Grant Park Real Estate
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Grant Park
Then and Now
Grant Park is located in the Kankakee County of Illinois, near the border of Indiana. It is about 50 miles due south of Chicago's city center and by car it takes a little over an hour to get to the downtown Loop. Grant Park is a tiny settlement that was originally incorporated in 1883. It occupies 0.6 square miles in a rural area of the state surrounded by agricultural countryside.
The population of Grant Park grew over 26% since 2000 and now has approximately 1,700 permanent residents. There is a strong showing of German ancestry in the village (38%), followed by Irish and Polish heritage. The cost of living index in Grant Park is just shy of the nation's average and, even though new home development has decreased in the last 15 years, the typical cost for new construction has not changed very much.
There is some industry in Grant Park, clustered at the northeastern quadrant of the community. It includes Tool Masters Tool & Stampings and Diversified Manufacturing, both of which have sprawling complexes with several buildings. On the other side of town is Grant Park's high school and elementary/middle school. The two educational institutions are separated by sports fields and open grounds. The local library, and its collection of 5,500 books, is off Main Street (otherwise known as IL-1 or IL-17). Grant Park's other main drag is Taylor Street, where a good portion of the area businesses and commercial real estate are situated.
Dining out in Grant Park will take you to one of its few culinary destinations, such as Bennett Curtis House, Bandits Bar & Grill, USA Family Restaurant, and Traxx Sports Bar & Grill. Over on the southwest side of village life is Lake Metonga. It is a multi-inlet body of water that resembles the shape of a giraffe with a long neck that shoots off into forested terrain. Lush wooded areas and expensive estates encircle the lake.
Real Estate
The real estate market in Grant Park is rather diversified, considering the small number of housing units in the area (about 520 homes total). Current listings present a wide selection of properties, from century-old farmsteads with acres of fields to new construction residences in freshly established subdivisions. Many of the pricier properties are three- to five-bedroom houses built in the last five years. However, other top-market lots do include traditional two-story Victorians and even log cabin-style residences that have been around for ages.
Lower price point homes in Grant Park also run the gamut in architectural details, square footage and amenities. There are vintage abodes that could use some updating and newly renovated mid-century residences with upgrades already in place. Properties on the outer perimeter of the township are flanked by huge crop fields and miles of farmland. In-town lots are a bit closer together but still enjoy spacious yards with generous property dimensions.
Out by Lake Metonga, on the southwestern edge of Grant Park, is a beautiful neighborhood of upscale homes that winds around the body of water. The residences are big and well-appointed – many with outdoor pools or waterfront access. These homes are less often up for sale due to the prime real estate on Grant Park's only lake.
The median home value in Grant Park was $195,680 in 2008 (up nearly $70,000 from 2000). The community's lush greenery, sizeable lots and assorted variety of housing styles offer excellent home sweet homes for any buyer looking to settle down in a small town environment.
