Young Couple Opts for Two-story Fireplace

BY BILL CUNNIFF Real Estate Reporter

Damien Reyna and Kelly Farrell recently sold their Hainesville town house and are residing in an apartment — until their new home is completed at Rockwell Place, a development in Lakemoor.

“We really liked the home designs and the pricing at Rockwell Place,” Reyna said.

Reyna and Farrell chose the 2,212-square-foot Golden Gate, with 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths and a 2- or 3-car garage. The floor plan may be expanded to 2,476 square feet if buyers select an extended family room and fourth and fifth bedrooms.

The kitchen is equipped with an island, a pantry and a breakfast nook. The living room and dining room are accented with columns and arches. Other highlights of the Golden Gate include a loft, a two-story family room and a master-bedroom sitting area.

“We decided on a bay window in the dining room and a two-story brick fireplace in the family room,” he said. “We also added a vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom.”

The builder, Kirk Homes, had to improvise with some of the couple’s requests. “First of all, we changed our mind about what floor plan we wanted after Kirk had already pulled the permit for our first choice,” Reyna said. “The staff was very understanding about making that change.

“Then, we wanted to eliminate a ‘knee wall’ in the foyer and the medicine cabinet in the master bath,” he said. “Perhaps the biggest thing was the two-story fireplace; the window configuration had to be changed and a large picture window eliminated.”

Their closing date is in mid-November, and they plan to settle in before Christmas.

At the 272-acre master-planned development, 479 single-family homes are planned, starting in the mid-$200,000s. Sizes range from 1,644 to 3,232 square feet. Houses have 3 to 5 bedrooms, 2½ to 3½ baths and attached 2- or 3-car garages.<

The builder also plans 482 town houses, beginning in the $160,000s. Sizes range from 1,248 to 1,583 square feet. Units have 2 or 3 bedrooms, 1½ to 2½ baths and 2-car attached garages.

Rockwell Place, Lakemoor. Kirk Homes, (815) 578-0625.

OAK LAWN

Sixty percent of 70 planned condominiums have been sold at Prairie Town Center, a development in Oak Lawn.

“That’s 60 percent sold in less than four months,” said David Strosberg, president of Morningside Group, the builder. Groundbreaking is slated to begin soon, and first move-ins are scheduled for the spring of 2008.

Base prices range from $184,900 to $315,900. Condos have 1 or 2 bedrooms and 1½ or 2 baths. Sizes range from 844 to 1,461 square feet. Balconies are standard. One heated parking space is included with each unit.

“Prairie Town Center, with its location in Oak Lawn’s central business district, will be a short walk from local stores and restaurants, including Freshline Grocery,” said Barb Morris, director of sales for Morningside. A coffee shop, a sandwich shop and the Oak Lawn Public Library are nearby too. Ground has been broken on an 18,000-square-foot retail center.

Prairie Town Center, 5239 W. 95th Street, Oak Lawn. Morningside Group, (708) 857-2900.

Click here to visit the Prairie Town Center website!

FRANKFORT

Sales have passed the 50 percent mark at Misty Falls, a development in Frankfort.

Flaherty Construction, the builder, plans 120 single-family homes. Base price range from $427,900 to $521,900. Sizes range from 2,750 to 4,000 square feet. Houses have 4 or 5 bedrooms, at least 2½ baths and attached 3-car garages. Two decorated models are open.

Misty Falls, Frankfort. Flaherty Construction, (815) 464-2213.