“Small atmosphere, big attitude. People are very nice here. There’s also the convenience of the train and a lot of good restaurants.” Favorite spot: Brown Cow.
John Young, 38
Resident of the 400 block of Hannah for 8 years
“Proximity to public transportation. We live a couple of blocks from the Blue Line. You can get downtown in 15 to 20 minutes. It’s cheap to live here, too. I feel like I’m more in a small town than classic suburbia.” Favorite spots: Ed’s Way and La Maison de Bonbon
Cornelia McNamara, 38
Floral Designer
Resident of the 900 block of Marengo for two months
“Small town charm, and it’s so close to the city. It’s so cute here, especially Madison Street. And there’s a big sense of community.” Favorite spots: Ed’s Way, Brown Cow, Submarine Tender
Alana Epkins, 32
Executive secretary for VA Hospital; Resident of 1000 block of Beloit for two years
“Convenience. It offers all the amenities of a big city. It’s like a one-stop-shop suburb. It’s quiet and peaceful, too. It has a calming effect on you, and you never get the hustle and bustle of the city.”
Barbara Granger, 54
Metra researcher
Resident of the 300 block of Marengo for 22 years
“You have all the amenities of living in Chicago at half the price. We got a four-bedroom house for the same price as a condo in Chicago. And the Blue Line stops right there. It’s a really easy commute.” Favorite spots: Moss Modern Flowers, Caffé De Luca, Paciugo Gelato
Mike Beasley, 28
Owner of landscaping company
Resident of 1000 block of Ferdinand for 3 years
