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Homer Glen Captures the Spotlight
Throughout the 20th century, Homer Glen was largely a sleepy little unincorporated town in the shadow of its more heralded Southland peers.
Here in 2017, however, those days are fading – and fast.
In the 16 years since Homer Glen incorporated as a village, the southwest suburb has asserted itself a prominent mover-and-shaker that provides its residents a high quality of life and rising optimism for the future.
For Gallagher and Henry sales managers Tina Plastiak and Alice Burgston, both of whom spend their days talking to prospective homebuyers interested in building a new home at the Goodings Grove or Kingston Hills communities in Homer Glen, the appeal of the village is easy to define.
A Little Country, a Little City
Located in the northeastern corner of Will County, approximately 35 miles from downtown Chicago, Homer Glen covers 22 square miles. That makes Homer Glen one of Will County’s largest municipalities in land area and provides the village’s 24,000 residents plenty of room to spread out. At Kingston Hills, for instance, the average lot size is 75-by-150 feet while the Gallagher and Henry-built homes cover upwards of 3,400 square feet.
Homer Glen pairs that serene living with quick access to modern-day conveniences. A short drive brings residents to nearby regional shopping centers, convenient local dining and several entertainment options, while I-355 sits close as does Metra Southwest service to Chicago’s Union Station.
“Homer Glen is such a unique place in that it offers some of the peace and quiet of country life alongside all of the modern conveniences one would need,” Plastiak said.
Happy, Healthy Residents
Earlier in 2017, Homer Glen released results of its first National Citizen Survey, an objective study of residents’ feelings on community livability.
More than 90 percent of Homer Glen’s current residents rated the village as a “good” or “excellent” place to live and raise a family. Residents also gave the village stellar marks for safety, ease of travel, K-12 education and the natural environment. Yet more, 84 percent of survey respondents intended to remain in Homer Glen while 85 percent said they would recommend Homer Glen to others.
“The number of generational families you see in Homer Glen speaks to the high character of the community and that’s something others are continuing to pick up on,” said Burgston, adding that Homer Glen has yet to impose a property tax on its homeowners.
A Family-Oriented Spirit
With families seeking high-achieving schools and safe environments for their children, Homer Glen distinguishes itself.
According to U.S. News & World Report, Lockport Township High School ranks among the top 10 percent of high schools in Illinois, while Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C, which serves some 3,700 elementary school students, outpaces state averages in preparing students for the next level and instructional spending per pupil.
This summer, Safewise also rated Homer Glen among the 25 safest cities to live in Illinois.
“Parents wanting a safe community with high-achieving schools find that and more in Homer Glen,” Plastiak said.
A Growing Village
In the last 16 years, Homer Glen has added a Village Hall, bike trails, community parks, community events and approximately 2,000 residents. The village has also begun construction of its biggest municipal project to date: the 103-acre Heritage Park.
When complete, village leaders believe Heritage Park, the former home of the Woodbine Golf Course, will become “the heart of the village” with its 1.5-mile multipurpose trail, interactive water feature, nature-themed creative play area, picnic groves, courts for tennis, sand volleyball and horseshoes, sled hill and multifunctional Village Green space designed to host farmer’s markets, community celebrations and movie-in-the-park events.
Gallagher and Henry’s Goodings Grove community, meanwhile, will soon welcome Goodings Grove Park, a 3.5-acre recreation area that includes a walking path, playground, basketball court and picnic shelter.
“Homer Glen hasn’t stayed static,” Burgston said. “It’s very much a village on the move that keeps its residents’ quality of life top of mind.”
For additional information on Kingston Hills or Goodings Grove, Gallagher and Henry’s two single-family home communities in Homer Glen, please visit www.gallagherandhenry.com.