The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 192

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2006 DailyHemld Sihjer Cloud Condominiums Rtver'sEdge dallyherald.com Condo Imm SECTION Jordan Shifrin on declaration amendments PageS Room to breathe Village greens a respite from hustle and bustk of high-density living A landscaped park, above, featuring benches and public artwork will be the oonw outdoor art, below, grace the center of the green at Bartlett Town Center, a resident al-retail mix that will include a new rail station, parks, condos and shops when completed "The main village, which includes the Railroad station, is built around a village green or informal park. In the park will be benches, a bandstand, drinking fountain, trees, and shrubs. It will be a place for people to sit and rest; mothers and grandmothers can watch over small children at play. I want it to be very relaxing, cool, and inviting. Around the park will be built the town.

Walt Disney, from a memo describing plans for Disneyland BY GWENjADER Daily Herald Carrapondenl Christopher Rintz, CEO and executive vice president of Skokie-based New England Builders, shares Walt Disney's dream of a village green where people could relax and take the time to socialize. Disney, of course, went on to bring his vision to life within a vacation destination. Rintz creates these spaces within the communities his firm helps to develop and build. Fresh from the success of Bartlett Town Center, a joint venture with local, state and regional agencies, New England Builders is working with the village of Downers Grove to create a village center in its Acadia on the Green community. These centers "provide spaces for people who live there," Rintz said.

"In dense developments, these centers provide something to look at, as well as fresh air and running water. Having these areas helps offset some of the potentially negative aspects of high-density living," Rintz said. "We want to leave something behind with legs." In Bartlett, New England Builders created a center that will have a new raii station, roadway Improvements, commuter parking, public parks, condos, lofts, office space and businesses, when completed. "In Bartlett, we created an iconic image to give people the feel of being in the center of the community," he said. "There is a fair amount of traffic during the day and the village green provides a buffer for pedestrians from traffic when walking along the Town Center." The development was funded as a TIP district encompassing 20 acres in the center of town.

New England Builders won a design competition to earn its designation as master developer. Bartlett Town Center's two traditional red brick buildings with stone accents and cedar shake siding will house 120 condominiums providing 1,254 to 1,725 square feet of IMng space. They are priced from $173,900 to $440,900. Also planned are two retail buildings with storefronts, lofts and office space. Businesses now open include La Dolce Vita Cafe and Italian Restaurant, Bartlett Vision Center, Clique Photography and Town Center Wine Bin.

Other retail establishments under consideration are a jewelry store, ice cream parlor, housewares store, women's and children's apparel stores, book store, wine and cheese shop and a day spa. A fountain and Bartlett's first piece of public outdoor art, crafted by Highland, Utah- based artist Dennis Smith, grace the center of the green. "Reaching" depicts a boy lifting his younger sibling, whose arms are spread outward. At Acadia on the Green, the transit-oriented community of residential condominiums and retail space is adjacent to the Metra station. Built around a park, Acadia on the Green is a three-plus-acre triangular property surrounded by Burlington, Main and Curtiss streets.

It was the site of a former junkyard. Traditional red brick buildings adorned in stone and copper accents will encircle the village green, which will have a landscaped park featuring benches and public artwork surrounded by evergreens, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. See GREEN on PAGE 3 OPERATED BY Bourbon Square condominiums are the largest in their class in the Northwest suburbs. Each is expertly appointed with the amenities deserve. Large one tvvo bedroom condominium units with walk-in closets.

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