclight Cinema and the local Metra train station.  It’s kind of like urban living, but in the suburbs with great schools and easy access to downtown Chicago and O’Hare airport.

If you, like so many people who walk around my neighborhood, are curious, let me show you some of the homes that are for sale or rent.  Tower Crossing prices range from in the $600’s to over $800,000.  Just send me an email at margaretludemann@gmail.com or call me at 847-401-1802

Margaret Ludemann, Realtor, The Glen Realty Group, @properties.

The Glen…urban living in the suburbs

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“It’s not just a home; it’s a lifestyle.” Over the years I’ve said this to scores of my home buyer clients who were considering the Glen, the luxury residential and retail community in Glenview Illinois. I include it in all of my marketing materials. And there’s good reason. You can find a nice home anywhere, but the Glen lifestyle is unique and wonderful.

Many years ago, as a young single woman just out of college, I moved to a condo at Division and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. I loved living in the exciting urban setting of Chicago. I loved the restaurants, shopping, and the theaters. I loved North Avenue Beach. I loved the convenience of walking to the gym, the grocery store, the laundry, and the train. I loved meeting friends for a drink after work. I loved walking down Michigan Avenue with all of the people hurrying off to work or play. What a life!

There were downsides, too, of course. Traffic congestion. Noise. Waiting in lines. Holding my purse close and tight while walking in crowds. So with all of the benefits of urban living, there were some less than pleasurable things as well.

Fast forward to 2003. I’m married. I have a three year old son. I need to consider safety. I need to think about schools. But, like many city dwellers, I didn’t like the idea of living in the suburbs. But then I heard about the Glen, in the north shore community of Glenview. I was told that it was a perfect blend of urban life in a suburban area, and I decided to take a look. One look was all it took for me to fall in love with the Glen. My husband and I bought a townhome bordering Glen Town Center. I discovered that, like in the city, I could walk to everything…the movies, shopping, restaurants, fitness center, laundry, spa, book store, and the Metra train station. I found a buzz while walking along Tower Drive, just like I experienced in the city.

But unlike the city I found that I could also walk to two golf courses, outdoor tennis courts, quiet walking trails, Gallery Park’s large open spaces, Little Bear Garden, and Kohl Children’s Museum. I also learned about Glenview’s world-class schools. In short, I found an urban lifestyle in suburbia. It’s called the Glen. I call it perfect.

Margaret Ludemann, @properties Realtor

847-401-1802  margaretludemann@gmail.com

Curragh Irish Pub, MOOYAH & Pinot’s Palette join The Glen

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I’ve often described owning a home in The Glen as having the best of both worlds.  It’s urban living…in the suburbs.  The suburban part of this description means great schools, safe neighborhoods, no congestion, golf courses, and plenty of room to walk, jog or run.  As for urban living we have Glen Town Center with its many restaurants, boutiques, theater, book store, museum, and coffee shop…all within an enjoyable 3 block stroll along Tower Drive.

Two new restaurants opened recently.  The Curragh Irish Pub is a traditional Irish eatery with a big menu.  You’ll find 11 starters, 9 soups & salads, 10 traditional Irish dishes, 5 additional entrees, 9 sandwiches + burgers, 6 tempting desserts, several sides, a children’s menu, an extensive wine list, and a full bar.  My family recommends the Guinness fish & chips, shepherds pie, and the Curragh reuben.  The ambiance is classy yet comfortable and fun.

If you are a burger connoisseur, you’re in luck.  A restaurant called MOOYAH opened a few weeks ago offering great burgers (including those of turkey and veggie varieties), and hot dogs with your choice of buns and different cheeses.  Several toppings and sauces are available, including something called “MOOYAH sauce” which is as tasty as it is mysterious.  The fries are fresh cut every day and made on site.  My husband loves the traditional burger, I enjoyed the turkey burger, and our son found the “real ice cream shakes” to his liking (no surprise there).

My third “find” in Glen Town Center is really fun.  It’s called Pinot’s Palette whose motto is “Paint.  Drink.  Have fun.”  It’s a place to learn to paint while having a glass of wine with friends.  Upcoming event themes include “girls night out”, “VIP night” and “date night”.  Staff members help you along the way, and as they say, a good time is had by all.

The Glen is an upscale residential and retail community on Chicago’s North Shore in the village of Glenview.  The residential real estate market offers luxury homes of all types…single family homes, townhouses, row homes, duplexes, two-flats, and apartment condos.  If you may be interested in living in The Glen, please contact me at 847-401-1802 or margaretludemann@gmail.com

Margaret Ludemann, Glen resident and @properties Reator