ONE GUY'S VIEW OF RIVA RIDGE
by Albert D. Hattis
Except for my military service, I always lived in a single family house.
For decades I
resided on a 30 acre ranch, our home about a half mile off the road. When
I left business to
accept an endowed university chair appointment as a professor, our new house
was located
on four city lots adjacent to Minnesota's Redwood River. Home has always
meant privacy.
When we moved to Illinois from Minnesota in 1992, my wife, Fern. searched
for our
new home. When she was done screening, Fern called on me to help with the
final choice. All
of the prospects were condos. They were built to serve as individually owned
homes, with a
commonly owned exterior property. Certain functions, like waste removal,
TV cable service,
landscaping, snow removal, driveway and external building maintenance activities
were
managed for the occupants by a hired non-resident agent our elected board
of directors
selected. If a quality management with the proper technical skills and experience
was hired,
unit home owners could enjoy "easy living."
Visiting all of these condominia, my wife and I were both sold on Riva Ridge
in
southeast Libertyville, Illinois, a north shore suburb of Chicago. Riva
Ridge was neatly
landscaped, rooms, closets and garages were big, and utilities were all
available. My concern,
could I survive in any of these areas where walls, primarily, separated
us from our
neighbors. As you can observe. Riva Ridge is many multi-family homes spread
over about
75 acres, and not one high-rise building with apartments.
After more than three years, I can say: (1) I have never heard a neighbor
through a
wall;. (2) Living with people hasn't changed my desire for privacy, but
I find that readily
available in Riva Ridge;(3) Having the streets and outside property maintained
by others has
not been a problem. I joined the condo board of directors so that I could
have an impact on
the monthly operating assessment, which is reasonable and has not gone up
in years; (4) I
appreciate Riva Ridge. Being a unit owner and resident of Riva Ridge, with
my wife, permits
me to enjoy an easier life than I had as an individual home owner.
Riva Ridge's location is close to highways that permit easily getting around
the
Chicago Metropolitan Area. Riva Ridge is near millions of square feet of
shopping that
includes about every key national and local retailer. There are theaters
and restaurants
nearby. Banking is also available. We have religious institutions and adequate
good medical
care, doctors and hospitals.. We have good schools(nursery, elementary,
secondary, colleges
and universities, and vocational schools) and nearby recreational alternatives.
We are close to
Lake Michigan, but have local swimming and golf. All of the TV/radio broadcast
networks
are available complete with cable alternatives. Fishing and hunting are
nearby. Wisconsin is
minutes away.
Being part of a massive real estate market, it is easy to buy and sell a
Riva Ridge
home. It took months to sell my Illinois home when I was moving to Minnesota
in the
1980's. It took years to sell my Minnesota home when we decided to return
to Illinois in the
1990's. Riva Ridge homes are in such demand that I have even received unsolicited
letters
from potential Riva Ridge home buyers, and houses normally sell in days
and weeks.
Knowing your neighbors is interesting. I have found a good cross section
of America.
Some are retired. Others are newly married and out of school Some work full
or part-time.
There are even a few kids. There are existing and old workers and executives.
A few are
current and former union leaders. Folks of every faith are here.
I am a "happy Riva Ridge camper" My wife, dogs(Max and Gus) and
I are pleased
we made the right decision, moving in to Riva Ridge. If you are planning
to live in
northeastern Illinois, I suggest you check out Riva Ridge. You probably
won't see me
around, as I should be busy writing Straight Talk, a syndicated newspaper
column, now in
its 17th year.
AL HATTIS, 708 Ascot Court, Libertyville, Illinois 60048-5238
Return to Main Riva Ridge Page