Grand Pointe Crossing Takes High Road to Sales

ELGIN, IL, November 15 - The people at the Grand Pointe Crossing sales center in Lockport have circled November 12 on their office calendars. That's the date that I-355-the 12.5 southern extension of the North-South Tollway-finally opens after years of debate, construction, and expectation. The "new" tollway will bring congestion relief and reduced travel time to drivers and increased jobs to growing Will County. It will also energize Grand Pointe Crossing, a community of duplex townhomes being built by Grand Pointe Homes in south suburban Lockport.

While Grand Pointe Crossing has sold out a healthy 90 percent of its homes, it has lingered around that figure for months, due to a tight economy in consumer real estate. "People have worried about a long-range drop in home values and have thus avoided buying. However, the opening of 1-355 gives everyone hope-it not only makes it more convenient to live here but also gives the area's economy a tremendous boost. That's why Wal-Mart, Jewel, and other businesses have opened up new stores here lately. We expect to do well, too-selling the rest of our homes quickly. The tollway has created a new dynamic," said Scott Ballard, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the West Dundee-based Grand Pointe.

Grand Pointe Crossing provides both space and privacy, its homes taking the form of three contemporary designs with 1,473 to 1,690 square feet, two or three bedrooms, one and one-half to two and one-half baths, and amenities such as fully applianced kitchens. The living room features a two-story ceiling, a vaulted ceiling, or a combination living/dining room. The prices range from 186,900 for the Jasmine model to the $240,000's for the Drake.

While most of the remaining stock is in quick delivery (new but already built) homes, Grand Pointe does have a couple of empty lots left, and that's where it can build a model for the customer from scratch. But whichever home it sells, Grand Pointe believes it's offering the best price-value among the larger area's townhome communities. "We give homebuyers more for their money, and we say that without even considering the benefit of the new tollway. In addition to the immediate convenience it provides, the tollway's economic impact will raise home values over the long haul-and then each home's original price will seem like a steal," said Ballard.

To see a Grand Pointe Crossing model, take route 7 (159th Street) to Farrell Road, south to Division/167th Street, west to Peachtree Lane, south (left) to sales center. For more information about the homes, call 815-836-3900 or you can go here.

Submitted 11/15/2007