The Village of Shorewood Hills

Nestled on a bluff above Lake Mendota, just west of the University of Wisconsin and downtown Madison, you'll find the Village of Shorewood Hills. Known for it's leafy, tree-lined streets and wide variety of architecture ranging from Usonian to International to Moderne to Tudor, Shorewood Hills is a highly desired Madison neighborhood. Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built the First Unitarian Society, one of his most recognized and praised buildings, in the Village. The neighborhood's proximity to both the Veterans and UW Hospital, and the University make it a favorite homestead for doctors and professors who enjoy the short commute and the lively, family-friendly community.

With a neighborhood pool, the McKenna boathouse (home to the canoe and kayak shared program for residents), a marina, an ice skating rink complete with warming house, an awesome sledding hill, tennis courts, soccer fields, and the Blackhawk Country Club, residents are entertained year-round. And if they're looking for more, a short walk brings them to Hilldale Mall with several restaurants, Sundance Theater, and great shopping. Whole Foods is also nearby, as are well-loved restaurants like La Brioche, Noodles, and Sa Bai Thong, and Steve's Wine Market - the longest operating business in the Village. With so much to offer, it's truly an urban oasis.

See Our Current Shorewood Hills Listings!

Sprinkman Real Estate's

Top Ten Reasons To Live In Shorewood Hills

Community

We've assembled all kinds of information and resources here to help you find your way in Shorewood Hills. If you can't find what you're looking for here, give us a call and we'll make sure you get what you need.

Village Website

Calendar

Village Newsletters: Monthly online newsletters featuring everything a Village resident needs to know about what's happening in the neighborhood. Paper copies are available, too.

Police and Fire Department and Municipal Court: The Village has it's own police and fire departments, as well as a municipal court that convenes monthly

Parks : The Village manages nine parks, including both recreational and natural areas

Recreation

Blackhawk Country Club

Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture: Both the First Unitarian Society and the Pew House are FLW structures

Public Schools: Shorewood Hills Elementary, Hamilton Middle School, West High School

UW Health, Hospital and Clinics

Bike Path and Transit Map

Here is the link to the Community Facilities map below if you would like to view it larger on the Village website. 

Restaurants

Shopping

Services

Sports & Recreation

History of The Village Shorewood Hills

From the Village website

"Shorewood Hills began as a series of separate real estate plats in the period just before and after World War I, which were incorporated into the Village in 1927. These real estate plats were, to a great extent, the vision of one man: John C. McKenna. When first formed, the Village of Shorewood Hills was a remote area far from the city of Madison. After World War II, the city grew out to meet the Village, and later to surround it, but Shorewood Hills has remained a high-quality residential neighborhood whose residents have contributed extensively to the life of the area. The area that is now the Village of Shorewood Hills was primarily farm land in the 19th century. The Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad extended a line through the area in 1856, helping open up the west side of Madison. John McKennaʼs first plat, called College Hills, was established in 1912 on land from the Jacob Breitenbach farm. It was given its name because of its location just west of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and originally catered to university professors. The second part of College Hills wasestablished in 1915 on land from part of the Lewis Post farm. The beginning of World War I delayed the development of College Hills. After the war, McKenna began a new series of plats between Lake Mendota and University Avenue, which he called Shorewood. The streets for both College Hills and Shorewood were laid out by the noted landscape architect O.C. Simonds, and were designed to emphasize the natural beauty of the area.

In contrast to many Madison neighborhoods, Shorewood Hills developed over a very long period of time. There were three separate building booms: 1) in the post World War I period; 2) in the post-Depression period of the late 1930s; and 3) in the post World War II period. During each distinct period, houses were designed reflecting the architectural styles of the time. Most of the houses were architect-designed, many by well-known Madison firms. 

Today, the Village of Shorewood Hills remains a highly desirable residential area. Its proximity to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, UW Hospital, and the City of Madison make it extremely convenient for residents. The 2000 Census showed that the Village has the highest median home value of any Dane County municipality."

Here is a link to the above map.

Community Description

From the Village website

"The Village of Shorewood Hills is located along the shores of Lake Mendota, immediately west of the University of Wisconsin campus and less than three miles from Downtown Madison. The Villageʼs character and its unusual layout is a response to its unique natural setting. This setting is accented by woods, rolling hills, and dramatic shoreline from which the Village takes its name. Major portions of the Villageʼs “organic” street-plan were laid out by the noted landscape architect O.C. Simonds, whose work is reminiscent of the work of some of the most famous planners of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Simondsʼ contemporaries include Fredrick Law Olmstead, Raymond Unwin, Clarence Stein, John Nolen and other planners of the Picturesque tradition, which favors rough and wild scenery over a manicured and polished landscape. Architecturally, the Village presents a gallery of early to mid-century styles ranging from Craftsman to Tudor Revival. The Village is also home to Frank Lloyd Wrightʼs First Unitarian Church – one of the Wisconsin architectʼs most celebrated works. The Village is also known for its remarkable collection of early Modern styles ranging from Prairie to International. Many of these homes were designed during the 1940s and 1950s by a local architect named William Kaeser, who was a longtime resident of the Village."

Community Character

From the Village website

"The Village prides itself in a general sense of community, civility, and friendliness. This is also expressed in a strong tradition of resident involvement and community dialogue on virtually every aspect of Village life. The Villageʼs strong sense of civic spirit is reflected in the many special committees who dedicate volunteer time to make the Village a better place to live. This spirit is also reflected in the Villageʼs wide array of quality public services and the many community-sponsored events that are scheduled throughout the year. Community character is expressed in the Villageʼs remarkable array of residential architecture, winding streets, triangular parks, hilly terrain, shoreline, tall stands of trees, and community gathering points. The latter includes the grounds of the Shorewood Hills Elementary School, which serves as a major focal point and unofficial ʻVillage Commonsʼ.

The Village encourages design, development and participatory practices that further the Villageʼs community spirit and its sense of place. The Village recognizes that its special character can be eroded incrementally through the loss of historic structures and the introduction of new structures that do not reflect or complement the Villageʼs intimate surroundings. The Village seeks an environment where homeowners are free to express individual design options, but within a common framework that emphasizes a common scale and sense of proportion and a shared sensitivity toward the impact of individual design decisions on overall neighborhood character."