As far as I know, most homes in the Chicago and suburban area have basements. A great place for disposing of all that stuff you're never going to use again.

When I was a computer tech I had occasion to visit the home of the local Vidal Sasoon rep.
His entire garage floor was actually a hydrolic lift that descended into the basement.
He had is home office (15x20 ft.), the mandatory storage room, and parking spaces for four cars down there.