Feeling the Green, Eco-Green!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

One of OakParkApartments.com’s company missions is to to be “green”.

Eco-friendly efforts have included insulation upgrades, installation of energy efficient windows, use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in all common areas as well as educating tenants through our blog and facebook sites on how they too can positively impact the environment while living in an apartment.

So when OakParkApartments.com got word that igo Car Sharing is now in Oak Park we wanted to help to promote this great way to impact our world by reducing the number of cars on the road as well as the pollution they produce.

Not only are there environmental benefits to car sharing there are other pluses that impact quality of life.  The car sharing benefits OakParkApartments.com loves most are that it saves users of the service both money and miles.

On average people who use car sharing services save about $500 and drove about 5,500 miles less annually.  In addition those who “car share” also tend to shop locally – another mission that OakParkApartments.com supports!

Watch this great video that shows how car sharing works:

To find out more about the details of car sharing go to: http://www.igocars.org/how/

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Excellence in Philanthropy Award Goes To: OakParkApartments.com!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin

OakParkApartments.com is very honored to be receiving the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s Excellence in Philanthropy Award for a business that “demonstrated outstanding fundraising support and/or activity performed by its members to benefit local charitable causes.”

OakParkApartments.com and its owners, brothers Bill and Bob Planek, have always felt very strongly about the community that they grew up in, started their business in and are raising their families in.  When they reached the milestone of 25 years in business the Planek brothers felt that celebrating by giving back to the Oak Park community was the obvious choice.

Since both Planeks’ have long sponsored many charities the decision of which charity to support was tough – from there the idea of the contest was born.  It was agreed that Oak Park would decide the charities through an online voting contest, truly making the 25th anniversary celebration a community event!

Over the past 25 years OakParkApartments.com has also backed other causes, from housing refugees through Exodus World Servie, to providing local teens job training and mentorship through the Jobs 1 Program, to sponsorship and coaching efforts for local youth baseball and softball organizations.

Bill and Bob Planek would like to express their sincerest thanks to the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation for the recognition this award brings to OakParkApartments.com’s efforts to give back to the Oak Park community!

Thank you again and get ready for this year’s celebration.  The brothers had so much fun with the charity contest that they’ve dreamed up something big for 2012…. stay tuned!

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OPA Safety Basics

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin

At OakParkApartments.com tenant safety is number one. In order to ensure that our tenants are as safe as possible we are offering some simple precautionary safety tips that anyone can easily put into practice.

  • List only your last name or initials on your mailbox.
  • An unlisted phone number is smart – even if it costs a little $$ – plus you get the added benefit of fewer phone solicitations.
  • Make sure all door/window locks work – if not report it.
  • Use timers on lights/radio/T.V. – especially if you are away on vacation – you are less likely to be robbed if it looks or sounds like someone is home.
  • When lights burn out in the halls and stairwell – report it.
  • Take in mail, newspapers and packages daily.
  • Most importantly, if you feel you are in danger call 911 immediately!
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OakParkApartments.com <3 Oak Park

Posted on February 14, 2012 by admin

OakParkApartments.com is feeling the Valentine’s Day Love♥ and wanted to share some of our sentiments on what we find so lovable about our hometown!

  • The architecture (of course!) and all those who so lovingly preserve and restore these historic treasures for future generations to call home.
  • The feeling of community – people who live here really care about Oak Park!
  • The Arts District – what a creative, lively area filled with passionate people who are devoted to their craft and provide others with a destination filled with engaging activities and joyful entertainment year round.
  • The Farmer’s Market and the donuts – yes we have a thing for those seasonal tasty morsels – plain, powdered sugar or cinnamon – all have a special place in our heart (and our stomachs!) and the fruit and veggies aren’t too bad either!
  • Only a 20 minutes car or “L” ride to downtown Chicago where you can access beaches, museums, music, night life… what’s not to love.
  • Our own hip and happening goings on – from Day in Our Village, FLW Home and Studio tours, Micro Brew Fest, Music in the Park, Shakespeare in the Park, Thursday Nights Out, oh, the list could go on and on – OakParkApartments.com is definitely fond of our village’s own active social calendar, because what’s not to love about local fun!
  • Oak Park’s diversity – its something to treasure – and is an integral part of this villages’ history, vision and mission!
  • Shop local efforts by the Village and its many business districts – spreading the love to all who believe that Oak Park is a great place to Live, Dine, Shop and Love Local – you know who you are! :o )
  • Finally, what OakParkApartments.com admires most about Oak Park is the commitment this community has to helping others.  The numerous charitable organizations that operate to aid those in need, young or old, furry or not, is impressive and shows the true heart♥ of Oak Park.

Happy Valentine’s Day Oak Park!

Posted in Architecture, Diversity, Downtown Oak Park, History of Oak Park, Oak Park Arts District, Oak Park Charities, Small Business, Support Local Business, Sustainability, Village of Oak Park, Weekend, vintage architecture, volunteerism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Legacy Sports At The ARC!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by admin

Legacy Sports Camps is another great OakParkApartment.com tenant that deserves a shout out on our blog.

Legacy Sports is a locally grown company started by Dan Kane and Caleb Fields, who share over 19 years of experience in leading children’s athletic programs.  Kane and Fields provide a “fun, safe, challenging, and high energy atmosphere” at their camps which operate out of OakParkApartments.com’s ARC building, located at 18 Chicago Avenue in Oak Park.

Kane and Fields not only offer camps but baseball training and birthday parties as well!

To find out more about Legacy Sports go to: http://legacysportscamp.com/HOME.php

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Val’s Celebrating – Come Join in the 40th Anniversary Fun!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by admin

OakParkApartments.com just wants to spread the news about friend and tenant, Val’s Halla Records 40th anniversary sale this week end.

40 years in business is a big deal!  To commemorate “Val”entine’s Day, LOVE (Val’s love of all things music!) and 40 years in the record business, Val is offering all who come in 40% off the “ultimate love token – the mixtape”!

There have been rumors of a “cassette resurgence”, so Val’s 40% off sale could be a real goldmine for music lovers♥!

For those of you who may not know, Val’s Halla is an independent record store whose owner, Val Camilletti, shows true heart and passion for the music industry, then and now!  Come show her some love by stopping and shopping at Val’s this weekend!

Follow Val on facebook to get info on all the 40th anniversary festivities! https://www.facebook.com/events/224004097692735/ or check out Val’s website just because it’s cool(and so is Val)!: http://www.valshalla.com/index.htm

Oh, and hey – you’ll be shopping local as well!

Posted in Oak Park Arts District, Small Business, Support Local Business, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cash Mob Update!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

What’s a cash mob you ask? Cash mobs are an organized effort to help a specific small business on a particular day and time to boost their bottom line. Organized through social media sites such as facebook and Twitter, this “new social-networking-and-shopping movement” asks that people go to a particular store at a specified day and time with $20 in cash and spend it!

When OakParkApartments.com employees Bill Erickson and Wendy Planek heard about this latest “buy local” campaign called “cash mobs” the idea caught their attention.

“I kept hearing about various “buy local” initiatives and it struck a chord. I also was reading statistics that quoted one in four small business owners say that poor sales is their top problem and that for every $100 spent locally $68 returns to the community. Those stats were powerful – it put real numbers on the impact of shopping local,” felt Planek. Then I read about “cash mobs” on facebook and I thought that this is doable.”

Being part of OakParkApartments.com, a small business that just celebrated their 25th anniversary, Planek knows that running a small business can be a struggle and wanted to help other small businesses by increasing the awareness of the importance of shopping local.

Bill Erickson, property manager at OakParkApatments.com then, in an effort to further educate and spread awareness, set up facebook and Twitter sites specifically supporting the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest cash mob initiative. Ericksons’ thoughts sum it up best, “It’s about remembering to shop local, remembering how great our communities are, infusing local businesses with cash and avoiding the big boxes.”

Careful Peach Boutique, Green Home Experts, Blue Max Coffee and Scratch N’ Sniff have all been mobbed. Erickson commented that though the crowds have been somewhat small they have been very enthusiastic and committed to shopping local.

Help support this grass-roots, “buy local” initiative by visiting Twitter.com/LocalFlash, or Facebook.com/FlashLocal where next cash mob site will be posted.

Both Erickson and Planek agree that this initiative’s main goal is to educate the community on the importance of shopping local and to have people get to know the local merchants and what they have to offer!

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To Roommate Or Not To Roommate… That Is The ?

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Now a days many people are searching for ways to live affordably.  One way to do that is by finding a roommate and splitting the expenses of a two – bedroom apartment. Not only will the price of rent be less but there are other benefits as well.

OakParkApartments.com feels that saving money is only one of the pluses of having a roommate.  There are both social and safety benefits as well. Roommate relationships can help expand each others network of friends.  Additionally, having a roommate can provide a sense of security for those who might be hesitant to live on there own.  Social and safety benefits may be especially helpful if you are new to an area.

Roommate problems can arise.  It makes sense for roommates to chat about “living” specifics before signing a lease.  Roommates who communicate ahead of time, as opposed to those who try the “figure things out as you go” strategy, generally have fewer issues once a lease is signed.

To avoid problems here are two important suggestions:

  • Decide who pays for what. All things being equal, you should expect to split the rent evenly with your roommate but if bedroom size, closet space or view greatly differ then this needs to be discussed upfront and a rent allocation given to the roommate who agrees to the less desirable bedroom.  Aside from rent, agree on how much each roommate will contribute to other anticipated expenses like utility bills, cleaning supplies, and groceries.

  • Put it in Writing: Specify, on paper, any and all arrangements, especially monetary – this will serve as a reference point if a disagreement should occur. It also makes sense to discuss and write down some practical compatibility issues regarding schedules, cleanliness, sleeping patterns, pets, sharing belongings, lifestyle choices, etc… before you and your potential roommate sign a lease.

Follow the link for a roommate compatibility questionnaire to help create some talking points before agreeing to live together: http://housing.gmu.edu/File/Roommate%20Compatibility.pdf

If your potential roommate seems put out when you suggest a written agreement, then, that could be a warning sign that your future flatmate may not be so trustworthy or reliable.

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Going Apartment Green

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

OakParkApartments.com cares about the environment and is always trying to make apartment living more green!  A part of that plan includes using clean natural gas to power our buildings’ hot water and heating systems.

Natural gas, is an important and clean source of energy that emits fewer pollutants into the air which, in turn, helps to reduce the greenhouse effect on our environment. Presently reports state that the United States has more than a 100-year supply of natural gas using today’s technology to harvest those resources.

“There’s a myth that there isn’t a lot that renters can do,” said Paula Cino, director of Energy and Environmental Policy with the National Multi Housing Council. “Our individual behavior has a huge impact on sustainability. The resident has a lot of opportunity to make big differences themselves without any input from the landlord whatsoever.”

An easy way for tenants to help conserve natural gas/heat is by removing window air conditioning units and closing the storm windows.  Not only are you helping protect our natural resources by decreasing the amount of heat required but your efforts will provide you, the tenant, with a warmer apartment in these cold winter months.

OakParkApartments.com knows the impact that each individual has on this planet and appreciates the efforts our tenants make to preserving our environment and its resources.

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Sign Up for Oak Park’s Safety Notification System

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

OakParkApartments.com would like to encourage tenants to sign up for the Village of Oak Park’s newly launched public safety notification system, Notify Me.  This system will allow the village to directly communicate with residents when and if a public safety emergency were to arise.

The village is asking for residents who would like to participate to go to http://www.oak-park.us/notifyme/ and submit the necessary registration steps. Registrants will then receive an e-mail with a link that must be followed to complete the process.  The system will allow residents to choose how they would like to be notified — e-mail, text message or phone call.

If you are not able to sign up for this service online the the village asks you to call (708) 358-5698 to complete the registration process and all public safety messages will be delivered to your home or cell phone number – your choice.

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