Known as a regional industrial center and a tight-knit community of residents, the Village of Carol Stream is a great place to live, work, do business and raise a family. Home to more than 900 businesses and industries including several Fortune 500 companies, the village is a dynamic community with amenities including a bustling business-friendly environment, much sought-after traditional neighborhoods, modern schools, a large Gold Medal award-winning park system, a full-service library and a community of churches serving many religious denominations. It is also one of only a handful of metropolitan communities to boast of no municipal property tax.
In lieu of a traditional downtown, the community enjoys a beautifully developed Town Center, as well as series of well-planned business and retail centers, with light industrial businesses and industries situated along the village’s easternmost sector. In addition to year-round community wide celebrations, the Town Center’s summertime music concerts bring residents and visitors together to enjoy an al fresco dinner or take a relaxing stroll through the winding pathways.
The Village of Carol Stream is a vital part of the Chicago metropolitan region and a leader among west suburban DuPage County communities. The village has received numerous accolades, including a 2016 Neighborhood Scout risk data ranking the community among the 100 Safest Cities in the United States. It has also been called a “hidden gem” by Money Magazine in a listing of the 100 Best Places to live in the nation.
Prime Location for Business
The village’s proximity to I-355, I-88, O’Hare International Airport and the DuPage County Airport make it an attractive site for businesses looking to expand or relocate. Business travelers and visitors enjoy all of the comforts of home in Carol Stream while staying close to work at the Holiday Inn & Suites (150 S. Gary Ave.), the Hampton Inn (250 W. North Ave.), or the newly opened WoodSpring Suites (1160 N. Gary Ave.).
An eclectic selection of restaurants offer taste-tempting menu selections designed to please a variety of palates, including new eateries such as the Taj Mahal Restaurant (802 W. Army Trail Rd.), Bella’s Cucina (1045 Fountain View Dr.), Manny’s Café (184 N. Gary Ave.) and Burger Theory (150 S. Gary Ave.).
Several major roads traverse the village, with North Avenue (Route 64) close to the center of town and bisecting a majority of the industrial area. Army Trail Road, St. Charles Road, and Geneva Road are other major east-west routes. Running north-south are County Farm Road, Gary Avenue and Schmale Road.
Village residents and business professionals who regularly travel the 35 miles to Chicago’s Loop are only a 40-minute commute via the Wheaton, Bartlett or Hanover Park Metra commuter train stations. The RTA’s Suburban PACE transportation system provides shuttle service to area residents commuting to local train stations, shopping centers, and other locales. Commuters will also find easy access to I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) by traveling east on North Avenue or Army Trail to I-355 North. Illinois Route 390, previously known as the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway, is an electronic toll highway, providing convenient commuter access to the northwest suburbs.
A Vision Combining Residential and Business Community
The flourishing community, originally founded by developer Jay Stream, consists of well-tended residential homes and subdivisions in its westernmost sector. Business and industry flourish in the east. Among the dozens of new businesses to call Carol Stream home this year include Bucky’s gas station and convenience store (870 W. Army Trail Rd.), Andigo Credit Union (426 W. Army Trail Rd.), Planet Fitness (891 E. Geneva Rd.) and Sherwin Williams (479 Thornhill Drive).
Current village economic development plans ensure its commitment to vital business development. Projects under construction or under building permit review include the Primrose School day care center (1271 N. County Farm Rd.), and 24 Hour Fitness occupying half of the former Dominick’s space (560 S. Schmale Rd.). The village was also awarded a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to update its various development codes into a unified development ordinance, which will provide user-friendly terms and graphics for a modern code for the community. Work is underway on the ordinance, with completion anticipated in early 2020.
The village continues to invest in the future with capital improvement projects including major construction and rehabilitation projects along Lies Road, bikepath projects along Gary Avenue and Kuhn Road, and installation of updated LED street lighting along residential and industrial roadways.
Carol Stream Municipal Center, home of village government operations since 1981, underwent a massive remodeling project to meet current and future village service and staffing needs. During the project, village services temporarily relocated to 505 E. North Ave., but all services moved back to the newly renovated and expanded 500 N. Gary Ave. building in late 2018.