After dressing up model homes as much as possible, a handful of builders are turning to lavish landscaping to add to their appeal to buyers.
A case in point is West Point Gardens, a development by Hinsdale-based West Point Builders planned for 342 single-family homes and 128 townhouses on 173 acres in west Elgin.
The outline of the finished community, where there are plans for broad sidewalks, walking and biking trails, several parks and a convenience shopping area, was barely visible amid the road work and large construction equipment on the day I visited.
But next to the development’s large sales center, with several rocking chairs on the front porch, there are 11 house and townhouse models–as many as most home shows.
Each of the homes has a yard and private rear garden carefully planned, planted and outfitted with attractions such as outdoor seating and dining equipment, grilling areas and water features.
The walled private yards, between the house and the garage at the back of the lot, are not large by suburban standards. But they have been designed with all the care of outdoor rooms and rival some of the interior spaces for beauty and comfort.
They are a treat for the eyes and, for the builder, an added opportunity to make money on optional upgrades.
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The homes come with a standard privacy fence, 10-by-10-foot concrete patio and sodded ground. But buyers can choose from an array of exterior upgrades ranging from a $2,000 brick paver patio instead of standard concrete, or a putting green for $6,000. Or they can go for a complete package of stone fireplace, hot tub, multiple-level wood decks and other extras for as much as $67,000.
The gardens are integral to the design of the houses and the entire subdivision, said Patrick Curran, West Point president.
Touches of the past
He said the development is designed to be a traditional neighborhood development, a concept aimed at fostering a sense of community by building a school, retail stores and housing, all within walking distance.
There are plans for wide sidewalks and a 12-acre park for kids to play. Most homes will have front porches and all will have garages or motor courts in the back.
The goal is to hit a delicate balance between providing open public space where people will meet and become acquainted, while providing some privacy.
“We’re trying to get people outside,” said Curran.
To the extent that any home design can do that, these should succeed. At the front of many of the single-family homes are porches, deep enough for outdoor furniture, possibly a swing. A couple of models such as the Middlebury can have porches on both the first and second floors.
The floor plans of the houses themselves are designed in conjunction with outdoor spaces. In general, several rooms–typically, the family room, kitchen and dining area–look into the garden.
There are seven house models and four townhouse models.
Among the smaller homes in the single-family category is the 2,167-square-foot Middlebury, priced from $329,990.
The front door opens from the porch to a 17-by-10-foot living room. Beyond the stairway to the second floor on the left is the family room, about 17 1/2 by 17 feet.
The family room overlooks the garden and is near the combined breakfast and kitchen, 19 by 14 1/2 feet, which also overlooks the outdoor area and opens onto it. Behind the kitchen is the laundry room and a hall to the garage.
Upstairs, the home is shown with a loft, an upgrade, at the top of the stairs. There is a door from the loft to the second-story porch.
Two small secondary bedrooms are on the same floor as the master bedroom, shown as part of an optional deluxe master suite that overlooks the garden below.
The townhouses, including one with a first-floor master suite, have a similar concept.
Unfortunately, the end-unit Erie, with 1,789 square feet and first-floor bedroom, feels narrow and constricted in the living room. The kitchen counter space was so limited that no amount of garden view could compensate.
In contrast, the other end unit, the 1,790-square-foot Dearborn, felt open and spacious with living, dining and family rooms on the first floor.
There is a lot to like in the idea of these homes and the models are winningly decorated–upgrades abound.
A case in point is the Middlebury, shown with a upgraded front porch across the entire front of the house, rather than across half of the house, as shown on the floor plan.
In addition, there is the second-floor porch, an upgrade, as well as the loft and the deluxe master suite. Those upgrades add to the usable space, but they also will add to final cost of the home.
A model with just standard features would have been helpful to give prospective buyers a clearer base point from which to make buying comparisons and decisions.
Will this concept fly with suburbanites who have been born and bred on large lots and wide-open spaces?
A question of trade-offs
Is there a suburban market for time-pressed and commuter-weary home buyers who are willing to live closer to neighbors in exchange for communal parks and smaller, private outdoor spaces?
A woman touring the models asked me, “Do they seem awfully close together?”
From my perspective as an urban resident, the answer is no. But I can see living here might be an adjustment for others.
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West Point Gardens, Elgin
Base-price range: $229,990 to $419,990
FACTS & FIGURES
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– Townhouses and two-story detached houses: 2 to 5 bedrooms, 11/2 to 21/2 baths and two-car garage.
– Area: 1,278 to 3,264 square feet.
– Annual assessment: $336 for all homes/ townhouses pay additional $95 per month
– Developer: West Point Builders
– Web site: www.WestPointGardens.com
AMENITIES
– Nine-foot first-floor ceilings, full basements, private fenced gardens, air-conditioning.
– Exterior brick on front elevation on most models; garages in rear.
– Vinyl flooring in kitchen, Frigidaire appliances, oak kitchen cabinetry with 36-inch upper cabinets; ceramic flooring in bath.
Community: Part of a 470-home development on 173 acres with walking and bicycle trails, parks, convenience shopping area planned.
GETTING THERE
Address: 251 Tulip Drive, Elgin
Phone: 847-608-1000
Take Interstate Highway 90 west to Randall Road.
Turn south on Randall to U.S. Highway 20 (Lake Street). Go west on Lake and continue west to Nesler Street. Turn south to the entrance.
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