It’s a joy to drive up to a suburban construction site and see a cluster of townhouses that don’t look quite the same as that other set of suburban townhouses you saw last week and those you saw the week before that.
What distinguishes these townhouses in Lombard’s Lancaster Square development are the steps.
A wide staircase–about 10 or 12 steps–leads up to each entry doorway. And, across the width of the five attached residences, there’s a nearly continuous seven-foot-wide porch–that means each owner’s porch is wide enough for a swing.
Then, it’s a thrill to see–or, in this case, not to see–something else that makes these townhouses a little unusual: No garage doors mar the streetscape.
More Top Picks Best Waterproof E Readers For Reading
Three cheers for P.D. Hartz Construction Co.
Far be it from me to seem sarcastic, but there is a great deal of sameness in new construction housing, particularly in massive suburban subdivisions that have hundreds of dwellings.
But, this development is an in-fill project large enough to accommodate just 29 town homes (four clusters of five houses and one group of four near a cul-de-sac), parking, plus some lawn and green space.
In fact, Hartz has several such communities (Armani Circle, Avanti Place, Emerald Towers) in nearby suburbs (Addison, Elmhurst) that have great appeal to couples and singles who work in Chicago: There’s access to expressways and regular highways as well as Metra stations; there are upscale shopping areas, notably Oakbrook Center, along with Roosevelt and Butterfield Roads with practically every type of business venue represented, and, above all, there’s new housing with suburban pricing.
The Lancaster Square townhouses are well-priced, especially considering the amenities (think hardwood floors, all kitchen appliances, washer and dryer) and the site itself. Lancaster Square has residences and mature trees adjacent to it on three sides and across Westmore-Meyers Road.
The Hartz townhouses, each around 1,875 square feet, range from $269,900 to $282,900, depending on the location within the cluster and one big variable: The center unit doesn’t have a porch, though it does have a living room bay which gives it a little more interior space.
There’s one floor plan called Billingham, but the Billingham has two quite different arrangements for bedrooms.
First, the areas that are identical.
The lower level has a two-car garage which loads from a parking area at the back of the house, a storage space and enclosed furnace and hot water heater.
A big plus is the finished part of what might be considered a basement except that it’s not really underground; it’s an 11-by-14-foot family room with fireplace.
With it being tucked downstairs, it’s a good little spot for the flex space that planners talk about–the home office, exercise or TV room or simply the space that nobody else has to see or even know about.
On the main level, the Billingham’s designated living and dining areas simply blend together as they do in many town homes.
The entry is to one side of this main room; there’s a hint of a foyer, an open-rail staircase against the wall and, beyond it, a guest closet, stairs down to the family room and a powder room that has a surprise bonus–a linen closet.
Anyone who walks toward the back of the house and takes a long look at the kitchen and breakfast area in the furnished Billingham model will start wondering if they really need a formal dining area in the front part of the residence.
Singles or youngish couples who do far more casual entertaining may want to use the proposed living/dining space as a big great room; then, the so-called breakfast area might serve as the all-purpose sit-down dining area.
This floor plan lends itself to that thinking. The kitchen fills the width of the house. A wall encloses the breakfast area from the front of the house but the kitchen and its island are partially open to the front of the house. That makes for an easy flow of traffic, mingling, conversation, etc., to all parts of the main level.
Off the kitchen, there’s a balcony/deck, 4-feet-by-17-feet, large enough for a grill, some chairs or a few guests.
Now to the upper or bedroom level. The standard plan includes the master bedroom, walk-in closet, another closet and bathroom. There are two smallish bedrooms across the back of the house, another bathroom and full-sized washer/dryer in a hall closet.
The second plan has two master suites. (Attention readers who clamored for two master bedrooms in “regular” houses after reading here about such a setup in a retirement community.)
Equality reigns–give or take a few feet and a bathtub. Both have volume ceilings, walk-in closets (OK, one closet has a window, the other has a little more wall space), dual-sink vanities.
One has a separate shower and deluxe tub, the other has a standard tub/shower combo. Flip a coin.
Lancaster Square
Adress: 1012 Kufrin Rd., Lombard
Developer: P.D. Hartz Construction Co., Inc., Palos Hills
Phone: (630) 424-8681
More Top Picks Life Jacket
Description: Community of 29 three-level townhomes in clusters of five. Available with two or three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms; 1,875 square feet including finished half of lower level but not including square footage of lower level’s 2-car rear-loading garage.
Amenities: Hardwood floors in living area, carpeted bedrooms; 9-foot ceilings; gas fireplace; four kitchen appliances, disposal system. Kitchens with 42-inch oak cabinets. Volume bedroom ceilings; seven-foot wide porch, rear deck; ceramic tile bathroom floors and shower/tub surrounds; brick and vinyl exteriors.
Prices: Base-priced at $269,900 to $282,900.Monthly association fees (exterior and common areas, snow removal, lawn care, management services, etc.), $110.
Neighborhood: Near Interstate Highways 355 and 88, and near Yorktown and Oakbrook shopping malls. Near schools, parks and two Metra stations.
———-
e-mail: gbuck@@tribune.com
Or contact Genevieve Buck, Business, baiduhai, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Il. 60611