New condo aims to create a close-knit community

By Ann Taylor

05/15/2005

It looks like George and Ed deGuardiola have done it again. The master planners and developers of Abacoa Town Center in Jupiter are bringing their town-center concept to the Port St. Lucie community with Illustrated Properties' "Terraces on the Square."

Located in East Lake Village north of Jennings Road and east of U.S. 1, the mixed use development features green areas, oaks lined streetscapes, and surrounding lakes.

According to Nancy Cardone, executive director for Illustrated's New Homes & Communities division, the concept's a winner.

"Phase one condo sales sold out 82 units with prices starting at $140,000 within a few hours on April 2," Cardone said. "City employees were offered the opportunity to purchase the one, two and three bedroom units at ground floor prices; they couldn't find a single family home at that price.

Terraces on the Square encourage an immediate sense of community as new residents become involved in an existing neighborhood where daily activities and frequently visited places are within easy walking distance.

The deGuardiolas plan to launch the second phase of Terraces on the Square that be a four-story structure with residential units above retail space.

"It will be mixed use, with the first floor retail, the second floor condo style one story, and floors three and four are to be townhouse style with the bedrooms upstairs, living below," Cardone explained. "We're looking at pricing now. The two bedrooms will start somewhere in the $170,000s and go upwards from there."

To learn more about Terraces on the Square and other Illustrated Properties' developments in our area such as The Villas at Emerald Dunes and 101 Clemantis in Palm Beach, log on to www.byillustrated.com.

Willoughby Crescent

Another city style living condominium attracting buyers is Willoughby Crescent in Stuart. When fully built out the 6.5 acre gated community on S.E. Willoughby Trace will feature 41 upscale two-and three-bedroom private residences.

Current pre-construction prices range from the upper $380,000s to the upper $690,000, but that could change.

"Willoughby Crescent raises the bar for other luxury condominium communities in our area," said Patrick Stracuzzi of The Patrick Stracuzzi Real Estate Team, who the developers selected to list and market the residences.

"Not only are they stylish and full of high-end standard features and accents, they've been built with security in mind, right down to the impact resistant glass -- a feature, which after last year's active hurricane season, most Florida and seasonal residents now know is important," he added.

According to James Morgan, a partner in Willoughby Crescent, LLC and the developers of the community, "Our residents aren't going to have to deal with hurricane-proofing their homes or worry when away on vacation about finding someone to put up hurricane shutters. Our buildings came through last year's hurricanes without a scratch and flooding wasn't an issue, unlike other communities in our area."

In addition Stracuzzi is quick to note the importance of the Willoughby Crescents prime location. "It's within close proximity to marinas, beaches, Historic Downtown Stuart and its restaurants and shops." To check it out for yourself, log on to www.stracuzzi.com.

Marina Living

Another Stuart condominium development that's making headlines these days is Harborage Yacht Club. Following the speedy sell out of phase one the developer, The Altman Companies, recently launched Portside, the second phase of its marina riverfront community.

Plans for the four-story development featuring Caribbean Colonial architecture, include 5,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences ranging in size from 1,089 to 1,391 square feet of air-conditioned living space on the floors above.

Buyers beware: with prices starting in the low $200,000, they won't last long. Joel Altman, chief executive officer of The Altman Companies sees the Harborage Yacht Club, with its newly constructed marina that has 150 deep-water slips, as being a major contributor to the revitalization of downtown Stuart. For more information and to view floor plans log on to www.altmancos.com.

Ann Taylor writes about the real estate industry on the Treasure Coast. Contact her at (772) 234-0411; fax is 234-0508 and e-mail is AnnTaylor3@compuserve

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