Glenview is where Globex Developments is headquartered, and it is a community we know as well as any on our list. It holds a reputation as one of the most practical, family friendly, and accessible communities on Chicago's North Shore. It has excellent schools, public parks, and offers a high-energy downtown with great restaurants and cafes. Despite its fantastic reputation, we believe that Glenview continues to be underrated compared to its lakefront neighbors.
About the Village
Glenview is substantially larger than the lakefront villages, both in land area and population, and it feels it. Streets are wider, lots are more generous, and the overall character is suburban in the best sense: green, spacious, and organized around families.
The village's most visible transformation came with The Glen, the redevelopment of the former Glenview Naval Air Station. That project added Gallery Park, the Glen Town Center, The Glen Club golf course, and a great deal of newer housing, effectively giving Glenview a second downtown. The original downtown near the Metra station remains its own distinct place, and the village has invested steadily in it.
Historic Wagner Farm, the Kohl Children's Museum, and an extensive park district system give the village more for families to do than most towns its size. Two Metra lines serve Glenview, and O'Hare is close, which makes the commuting picture unusually flexible.
What the Housing Looks Like
Glenview's housing spans decades. Mid-century ranches and split-levels remain common in established neighborhoods, alongside substantial custom homes and newer construction throughout The Glen and elsewhere. Architecturally, the village is open. Traditional, transitional, and modern farmhouse designs all read as appropriate here.
That range is part of Glenview's appeal for anyone building custom. There is less pressure to conform to a single neighborhood aesthetic than in some of the more architecturally uniform villages, which leaves more room to build what you actually want.
Planning a Glenview Build
A great deal of Glenview activity involves older homes on excellent lots. Many mid-century properties sit on generous parcels with mature landscaping and good setbacks, and the lot is often the real asset. The question becomes whether to renovate substantially, add on, or start over. That answer depends on the structure and on how far the existing layout sits from the way you want to live. Glenview takes its tree canopy seriously as a Tree City USA community, and tree preservation and site drainage are meaningful parts of any new construction plan.
Building With Globex
Glenview is home for us. We have built over sixty custom homes throughout the village since 2002 across a wide range of styles and budgets. If you are weighing a Glenview property or trying to decide between renovating and rebuilding, we would welcome the conversation.
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