“We have a very large apartment, about 1,200 square feet,” said Debra O’Dell. “Oh my gosh, I just love it here.” There is an abundance of space for her two children and their dogs. For renter Debra O'Dell, having a little bit of country near plenty of shopping and restaurants is one of the reasons she choose to rent at Prairie Brook Apartments at Farmington Lakes in Oswego.
The west suburban rental development rests on 17.5-acres of well-maintained landscaping. Nearby is a nature area with walking paths and several shopping areas.
Richard Chapman / Sun-Times
"You really don't need a car, you can walk to the shopping areas," said O'Dell, 51, who works in the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. O'Dell rents a two-bedroom apartment with her daughter Hanna, 19, and son Kris, 24. The family also has two dogs, Jack and Zeus.
Prairie Brook Apartments at Farmington Lakes features 304 residences in 19 two-story buildings. Rents for a 1-bedroom apartment range from $825 to $1,040 and 2-bedrooms from $1,020 to $1,275. Amenities include an outdoor heated pool with sundeck, a clubhouse and fitness and business centers.
O'Dell moved with her children to Farmington Lakes in May 2004. O'Dell's intention was to live at the community for a year or two, but six years later she has no desire to leave any time soon.
"Oh my gosh, I just love it here. It has its own sense of community and we have a wonderful group of neighbors who have become good friends," O'Dell said. "We do a lot of things together, like progressive dinners and we visit each other often."
O'Dell was drawn to the community because it offered spacious floor plans with patios, in-unit washers and dryers, walk-in closets and lots of extra storage.
The on-site pool was a hit with her daughter, who enjoys swimming, and O'Dell appreciated the school bus stop in front of their complex. In addition, an abundance of green space, ponds and a walking trail offer endless hours of outdoor fun for the family's two dogs, as well as O'Dell, who walks and cross-country skis on the trail.
Having two children and two dogs meant the O'Dells needed plenty of space. "We have a very large apartment, about 1,200 square feet," she said.
Maintenance-free living also was a lure for O'Dell. "Management takes care of everything, like shoveling snow and landscaping. So it gives me a lot more free time to spend with my family," O'Dell said.
"I also enjoy the clubhouse where there is complimentary coffee and cookies. They also host many activities for the residents such as Halloween and Christmas parties, pizza parties, belly dancing classes and manicures, massages and hair cuts," O'Dell said.
All of the apartments at Prairie Lakes have private entrances and large patios or balconies. Other amenities include: 9-foot ceilings, kitchen appliances, mini and vertical blinds, computer niches with outlets and central heat and air-conditioning systems.
The rental development is in an established residential neighborhood at the heart of rapidly-growing Oswego. While the area maintains its rural charm, it offers all the conveniences of a modern suburb, with shopping, entertainment and restaurants only five minutes away.
Interstate 88, the East-West employment corridor, and O'Hare and Midway airports are easily accessible, and the Metra train reaches the Loop in about 45 minutes.
