Oak Brook, a western suburb of Chicago, was known as the long-time home of the McDonald’s headquarters, but the golden arches have moved their corporate offices to the city’s Fulton Market neighborhood. The fast food giant may be gone, but the Village of Oak Brook still has plenty of things that make it stand out.

A New Luxury Condo Building on the Way

The Butler rendering courtesy of Lucien Lagrange Studio 

Homebuyers in the market for a condo instead of a single-family home could be in luck. Developers are proposing a 22-story, luxury condo development for Oak Brook, according to GlobeSt.com. The project, dubbed The Butler, is being led by Jupiter Realty Co. and Lucien Lagrange Studio. The proposal features 90 condos ranging in size from 1,340 square feet to 3,500 square feet, according to the report. The two penthouses would be larger at 5,000 to 5,400 square feet each. There has been pushback from residents of the Oak Brook Club condos due to height and density concerns, but the Village Board has yet to render a final decision, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

No Property Tax Levy

The suburb’s lack of a property tax levy is one of its biggest draws. As a major shopping destination, the village relies on shoppers instead of municipal property taxes. As of 2016, Oak Brook was just one of 42 towns in Illinois without municipal property taxes, according to the Chicago Tribune. The idea not to levy property taxes dates back to Oak Brook’s founder Paul Butler, according to the report.

"We pride ourselves that we are able to balance the books without an increase in taxes. It does make Oak Brook somewhat unique, being able to do this all without imposing a property tax,” Village President Gopal Lalmalani told the Chicago Tribune. 

Convenient Location

Millennium Park in Chicago photo by Shutterstock

Oak Brook is definitely a suburb more for drivers than pedestrians and cyclists, and drivers will find the village is set in a convenient spot. I-88 and Route 83 cut through the suburb right by its shopping mall, while I-294 runs right along the eastern border of Oak Brook. These major highways take residents nearly anywhere they want to go in the surrounding area. The Loop is less than 20 miles away from the suburb. While traffic might make it an hour drive, clear roads mean you could get downtown within 30 minutes. 

The Shopping Mall

Oakbrook Center is the main reason the suburb is a major shopping hub in the Chicagoland area. The outdoor mall has hundreds of shops ranging from department stores to major fashion brand outlets. Plus, the mall has the District, a 14,000-square-foot restaurant complex that stands out from your typical mall food court. Residents (plus all of the people who come flocking from the surrounding suburbs) can shop until they drop, dine out, or catch a movie at Oakbrook Center.

Outdoor Entertainment

Chicagoland golf course / Shutterstock

If you’re looking to get outside, Oak Brook has plenty of options. Avid golfers will love living right by the 18-hole Oak Brook Golf Club. The beautifully landscaped course has tee times about every 10 minutes throughout the day. Hit the green whenever you feel like it with a membership, or join one of the club’s leagues. For those who aren’t into golf, Mayslake Peabody Estate is one of the suburb’s cultural anchors. The forest preserve-run spot features buildings in the Tudor style and hosts art and cultural programs throughout the year. The estate even has a replica of a chapel in Assisi, Italy. Even if there are no events going on, the acres of open land make for a peaceful, beautiful spot to visit.

Home Styles and Prices

Many of Oak Brook’s homes are grouped in upscale residential neighborhoods (quite a few are gated) that come with significant amenities. For example, the Midwest Club has a community club house, pool, and tennis courts. The median sale price in this neighborhood of large, upscale homes is $1,200,000, according to Neighborhoods.com data. Other luxury neighborhoods with single-family homes include Hunter Trails (median sale price of $1,043,000), Old Oak Brook (median sale price of $1,230,000), and Midwest Chase (median sale price of $1,004,940). But, Oak Brook isn’t only home to palatial houses with matching price tags. The suburb also has competitively priced single-family homes and condos. The Gingerbrook neighborhood has mid-size homes with a median sale price of $336,000, and Oak Brook Towers has a median sale price of $117,000.