Okay, lets start in the wayback machine here. I moved into Heritage Hills when it was still owned by the original company, back in 1990. I lived in the 799 building in apt 618 till 1995, then moved across the creek to 1054F and lived there from 1995 to 2006. Yep, I was a long time resident. Through the extremely fun years of the original management/owners when we used to have pool parties and the seniors that lived on the first two floors of the high rise buildings were well taken care of and bussed everywhere by them, they even did their food shopping for the seniors back then. Then one day, a teachers fund bought the buildings and PMRC was out on their ears. A retired teacher actually came in and ran the place (into the ground) signed contracts with Lucent/ATT at the time and brought in 100s of H4 visa people from overseas to live in the first two garden buildings there. The lady who ran it, was Atilla the Hun and was removed after a 65% empty apartment complex was getting complaints from the state...then in came the latest company (I think you guys are still there). They were great and a breath of fresh air. Reminded me of the old days. The last manager replacement they had, his name was Rob. Great guy! But my favorites were the girls that ran the office. If you guys read this, I want you to know, I miss this place.

In the 15 years I lived at Preserve/Heritage Hill, I never felt like I wasn't part of the community (well, except maybe when Atila the Hun was there), even with all the diversity and ranges in age and ranges in income, it was still a great place to live and so close to everything. I used to rent a garage when I lived in the gardens and that, to me, was the best thing in the world in the winter time, plus it was extra storage. My unit had a washer/dryer in it, which for as small as it was, was just great for me. I overlooked the creek and was on the third floor, which was a great view. I had the most interesting and diverse neighbors over the years, from the 3 pack a day smoker downstairs with the 3 cats (she was a blast), to the fighting all day and night couple that took her place and were booted out, to the guy who'd just gotten a divorce across the breezway from me, went to a party downtown and came home and died the next day. So I guess what I'm trying to get at here, is, life just happens. No matter where you go, live or pay for rent, you're always going to have some good people, some weird things and some screwballs that don't stay long. I've seen it all at this place. When I was in 799, they used to rent to subsidised housing. A drug dealer from the west side, lived there with her kids. Two rival gangs, one from Aurora and one from the west side of Chicago, met in our parkinglot. Within minutes, Naperville police were there and escorted them both out of town. No shots fired, nobody hurt. The next day, our two maintenance guys at the time (Jack and Wally) went and bought dope from her and handed it over the police...end of subsidised housing in that building. Case closed.

I could write a book about my experiences at this place. Fun and bad times...but out of the time that I lived there I think it was the best place I ever lived. The current place I live in now, could take a few lessons from the management team that was there when I departed. The only reason I moved away was my future wife lived in Westmont and I moved into her place, because her kids were there and in school. Otherwise, I would've dragged them over here and we would've rented something here.

The gardens are a little less safer than the high rises are. They have doors that open into the breezways and only a two lock system that's very weak on the doors. That I would probably change, if I managed the place, or at least give people the under door knob blocker, that costs about 10$, for some added safety. Other than that, its the only security thing I think that needed to be addressed. There are cops driving through there day and night. Wanna know why' 4 Naperville officers lived there at the time I did, along with two captains on the Lisle and Aurora forces, plus another two DuPage County Sheriff guys. So, they were always sending people through to check up on things.

Maintenance was up and down through the years. Chuck (if you're still there buddy, you were the best), was a great guy, who ran a great team of guys towards the end of my time there. He did an excellent job of handling the buildings at Preserve.

And if you run into the dude in the gardens who has the tire truck and the two garages full of tires, and you need tires replaced on your car, go for it...he's reasonable, he'll change them there in the parking lot and he guarentees them for 2 years, and he's a great guy. He lives in 1038.

So, recommend, yes... but remember, this is a large community. Naperville is quirky at best. Cut the ethnic folks some slack people, they are a part of our melting pot of the Chicagoland area. Most of them are very nice, and they wouldn't be living at Preserve if they couldn't afford it. Even the ones who shove 4 people into a one bedroom in the gardens. Those guys are hard workin Mexican restaurant workers (some of them) and if they let off a little steam on a Friday or Saturday night, let them. If they blow off fireworks on Cinco De Mayo, let them. Hell, 2005, 4th of July, 5AM in the morning, some idiot lit off a 1/4 stick out in the bridge area and it set off all the car alarms...ticked me off because of the time of day, but it was the 4th, its going to happen.

So if you live there, and the neighbors make noise, get to know them! People usually are more kind and aware of you being there if you get to know them!! Just a simple part of life.

Okay, enough of my rant. If you're looking for a place to live in Naperville, its reasonable, close to EVERYTHING (including Wilma's Cafe up the hill...eat there, its great food, I have a breakfast sandwich named after me there), live there, its fun.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/04/2008
Well now its nothing but gang members here.
From: VagasFirebird	Date: 08/22/2008
That's a shame, it used to be a fun place to live. :(
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/22/2008
Yep, lots of bad element here. Wonder why the property is known as the ghetto of Naperville.

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