By Dana Dubriwny
For many, the $1 million-plus price tag on a single-family home in Chicago makes ownership an unachievable goal. But for buyers who know where to look, a wrought-iron fence, backyard and attached garage are all within reach.
Cornelia Court, a new townhouse development at 3001 W Cornelia Ave in Avondale, offers all the perks of a single-family home with all the amenities of condo living. When completed next year, the $28-million development will feature 13 buildings housing 63 three- and four-story townhouses. Every single unit will have a deck, fenced-in private yard, and a two- or 2.5-car garage.
The townhouses at Cornelia Court on Chicago’s Northwest Side are offered in four distinct floor plans. The smallest unit, called the Cornelia, is a 2,242-square-foot, two-bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse with a two-car attached garage, with prices beginning in the $490s. The Addison, which starts around $500,000, is a 2,242-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse and includes a two-car attached garage. The Bentley, priced in the $630s, is a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath townhouse with 2,904 square feet and a 2.5-car attached garage. And in February, developers introduced the Dorchester, a three-bedroom, 3.5-bath unit complete with a two-car garage from the $500s.
Gale Goldstick, sales manager at Cornelia Court for Coldwell Banker Residential, says the unique craftsmanship and personalized detail in each unit is a testament to the quality of the development. Buyers are able to customize their units because co-developer Steven V. Frytz of Anchor General Contractors Inc. is also a hands-on builder and contractor.
“For example, a buyer from Florida is putting some unique architectural details in the home’s interior, and he’s making some light-orientated changes as well as some structural alterations,” says Goldstick. “We have added some extra details within the unit, and that simply has not been done before.”
The developer is offering a buyer incentive of $10,000 that purchasers can use toward upgrade options or closing costs. The townhouses feature “fee simple” ownership with a homeowner’s association that provides grounds maintenance. Monthly assessments are projected from $100 to $150 and include common-area expenses, such as common insurance, landscaping, snow removal, water and scavenger service.
So far, the incentives have paid off. The six-unit first phase of Cornelia Court is sold out and occupied; the 14-unit Phase II is 70 percent sold; and Phase III with 12 units is 42 percent sold. The remaining two phases will make available an additional 31 units.
Cornelia Court also features a new 10,650-square-foot private park tucked within the 2.4-acre development at Cornelia and Sacramento avenues. This green space is in addition to the nearby California and Horner parks, which provide access to baseball and softball fields, basketball and tennis courts, paved biking and walking trails as well as playgrounds.
A decorated and furnished three-story model townhouse is on display at Cornelia Court, 3001 W Cornelia Ave, on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.