$149,061Average Value$235Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
Historic charm and central location
As the name suggests, Historic West Side has some of the oldest neighborhoods in Springfield, lovingly maintained by dedicated residents. Sandwiched between downtown Washington Park and the medical district, the location is pretty unbeatable for commuting and access to city attractions. The neighborhood is filled with those who work at the state capitol building or the hospitals to the north. And with an active neighborhood association fighting to preserve the area, prospective homebuyers can feel secure that the vintage streets are not in danger of overdevelopment.
With dates that range from 1880 to 1960, every home here in Historic West Side is unique.
Historic West Side is just over a mile from downtown Springfield and the city’s medical park.
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Unique homes from throughout the decades
Homes here were built from the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s, which means a wide variety of custom-built styles. Low-slung bungalows have quaint front porches and barn-like gambrel rooflines adorn Dutch Colonial Revivals. Boxy American Foursquares feature dormer windows poking out from the roof. "One of my favorite things about that area is the beautiful mature oak trees and the old homes with wraparound porches," says Springfield native Sarah Quattrin Coombe, a Realtor with Keller Williams Capital. "It's also cool that the city works to preserve and maintain the brick roads." Many homes here are rented out, but for those looking to own, prices can start under $50,000 for fixer-upper properties. However, most homes range from $100,000 to $250,000.
Prices in Historic West Side range from one hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand.
Foursquare homes in Historic West Side offer large front porches and elegant window shutters.
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A neighborhood association that preserves and protects
The motto of the Historic West Side Neighborhood Association (HWSNA) is to "Preserve and Protect" their neighborhood. Though the area does not have an official historic designation, the HWSNA works to ensure the neighborhood's character is not lost to development. They place informational plaques at historically relevant homes and meet with the city council and city planning commission to argue for preserving the neighborhood's residential makeup. The HWSNA also plans community events, most notably their annual Block Party.
Washington Park's botanical garden and bell tower
Historic West Side borders one of the city's most popular green spaces — Washington Park. With two ponds, a tennis center, picnic pavilions and a botanical garden, the park has a lot to offer. The botanical garden has free admission and is known for its carillon, a tower with bells that can be played like an instrument. The bell tower is the site of the International Carillon Festival, a music night that ends with a fireworks show. "There's also a really fun Halloween event around the Carillon where they do pumpkin carving and play haunting tunes," Coombe says. Outside of the gardens, the park has a cobblestone pavilion dating back to 1900 that hosts preschool and can be rented out for community events. Just north of the park, the public Pasfield Golf Course is the oldest in the city, though it has been refreshed since the 1890s.
Washington Park residents fly fish during the early mornings.
Washington Park borders Historic
West Side, the largest park in the city.
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Proximity to downtown and medical park
Historic West Side is about 1.5 miles from both downtown Springfield and the city's medical park. Downtown has several attractions that celebrate Springfield's history as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. It's also home to the state capitol building, where many state government employees work. The medical park, dominated by Memorial Hospital, St John's Hospital and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, is also a huge employer. "Historic West Side is just a bit far away to be within walking distance of either," Coombe says. "But a lot of people can bike to work." South 2nd Street has designated bike lanes, making crossing busy roads to get to the medical park safer.
Public schools and nearby private options
Zoning for elementary and middle schools varies depending on home location. But, most kids are zoned to attend Dubois Elementary, which gets a C-minus rating from Niche, and then Grant Middle, which gets a C rating. All kids in the neighborhood are zoned for Springfield High School, which gets an A rating. Springfield High offers AP classes and Career & Technical courses in business education, family/consumer science and cooperative education. The neighborhood is also home to a few private options, including St. Agnes School for prekindergarten through eighth grade and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, both of which have a Catholic Dominican-based education. Trinity Lutheran School also has a faith-based curriculum and serves kids from two years old to eighth grade.
Dubois Elementary School offers a fun playground for students of Historic West Side.
Springfield High School is the second best public high school in the area.
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Houses of worship play a part in the community
Several houses of worship are located within Historic West Side, including the Sacred Heart Covenant of the Dominican Sisters and the Temple Israel synagogue. Westminster Presbyterian Church has stained glass windows and a Gothic Revival building from 1908. And Douglass Avenue United Methodist has a small food pantry open to all.
Where to shop and eat around Historic West Side
The Fairhills Shopping Center is less than a mile away from Historic West Side and offers a County Market and a Dollar General, as well as chains like Starbucks and Dunkin'. Head West Sub Shop, located north of the neighborhood, is a local favorite for quick bites to eat. Sunrise Café is known for its breakfast foods, with a popular meatloaf special on Wednesdays. Closer to the capitol building, Boone's has live music evenings and brings in visiting tourists for a cheesy Springfield specialty—the horseshoe sandwich.
Springfield Malls near Historic West Side offer many stores and shops for residents.
Grab a Java near Historic West side offers coffee, tea, and more for residents on the go.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Phil Chiles,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Union Square Park
Washington Park Pavilion
Riverside Park
Washington Park Botanical Garden
Transit
Airport
Abraham Lincoln Capital
10 min drive
Bus
Lawrence & Park
Bus
Lawrence & Macarthur
Bus
Washington & Lincoln
Bus
Washington & Glenwood
Bus
Lawrence & Amos
Bus
Washington & Park
Bus
Lawrence & Glenwood
Historic West Side Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Historic West Side, Springfield sell after 85 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Historic West Side, Springfield over the last 12 months is $390,000, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This adorable 3BR home delivers the perfect blend of well-maintained charm & all the right updates, right in the heart of historic West Springfield. A big, inviting covered front porch sets the tone, leading into a classic foyer where authentic wood accents, arched doorways & a gorgeous staircase create an unforgettable first impression. Large living & formal dining rooms offer warm, natural
Opportunity awaits! This property offers a solid foundation and great layout, it just needs a little love to reach its full potential. Ideal for buyers looking to personalize a home or invest in a project, it's been pre-inspected for transparency and is being sold as-is. Priced to reflect its current condition, this home presents a fantastic chance to build equity with the right updates. Don't
Come see this roomy 4BR/2BA tri-level home tucked on a quiet neighborhood west of MacArthur. This is a solid home ready for new owners to make it their own. Current owners have used lower level room as a bedroom, but could easily be a family room for extra living space. Home offers a dining room, large fenced back yard and washer/dryer hookups on main and lower level. Don't miss!
Very well-maintained 3 BR/1.5 BA, 1,700 SF home close to Dubois Elementary School and Sacred Heart Griffin H.S. Two car garage new in 2020, mature trees for shade, fenced back yard. AC, furnace and HW heater replaced in the last 5 yrs. 200 amp updated electrical panel, new roof June 2021, off street parking, large, approx. 50’ X 70' space next to garage for gardening, an entertainment area, or
Smart Choice Park is a very popular community consisting of 93 one and two-bedroom apartments on Springfield's near west side. It is just a few minutes away from everything in Springfield, including the downtown area, Washington Park, and the Mall shopping area. It is a quiet, secluded community with large trees and a park-like setting. It has a nice swimming pool area that is enjoyable in the
731 S Grand Avenue West - Just one block away from Washington ParkCompletely Remodeled Apartment BuildingLarge Apartment with 1 bedroom plus an extra bonus room (office or small bedroom)New Kitchen - cabinets, quartz countertops, appliancesNew Bathroom - all new LVT waterproof floors throughoutEach apartment has it's own new water heater and HVAC (all
Near Washington Park and minutes from the Hospitals and downtown. Two bedroom, one full bath, living room, dining room, kitchen and a full unfinished basement. Wood and Vinyl flooring thru out. Nice large covered front porch! Tenants pay electric, gas and trash. No garage. Small front yard. Email with any questions regarding this property. Small pet ok/ pet deposit required. Short term leasing is
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Phil Chiles,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
5,244
Median Age
39
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$51,167
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,586
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.8%
College Graduates
38.5%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.4%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
38''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
7''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
42/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
37/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
34/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
