Believers Flock to the Abbey

Ceilings that range from 9 feet to two stories in height, plussoaring expanses of glass contribute to the Abbey's bright, airylook.

The 1,350-square-foot town house is one of three designs atHighland Glen in Algonquin, Stoneridge Development Co.'s subdivisionof 210 town houses.

"The Abbey is a plan I built out in California that was part ofa multifamily building that combined town houses and condominiums,"said George Haviar, president of Stoneridge Development Co.

"The interior floor plan is toned down from the way it was builtout there. It had a spiral staircase in California, but here it is abit more traditional. "The exterior is totally different. InCalifornia it was stucco with a tile roof, which gave it aMediterranean look - which is too expensive to do here and would alsolook out of place," Haviar said. "People would have a hard timeaccepting the look. Here it is brick, cedar and siding.

"Inside it still has rounded corners, 2-story volume, an openstaircase going up to a loft, and high windows, which let in a lot oflight, which reflects the California style."

The Abbey is one of two furnished models at Highland Glen.

It has a set-back side entrance shielded by a small, coveredporch. Inside, the foyer has convenient access to a guest closetstraight ahead, a windowed powder room, and a larger closet beneaththe stairs.

Down the entry hall, past a switchback staircase, is an nearly12-by-15 1/2-foot living room with a pitched 2-story ceiling. Fromthe foyer one can look through the home and out a nearly 2-story rearwindow. End units have two additional side windows, which wouldflank the optional fireplace costing from $2,650 to $3,500, dependingon the package selected.

The 10-by-10 1/5-foot dining room, which is open to the livingroom, has a sliding rear door that opens to a standard concretepatio.

The kitchen measures 7 feet by 10 feet and overlooks a10-foot-square breakfast area. A half-wall divides the breakfastarea from the foyer. The door off the breakfast zone leads to anattached 2-car garage.

The switchback staircase has an open oak railing. End unitshave a window at the midway landing.

On the upper level, an 8 3/4-by-12-foot loft with a half-walloverlooks the stairway and the volume living room. It would cost$2,000 to convert the loft space into an optional third bedroom.

The 11-by-13-foot master bedroom has a walk-in closet and aprivate bath with a tub-shower head combination and ceramic-tilesurround. For $1,100, the tub could be upgraded to a whirlpool.

A laundry-utility room is conveniently located between themaster suite and the more than 10-by-11-foot second bedroom. Thesecond full bath contains a linen closet.

A full basement is a $10,500 option.

"The second-floor utility room is a popular feature of the Abbeybecause it is located in the area where you create the laundry," saidHaviar.

"Most houses are designed with the laundry room in the basementor main floor. All you ever do is carry laundry up and down thestairs. Even if the Abbey is built with an optional basement, theutility room stays upstairs."

Other standard features include double-paned, insulated-glasswindows and screens and patio doors, wood-grain siding and facebrick, a gas forced-air heating system, and sodded front and sideyards.

The development sits on a plateau lined by stands of100-year-old oak trees on the south, and 10 acres of forest on thenorth of the property that will never be built on. Nine of the 36buildings will be constructed around cul-de-sacs. The rest will bebuilt along winding streets that traverse the development, which hasa public park bordering the east end of the property.

A $60 per month association fee covers exterior maintenance ofthe building, landscape maintenance and snow plowing.

About half of the 23 town houses in the next building phase willinclude walk-out basements.

Two furnished models are open seven a days week.

Haviar built more than 2,000 homes in California between 1983and 1992, when he was director of San Diego operations for theWilliam Lyon Co., one of the nation's largest home builders.

Highland Glen is located on Hanson Road, about one-quarter milesouth of Algonquin Road, and two miles west of the Fox River.

Judy Moore is a Chicago area free-lance writer.