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Waters Elementary School is a small (enrolment 449) pre-K-8 neighborhood school with a fine arts magnet program. It serves the Ravenswood Manor, Ravenswood Gardens and Lincoln Square neighborhoods.
Home buyers in Chicago, especially those who don’t have children, often overlook the impact a neighborhood school can have on property values. Home values can vary significantly from block to block based on school district boundaries.
Parents in Chicago often overlook the impact that a few committed individuals can have on a public school. Waters may be one of those schools where positive change is underway and where the conditions are right for that change to lock in and become self-reinforcing. If that were to occur property values in the district would be likely to appreciate disproportionately to surrounding areas, even in this difficult market. Will they? It’s anyone’s guess.
In the meanwhile, join me and my tour guide, Chris Moran of Sudler Sotheby’s, a 22-year resident of the area, for a walk through the rustic gardens on Waters school’s grounds. Part one of our walk around the school is at YouTube.
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You said it Joe… In a “good” school attendance boundary, it’s almost impossible to find a home (house,town-home, or condo) to squeeze a family of four into under $400K in Chicago. Even in Northwest neighborhoods like Norwood Park (in Onahan Elementary attendance boundary).
In Waters, forget it. You can barely get a decent three bedroom condo for $350K and most families I know cringe at the thought of two kids in a condo of any kind.
I hope some parents turn around the schools in my part of Ravenswood (Chappel, McPherson, Ravenswwod)… an average family of four can barely afford to live here now and our schools are not considered desirable. But I’ll take the appreciation!
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