Developer William Warman was a pioneer in the South Loop, which has grown dramatically since his first projects there. Now, the builder has set his sights a little farther southwest, on another affordable area that’s close to the Loop and shows potential for growth.
Warman’s $22 million McKinley Gardens project will include 69 townhouses overlooking three private parks on a 2.5-acre site at 3250 S. Western, in the Near Southwest Side neighborhood of McKinley Park.
With three or four bedrooms, classic brick designs and plenty of green space, McKinley Gardens homes were designed with families in mind, according to Warman.
“We designed McKinley Gardens as a family-friendly community,” Warman said. “These affordable fee-simple townhomes will be clustered on landscaped private courts and parks on a quiet residential block at Bross Street and Western Parkway, a block west of Western Avenue. McKinley Park will have a real community feel. Each townhome will have a private yard, and the residences will be clustered around 10,700 square feet of landscaped green space.”
At press time, “sneak preview sales” had started at an off-site sales center at 2465 S. Archer, according to Alice Tse, of LANDMark Property Group, exclusive sales agent for the development. Early birds are being offered pre-construction pricing ranging from the $280s to just under $300,000.
“These below-market sneak-preview prices represent a tremendous incentive for the first group of buyers who sign a contract to purchase a townhome at McKinley Gardens,” Tse noted. “After the first 12 units are under contract, pre-construction prices will likely be increased.”
The three-story brick homes will have three bedrooms with an optional fourth bedroom, 2.5 baths, 1.5- or two-car garages and 1,782 to 1,900 square feet of space. Two floor plans are being offered in the 34-unit first phase. Features include granite countertops, Kenmore appliances, hardwood floors in living areas, kitchen islands and large master suites with ceramic baths.
The development’s three pocket parks – Ellipse Garden, West Garden and East Garden – will include a playground, a gazebo, a dog walk and park benches. McKinley Gardens is a few blocks north of the 69-acre McKinley Park, at 37th and Western. The park, which was the first to be developed on the South Side, in 1901, recently underwent a $2.5 million renovation. It includes a swimming pool, a lagoon, an outdoor ice-skating rink, baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts and running paths.
The official grand opening of sales for McKinley Gardens is scheduled for April 10. Construction is expected to start in June of 2005, and first deliveries are projected for spring of 2006.