One might expect to see horses loping across a field at Westridge of Bartlett where a white, split rail fence surrounds the 636-lot subdivision.
Horses may not be grazing on grassy fields here, but there is plenty of undeveloped land in the vicinity of this approximately 280-acre subdivision.
A swath of prairie called the TriCounty State Park forms one of the subdivison’s borders, West Bartlett Road makes up another, and land designated as park/detention space forms a third.
“I think the biggest asset of that area is the large tracts of open space that wrap around that subdivision,” said Jim Plonczynski, Bartlett’s community development director.
He added that the subdivision is across the street from the City of Elgin, which has designated the area within its jurisdiction for light industrial development. This area, however, is not visible from the subdivision, which is set apart from it by a winding road.
Also acting as a buffer will be a school and park. The subdivision’s main entryway on Westridge Boulevard informs visitors that a parcel located here is set aside for construction of those facilities. The builder, Centex Homes, which has an office in Schaumburg, donated the site of the future school and park.
The school will serve kindergarten through grade six and is slated to open in August 1999. Enrollment at the school, to be constructed by District U46, will top out at 650.
Describing the agreement for the donation of school and park land, Plonczynski said, “We knew there’d be a lot of residents out there and there’d be a need for a school and park.”
In addition to the park with athletic fields, there will be a tot lot in the subdivision and bike trails that connect to the state park and to an existing trail system in Bartlett.
As building a school and park here would indicate, the homes of Westridge of Bartlett are geared to young families and are priced for that market.
Homes that will be built on lots next to the school and park “are desirable. They will have a premium attached to them of $2,000 to $5,000,” said Kevin Hardin, a sales representative for Centex Homes.
Westridge of Bartlett features three phases, or “series.” The first, 92-home series, dubbed the Oxford, has homes in the $140,000 price range and is sold out. Another phase, the Genesis, has about 50 buildable lots left. These three-bedroom homes are priced from $160,000.
The phase we focused upon, however, is Wellington Homes of Westridge. There are 55 buildable lots left in this 225-home series. Each of these homes, for which there are three models, have four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a partial basement.
All of the homes include such exterior features as asphalt driveways, coachlights on the garage and textured aluminum siding in a selection of colors, such as pale beige and dove grey, that complement one another as you drive along the subdivision’s streets.
A brick exterior is an optional amenity, but a fully sodded yard is part of the package for all homes, Hardin said.
“When you move in you’ll have a full yard, rather than having to wait for a seed to grow,” he said.
A dramatic two-story foyer leading into a great room is the focal point of the smallest of these models, The Fairmont. The home, which has 2,080 square feet, also boasts a vaulted living room ceiling and nine-foot ceilings throughout the first floor. Depending on which of four elevations are chosen, these homes are priced from $199,990 to $208,990.
A double staircase in the two-story foyer is a popular architectural element of The Hampton, a home that has 2,478 square feet. The kitchen also boasts such amenities as a breakfast bar, pantry and bay window. Depending on elevation selected, these homes cost $221,900 to $232,990.
Finally, there is the largest of the models, The Jameston. This 2,680-square-foot home is distinguished by its master suite with a sitting room. Also, there is a loft overlooking a two-story foyer.
“All of our homes have fairly dramatic entries, volume dramatic entries,” Hardin noted.
The Jameston also features a first-floor den, large kitchen and family room. There is enough space in this home, priced from $232,990 to $241,990, to create a fifth bedroom.
Laundry rooms are located on the first floor of each of these homes. Options include wood-burning fireplaces, garage door openers, whirlpool tubs, skylights, three-car garages and air conditioning.
