Picture this: you leave your front door, stroll past a small lake and green space, grab dinner on a lively main street, then catch a movie without getting in the car. If that sounds like your kind of suburban living, you might be picturing life near The Glen in Glenview. You want walkability, parks, good transit, and a clear sense of what homes here look like. This guide breaks down the essentials so you can decide if living near The Glen fits your goals. Let’s dive in.

What and where is The Glen

The Glen is a planned mixed-use neighborhood built on the former Naval Air Station Glenview. It blends a walkable town center with condos, townhomes, apartments, and nearby single-family areas, plus large parks and community facilities. The redevelopment spans a significant portion of the former base footprint, commonly described as roughly 1,000 to 1,300 acres, with a compact retail and dining core at its heart. For a quick look at the scale and retail strategy, review industry coverage of the project’s footprint and planning approach from BD+C Magazine’s redevelopment profile of The Glen’s retail base.

At the center, you will find a pedestrian-oriented main street experience at the Glen Town Center. Surrounding blocks include mid-rise residential buildings and attached townhome communities that were designed to make daily errands and dining an easy walk.

How The Glen came to be

After the Naval Air Station closed in the mid-1990s, Glenview set a master plan for reuse and financed public improvements through a tax-increment financing district. The village sold parcels in phases, which helped coordinate infrastructure, parks, and residential development across the site. The TIF was later wound down early by a village vote, an important backdrop for understanding how the redevelopment shaped local tax flows and investments over time. You can read local reporting on the TIF’s early end and broader context in the Journal & Topics coverage of Glenview’s decision to close the Glen TIF one year ahead of schedule.

Everyday amenities near The Glen

Walkable town center

The Glen Town Center offers a curated mix of shops, services, and restaurants laid out on a compact grid with wide sidewalks and plaza-style spaces. Residents highlight the convenience of being able to meet friends for coffee, grab a quick bite, or run an errand without a long drive. As an entertainment anchor, the modern cinema at Landmark Theatres at The Glen makes movie night easy.

Parks, trails, and recreation

On the site of the former base is Gallery Park and Lake Glenview, an expansive green space with paths, lawns, and water views that gives the neighborhood a signature open-air feel. Next door, the Park Center is the Glenview Park District’s flagship facility with fitness, pools, gyms, and year-round programming for all ages. You can explore facilities and programming on the Glenview Park District’s Park Center page.

Heritage and unique local outings

Just a short drive from the town center, Historic Wagner Farm is a working historic farm operated by the park district with seasonal events, educational programs, and a popular farmers market. If you are building a weekend routine, it is a classic local stop. Learn more on the Historic Wagner Farm page.

Golfers often mention The Glen Club, a public course and clubhouse set on former base land, known for its open vistas and regional play. You can browse course details and tee times at The Glen Club.

Getting around

Metra and rail options

Glenview is served by Metra’s Milwaukee District/North line at two stations: downtown Glenview and North Glenview, which is the closest to The Glen area. Typical timetables show many trains covering the trip to downtown Chicago in about 30 to 35 minutes, depending on the schedule. The village’s visitor page summarizes transit choices and regional access, including Metra and Amtrak notes, on the Village of Glenview site.

Driving connections and airport access

Glenview sits between I-94 and I-294, which makes trips across the North Shore and toward the city straightforward, traffic permitting. O’Hare International Airport is within a short drive, often around 20 to 30 minutes depending on starting point and conditions. You will find a helpful overview of regional connections on the Village of Glenview’s visitor page.

Walkability on the ground

The town center core is intentionally pedestrian-friendly, with short blocks, sidewalks, and street-level storefronts that bring daily needs closer to home. As you move a few blocks out, walkability varies by specific address. For any property you are considering, check the block-level walk experience and your own daily route to transit, groceries, and parks.

Homes you will find

The Glen and the surrounding area offer a wide range of housing types built mostly since the late 1990s. Closer to the town center, you will see newer townhomes, mid-rise condos, and apartment communities. Some luxury townhome enclaves were positioned to front the retail core or park views, which appeals if you want more space with a low-maintenance lifestyle. Single-family subdivisions built as part of the redevelopment sit near the edges, while nearby parts of Glenview feature older ranch and colonial homes that predate the base closure.

If you like the idea of living steps from dining and the cinema, townhomes just off the main street can be a great match. If you prefer elevators, indoor parking, and a lock-and-leave routine, mid-rise condo buildings are common. For buyers who want a larger yard, detached homes in adjacent neighborhoods balance proximity to the amenities with more traditional suburban space.

Who tends to choose The Glen

Buyers span several life stages. Families are drawn to the proximity to neighborhood schools, the Park Center, and family-focused attractions like the farmers market at Wagner Farm and the Kohl Children’s Museum. Commuters value the two Metra stations and direct routes to I-94 and I-294. Downsizers and retirees often prioritize lower-maintenance living near restaurants, green space, and cultural events. According to the U.S. Census QuickFacts, Glenview has nearly 48,000 residents with household income and home values above national averages, and a sizable share of residents are 65 and older. You can review demographic highlights on Census QuickFacts for Glenview.

Schools and districts

Public elementary and middle schools serving Glenview are primarily within Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34. Attea Middle School is located within the redevelopment area, and the district provides boundary lookup tools so you can confirm the correct schools for a specific address. For current district maps and programs, visit District 34.

Public high schools for most of Glenview are in Northfield Township High School District 225, including Glenbrook South in Glenview and Glenbrook North in Northbrook. Assignments depend on where an address falls within the elementary and middle school district boundaries. Always verify school assignments with the districts directly during your home search.

Practical buying tips near The Glen

• Clarify HOA and assessments. Many condos and townhomes have monthly association fees for exterior maintenance, snow removal, amenities, and reserves. Ask for budgets, recent meeting minutes, and any history of special assessments.
• Check your daily walk. Measure the time from your door to the Town Center, the nearest park entrance, and your preferred Metra station. Visit at different times of day to understand traffic and parking patterns.
• Consider taxes and long-term planning. The Glen’s redevelopment included a TIF that supported infrastructure. While the TIF has ended, it is useful context when you think about municipal investments and how the area came together. See the local report on the TIF’s early end in Journal & Topics.
• Plan for resale. Product type matters. Attached homes and newer condos can follow different pricing and time-on-market patterns than older single-family homes nearby. Your agent should share recent comps by property type and HOA profile.
• Confirm parking and storage. If you are comparing townhomes and condos, note garage access, guest parking rules, EV charging options, and storage lockers.
• Review pet and rental policies. Many associations have clear rules around pets and rentals. If these are important to you, request the full association documents early.

Is living near The Glen right for you

If you want a North Shore address with walkable amenities, a strong park and recreation network, and easy rail access to downtown Chicago, living near The Glen is worth a close look. The mix of housing types gives you options whether you are buying your first home, moving up, or simplifying into a lower-maintenance place. With clear goals and the right local guidance, you can zero in on the streets and buildings that match your daily routine.

If you are weighing homes near The Glen, our team can help you compare locations, HOA profiles, and transit access, then line up tours that make the decision easy. Questions or ready to start? Reach out to Julie Bird for a thoughtful, local-first plan.

FAQs

How walkable is living near The Glen in Glenview

• The immediate Town Center is designed for pedestrians with short blocks and storefronts, and walkability decreases as you move a few blocks out, so evaluate each address based on your daily routine and comfort.

What are my transit options from The Glen to downtown Chicago

• Metra’s Milwaukee District/North line serves Glenview at the downtown Glenview and North Glenview stations, with many trains reaching downtown in about 30 to 35 minutes; see the Village of Glenview’s overview for transit details.

What parks and recreation are closest to The Glen

• Gallery Park, Lake Glenview, and the Park Center are within the redevelopment, and Historic Wagner Farm is a short drive; the Glenview Park District lists facilities and programs.

Which public schools serve addresses near The Glen

• Most nearby addresses are within Glenview District 34 for elementary and middle schools and District 225 for high school; confirm exact assignments for any specific property with District 34.

What types of homes are common near The Glen

• You will see newer townhomes and mid-rise condos near the Town Center, apartment communities, and single-family subdivisions at the edges, with older detached homes in surrounding Glenview neighborhoods.

How large is The Glen redevelopment and why is that relevant

• The redevelopment covers a significant share of the former Naval Air Station site, commonly cited around 1,000 to 1,300 acres, which helps explain the strong mix of parks, retail, and housing; see BD+C’s coverage for context on planning and scale and Journal & Topics for TIF background.