Forest Glen is a unique and livable Chicago neighborhood.
Winding along the banks of the Chicago River, residents enjoy a charming blend of city, suburb, and country living Forest Glen is made up of four different neighborhoods: Wildwood, Sauganash, Edgebrook, and Forest Glen. Each neighborhood offers a distinctive housing market, but they are united in their natural beauty and community-focused lifestyle. As a whole, the area is the most suburban feeling of Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Residents enjoy a bustling community complete with local restaurants, nearby entertainment, and high-ranking schools. A top destination for nature lovers, the area is surrounded by a ring of forest preserves and local parks. The area enjoys a sense of prestige and is home to a number of elite city employees.
Great for commuters, the nearby Metra North Line, CTA Blue Line, and I-94 expressway provides easy access to the Loop and beyond!
Forest Glen Neighborhood Guide
One of the first things you’ll notice is that Forest Glen just looks different than the rest of Chicago. Instead of flat lands with a grid of streets, the neighborhood is forested, with rolling hills and streets following the winding Chicago River. That said, its setting isn’t the only thing that sets this exciting neighborhood apart:
Shopping
The area’s small neighborhood center, on Devon Ave near the Metra Stop, features a number of cozy boutiques, coffee shops, and family restaurants. Just across the border in Niles, the Village Crossing Mall offers familiar big box stores (Walmart, Best Buy, ect.), chain restaurants, and an AMC Movie Theater. The area offers plenty of grocery options, including a Jewel, Aldi, Costco, and Whole Foods Market.
Food And Drink
Forest Glen offers great, unpretentious restaurants in a diversity of cuisines from South Asian, to Himalayan, and classic Chicago dives. Local favorites include King Pho, Villa Rosa Pizza Kitchen, and Dakota 94. Perfect for a nice meal out, City’s Edge is a great bar and restaurant, serving burgers, wings, and BBQ. On the neighborhood’s northern border, you’ll meet locals at the Wildwood Tavern, a friendly local bar.
What’s Nearby?
Surrounded by a ring of parks and nature preserves, Forest Glen has more than its fair share of recreation. A number of lovely local parks, including Sauganash Park, Wildwood Park, and Edgebrook park offer fitness facilities, youth and adult sports, and arts programming. At the forest preserves, there are great biking and hiking trails. During the summer, the community is known to gather for picnics, softball games, and other events.
Like a suburb, the community comes together for a number of events throughout the year including an Easter Egg Hunt, a Fourth of July Parade, and, in the fall, an Oktoberfest and Halloween Party.
Forest Glen History
Early History
First home to Potawatomi Native Americans, Euro-American settlement began in the Forest Glen area in 1829. After the Civil War, the area was awarded to Captain William Hazelton for his service in the war. Hazelton subdivided the land to encourage development and gave the area its name. Development was slow, partially due to Hazelton’s strict banning of smoking and drinking. In 1880, a new railroad stop kickstarted growth. Forest Glen became part of Chicago in 1889.
Becoming Forest Glen
The ring of forest preserves that surround Forest Glen was established in 1906 by President Teddy Roosevelt. Continuing to this day, these lands provide great recreation and meeting places for the community. A building boom began in the 1940s. Attracted by the suburb-like surroundings and Mayor Richard J. Daley’s decree that city workers live within city limits, the area reached its highest population of 20,531 in 1970.
Forest Glen Today
Forest Glen continues to be one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Chicago. The area’s lovely homes, natural beauty, and welcoming community attract residents from all over the world. A testament to the area’s livability, many of the homes in the area are still occupied by their original owners.
Forest Glen Homes
Forest Glen offers buyers and renters a variety of great housing options. Most homes in the community are single-family houses, in a variety of architectural styles including Chicago bungalows, cottages, English Tudors, and single-story ranches. One can also find a limited number of apartment buildings, townhomes, and other multi-family residences in the area.
Winner of 354 individual Green Thumb Awards, the area is known for its beautiful tree-lined streets and immaculate landscaping. On the whole, the area is more expensive than neighboring Chicago neighborhoods with a three-bedroom home hovering in the mid $400,000 range.
The Forest Glen area is made up of a number of smaller neighborhoods including Edgebrook, Sauganash, Wildwood, and the Forest Glen. Each of these neighborhoods has its own unique housing styles and market. But, from bungalows in Forest Glen to the mansions of Sauganash, from top to bottom, great homes abound. Come see for yourself!
