About Urbana's West Urbana

Follow the Red Brick Roads...

One of my favorite things about West Urbana IL are the old brick roads interspersed throughout the neighborhood. I love thinking about the variety of vehicles from horse and buggies to present-day automobiles that have traveled these paths over a span of more than 100 years. The brick roads to me are a lovely reminder of all the people who have come before us.

Recently while checking Google Analytics on my website, I noticed that someone had searched for a map of the brick roads in West Urbana, and even though I didn't have such a map on my website, that person landed there. I'm quite glad they did because it gave me the great idea for this project and blog.

After driving the streets of West Urbana in every direction, I created this map which shows the brick roads in red. This map should be useful for anyone searching for a home who specifically would prefer to live on one of the brick streets. Generally speaking, these roads deter traffic and add a little character. Now if only I could figure out how to merge this map with a map of homes for sale which would update itself... For now, this will have to do :-)

View West Urbana IL's Brick Roads in a larger map

I checked. Neither Little Red Riding Hood nor her grandmother is listed in the tax records as owning this house. Still, as I took this shot I half expected her to come skipping out the front door carrying her wicker basket and offer me a slice of Mother's homemade bread. Yummm.

A walking tour of our West Urbana community is certain to reveal surprises and delights, even to a resident such as myself who's walked these sidewalks many times before. Today was no exception. This remarkable dwelling caught my eye and out came the camera.

What makes this neighborhood special, perhaps even magical, is its rich history combined with the fervent dedication of its residents to preserve its unique qualities. Many of the homes in West Urbana are nearing or have gracefully surpassed a hundred years old, and unlike in planned neighborhoods of today, the homes here come in many shapes, colors, styles, trends, and lineages. To some, the lack of continuity may seem distasteful, but I believe it only adds to the allure. What's fun is to find a neighbor who has lived in this neighborhood her entire life (these types are not difficult to track down) and ask about the histories and previous residents of the various homes. Oh, the stories you'll hear...

Then there are the trees; the towering, majestic trees lining the streets and blanketing our homes. It's truly breathtaking, no matter the season. In case the picture above doesn't offer enough evidence of this fact, we have no homeowner's association meaning residents are free to do with their lawns as they please. Some yards are more...umm...creative than others, but I wouldn't have it any other way (my own yard is probably one of the more "interesting" ones). In any case, West Urbana is about as green as it gets.

Did I mention the location? This community is situated right between the University of Illinois and downtown Urbana. No matter where you live in this neighborhood, we're small enough that you'll be walking distance to both. It's just one of many reasons for loving West Urbana.

So the answer is "no," Little Red Riding Hood does not live here- not to my knowledge, anyway. Nor do any other fairy tale characters. But even so, there remains something magical about West Urbana...

If You Live in West Urbana, You Might Consider Joining WUNA

Take a little drive through West Urbana and it will be quite obvious that we don't have a neighborhood association that mandates how we keep our lawns. Some residents are quite creative with their lawns indeed, which is one of many reasons I enjoy living here.

But you may not be aware that there actually is a West Urbana Neighborhood Association (WUNA), and it's quite active. Residents are not required to be members of the association, but there are some benefits of joining, the main one, in my opinion, being the easy and quick distribution of information.

WUNA membership is only $5/year for residents and with membership, you can also join the WUNA email group. Through this group, individuals can post information on public happenings such as road closures or upcoming meeting dates, as well as more personal information or a request for help with things like selling a house, looking for a lost pet, or a need such as a piece of furniture. It's a wonderful way for the neighbors to communicate and help each other as needed.

If you're interested in becoming a member of the association, just visit the WUNA website for more information.

And don't worry. Once you're a member, you can still do whatever you'd like with your yard. (See example below) :-)

West Urbana Neighborhood Block Parties: Great Company & Great Food

Tonight I'm off the hook for cooking dinner because we were very well fed at our neighborhood block this afternoon. Once or twice a year a bunch of neighbors around where we live in West Urbana block off the street to what little traffic we have, and meet outside for a little get-together. Everyone brings a dish to share, so there's plenty of good food and good conversation.

A block party is a great way to meet neighbors who you haven't come face-to-face with yet, and it's also a fantastic way to share information and suggestions as neighbors need it. For instance, I've been thinking lately about making some improvements to my yard, and a neighbor recommended I be in touch with an enthusiastic landscaper who lives just down the street from me...he can expect a visit from me very soon :-)

One of the best qualities about the neighborhood of West Urbana is the feeling of community. The neighborhood attracts a diverse crowd of students, professors, small business owners, young families, retired folks, etc. etc. but what we all have in common is a love for our neighborhood, and the desire to help one another.

I'm already looking forward to the next chance to spend time with my neighbors.

Why I Love Historic East and West Urbana, Illinois

East Urbana or West Urbana…I love both of these historic neighborhoods, and I’ll admit to having a biased opinion: I live there.

When my husband and I bought our house, we honed in on this location for all the following reasons:

1. Walking distance. Historic Urbana is walking distance to, well, just about everything! Walk to the university and everything that goes with it, walk to the local schools, walk to downtown Urbana, walk to the Farmer’s Market at Lincoln Square…I LOVE that we can go out to dinner, or to a concert and not need a car!
2. Carle Park. It’s one of the most peaceful places on Earth, in my opinion, and the homes surrounding it have incredible views. My dog loves it, too, mostly for all the squirrels…
   
3. Victory Park. This one’s in East Urbana, and it’s just a great place to meet up with friends and family. There’s a large picnic pavilion, and a playground for the kids…spend some time there and you won’t regret it.
4. The history. Some people love the charm of older homes, but wouldn’t care to live in one. Not me. I love everything about older homes…even the ones that need some fixing up. And East Urbana has historic homes that are affordable (in the lower $100,000s)! That’s something you won’t find in larger cities, or most other places in the U.S., for that matter.
   
5. The people. Our neighborhood has block parties, and neighbors invite neighbors over for barbeques. Even the neighbors I don’t personally know will stop to talk with you on the street. It’s just a friendly bunch of people.
   
6. The brick streets and sidewalks. Not every street or sidewalk is made from brick, but there are enough of them to give the neighborhood a distinct historic look, and keep lots of unnecessary traffic away.
   
7. The trees. Historic Urbana is OLD, as I already mentioned, and the trees prove it. Hundreds of trees line the streets and shade the neighborhood during the warmer, blooming months. It’s absolutely fantastic.
   
8. The lawns. We don’t have a homeowner’s association, or anything else to monitor what we do with our yards. Many homeowners have foregone grass in the front yard completely and instead have gardens. One front yard consists solely of tulips. Dozens and dozens of tulips. It’s creative, it’s unique, and I, for one, love it.

Now, not everyone I’ve come across finds our yards to be tasteful, or our proximity to the university to be a good thing. And that’s perfectly okay. But those who love historic Urbana wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re pretty thankful for our neighborhood…and our neighbors.

Are you interested in living in Historic Urbana, too? Give me a call today...I'd love to show you around the neighborhood!