Sean Whitfield doesn’t let prospective buyers overlook some of the less-glamorous elements at the ranch-style townhouse at the 72-unit Timbers Edge Villas on the west side of Joliet.
Visitors most likely notice the all-on-one-level living and the open floor plans, but Whitfield, who shares sales responsibilities with his wife Christine, also points out the “no-step entrances. And the doors are 36 inches wide.”
Those could be important details to some buyers, from young people who don’t do steps to aging buyers–or those with aging loved ones–who sometimes use a walker or wheelchair to get around.
“My mother had multiple sclerosis,” says Whitfield about why he mentions those details. He says he learned first hand how 30- and 32-inch doorways made life difficult as his mother went from walker to wheelchair.
But you don’t have to have an infirmity to appreciate those few extra inches. Wider doors and easier access are more comfortable for all kinds of buyers from those carrying a few extra pounds to those with big pieces of furniture.
There are other differences at Timbers Edge as well. Unlike townhouses built in a straight row, the homes are built in four-unit clusters in a pinwheel configuration.
At the center of the cluster are the four two-car garages. The four homes are at the outside. The configuration has the advantage of making each unit look more like an individual house and allows natural light on three sides. If the style looks somewhat familiar, it could be because this ground-level fourplex is a signature of Epmark, a franchise operation that works with developers in 20 states.
Timbers Edge is one of several Epmark townhouse condominium developments that are for sale or going through the approval process in the Chicago area.
Epmark developments typically have a limited number of floor plans and a limited menu of options. That is not for everyone, but it eliminates much of the confusion and stress in home buying for others. Nationally, Epmark developments appeal to the 55-plus crowd who are looking to downsize, singles in their 30s or 40s and young couples committed to jobs who don’t want to spend free time on maintenance.
The buyers at Timbers Edge, which is more than 60 percent sold, reflect those trends, says developer Jamie Wilcox.
There are three floor plans and three models, all ranch-style floor layouts, one with a second level guest room and bath.
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The most appealing for my money is the three-bedroom, two-bath Canterbury model base priced at $192,400. In some respects this is the most traditional of the designs; but it uses the 1,710 square feet to best advantage.
All three floor plans combine the living and dining areas, but the front door and the fireplace placement are critical. In the Canterbury, the front door leads midway into this large, open public space and helps give the bigger room some definition. Turn right into the living room with furniture grouped around a fireplace or left to the dining room.
In another of the models, the Abbey, the fireplace is opposite the front door and is stranded in a corner between the door to a bedroom and one to the sunroom. This makes for a difficult traffic pattern if you hope to group furnishings around the fireplace.
One of the nicest elements of the Timber Villa floor plans is the sunroom, listed as a finished veranda on the floor plan. For light lovers like me, this is the space with a lot of windows and views to the outside.
Serious shoppers will do well to consider how they plan to use this space and its placement in the floor plan. The sunroom in the Abbey model was too close to the roadway for a private reading or dining spot, but it might work well for those who would use it primarily for houseplants.
The Canterbury is listed as a three bedroom unit, but it wisely is shown as a two bedroom with den or home office–and a small one at that. Still, this room is a nice extra that could be used as a cozy getaway nook for the computer enthusiast, those who want a space for home sewing or a tiny library. Happily, the bedrooms are more generous. And bathrooms–both the master and secondary bath–are comfortable, without being huge, although the big second floor bath in the Chateau model is generous.
The Chateau model with 1,869 square feet has a small entrance patio that would allow a bench or a couple of chairs for sitting in the sun outside the front door.
The living room, dining room and kitchen are back-to-back and seem somewhat narrow. In contrast, the two main floor bedrooms, which are reached by a short hall from the dining room, are light-filled and appear more spacious.
The upstairs guest room is sizable and could be a private getaway when it is not used for entertaining.
With the exception of the Chateau, the kitchens are smallish. They are at the back of the townhouse away from the natural light and consequently are somewhat dark. They are adjacent to the laundry room and have easy access to the two-car garage for bringing in groceries.
These are simple, straight forward plans, not fancy or overly elegant. One quibble is that guest coat closets are awkwardly placed or forgotten. And some of the Timbers Edge fourplexes are crowded too tightly onto the site. I would like more lawn and greenery between the clusters.
However, the 3,000-square-foot community center seems sized just right. It is one of the most tastefully done and welcoming centers I’ve visited. It has a small exercise room, the sales office for the complex, restrooms and an open room for gatherings, large and small.
Sofas and easy chairs are grouped around the fireplace at one end of the room. At the other is a bar-like area for preparing and serving food.
A pool table and several game tables overlook the swimming pool outside. The space is open and airy enough for several small groups to have fun yet cozy enough to sit with friends for a chat.
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Timbers Edge Villas
Address: 3300 Timbers Edge Circle, Joliet
Developer: Wilcox Development Group
Phone: 815-254-6240 or www.timbersedgevillas.com
Description: 72 ranch-style townhouses from 1,300 to 1,870 square feet, with two to three bedrooms and 2 to 2 1/2 baths and attached two-car garage. The single-level townhouses are grouped in a four-unit pinwheel configuration with garages in the center. One plan has a second story guest bedroom and bath.
Base prices: From $183,400 to $192,400. Monthly assessments are $145. Prices as of April 23.
Amenities: Fireplace, sunrooms, low maintenance exterior, patios, no-step entries, lever door handles and faucets, 36-inch wide doorways, clubhouse with fitness room, heated outside pool.
Neighborhood: Near Louis Joliet Mall, several golf courses and Rock Run Preserve; easy access to Interstate Highways 55 and 80.