Buyers and prospective buyers recently came out in droves for a sneak preview of the decorated model at Belle Plaine Commons, a 5-story, 92-unit new-construction affordable senior condominium development at 2335 W. Belle Plaine Avenue near Irving Park and Western avenues in the North Center neighborhood.

The Belle Plaine Commons model is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plan 07, the 1-bedroom, 1-bath model is geared to a 55-and-better buyer who is downsizing and seeking a new lifestyle.

“The majority of the buyers at Belle Plaine Commons are people who have resided in or near the North Center neighborhood for decades and who are looking forward to maintenance-free condominium living,” said Rena Appel of North Center Associates LLC, the developer.

“We also are attracting buyers from the suburbs, other city neighborhoods and people from out of state who are moving back to North Center to be near their grown children who own homes or condominiums in the neighborhood,” Appel said.

The design team purchased new furnishings that were selected especially to fit the scale of the 1-bedroom unit and blended in some antiques to represent existing favorite pieces belonging to the hypothetical buyer.

“It’s a condo that is comfortable to live in, yet designed for a buyer who is downsizing from a larger home, townhome or condominium,” said Judy Westerberg, sales manager for Garrison Partners Consulting, the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the developer.

“We selected an attractive and functional multipurpose entertainment center for the living/dining area which can accommodate not only a large television set but which also contains shelves with glass doors to display treasured possessions as well as drawers in which to store linens, dishes, and other items when not in use,” Westerberg said.

“Among the specially selected pieces is a rare rosewood drop-leaf table found in a local antique shop,” she noted. “The striking multicolored grain of the wood catches your eye as soon as you enter the living/dining area. When open, the table comfortably accommodates eight for a dinner party: when closed, it provides an efficient and attractive work area for the homeowner.”

Westerberg also purchased beautiful antique chairs and had them reupholstered and refinished by local craftsman as key memory pieces for the model. “We used the same fabric on the chair seats as was used for draperies on the living room windows, and the beautiful aqua color is carried throughout on the couch and love seat to tie the whole room together,” she said.

The model residence features 840 square feet of living space and several upgrades, including Merillat Fusion cherry cabinets, Moen Camelot undermount sink, Sapphire brown and blue granite countertop, GE stainless-steel appliance package, Kultur Autumn maple flooring, and Mohawk carpeting.

Construction is nearing completion on the $27.5 million L-shaped masonry and pre-cast stone elevator building on a 1.56-acre site, according to Linn-Mathes, Inc, the general contractor.

The first residential units are scheduled for occupancy at the end of May and Belle Plaine Commons is slated for completion by July, said Appel. The development was designed by the renowned architecture firm of Pappageorge/Haymes Ltd.

Many buyers came to check out the scale of the 1-bedroom model to judge for themselves where their own furniture might be placed, including 1-bedroom-plus-den and 2-bedroom buyers.

Pat Kussman and Helen Dickson will be among the first to move in as they are on the first floor.

Kussman and Dickson are selling their single-family home where they’ve lived for more than 30 years. They’ve purchased a 2-bedroom residence at Belle Plaine Commons and were anxious to see the model for comparison sake.

“We’re very happy with the model and to see what the size looks like,” Dickson said. “This is about the size of the master bedroom in the 2-bedroom residence, so you can really begin to see what things look like. We like it.”

“I think we’re both fascinated by seeing this because it’s been two years of thinking about it,” Kussman said. “We were early buyers. Now that we’ve actually seen it, it’s real. This has given us the impetus to now deal with reality.”

The Belle Plaine Commons development anchors the north side of the 5-acre North Center Senior Campus, bounded by Irving Park Road, Western Avenue, Belle Plaine Avenue and Oakley Avenue. The campus includes parks, fountains and common green space areas.

“Belle Plaine Commons is a special development that offers a carefree senior lifestyle within an exciting community overlooking two new parks with beautiful landscaping and fountains,” Appel said.

“Now that construction is nearing completion, we expect the few remaining units to sell quickly,” said Appel, who noted that sales have hit the 80-percent mark.

Belle Plaine Commons is especially appealing to empty-nester singles and couples who have owned homes, 2-flat or 3-flat buildings in the neighborhood and have seen a strong rise in property values and real estate taxes.

“Many of these long-time neighborhood residents are tired of the financial and physical burdens of maintaining their aging properties,” Appel noted. One member of the household has to be 55 years of age or better, but the other member may be as young as 48 years, he said. Westerberg said there is still a nice selection of 1-bedroom, 1-bedroom-plus-den and 2-bedroom residences available at Belle Plaine Commons.

“Our prices currently start at $188,990 and only two of the remaining units are priced over $250,000,” Westerberg said. “However, at these prices, this is a rare opportunity that won’t last.”

Condominiums still available at Belle Plaine Commons include the following homes:

• One-bedroom, 1-bath residences with 848 to 987 square feet of living space. Prices for these units range from $188,990 to $212,990.

• One-bedroom-plus-den residences with 1 bath and 944 to 1,037 square feet of living area. Prices ranges from $194,990 to $224,990.

• One-bedroom-plus-den residences with 1.5 baths and 985 to 1,011 square feet of living area. Prices range from $229,990 to $249,990.

• Two-bedroom, 2-bath residences featuring between 1,116 and 1,376 square feet of living space. Prices range from $249,990 to $298,990.

All prices include one outdoor parking space. Heated garage parking is available for an additional $15,900.

Current average prices for 1-bedroom condominiums elsewhere in the North Center neighborhood are about $237,000, and 2-bedroom condominiums go for about $392,000, making Belle Plaine Commons a rare and attractive choice for discerning adults.

Upscale building amenities include a furnished lobby, community room, fitness center and a library.

The lower level of the building contains the 58, heated parking spaces and individual resident storage lockers. The 43 outdoor parking spaces and 11 guest parking spaces are located in a parking lot contiguous to the building.

All residences at Belle Plaine Commons feature 9-foot ceilings; ceramic-tile flooring in the foyer, kitchen and bathrooms; choice of carpeting in the living room, dining room and bedrooms; individually controlled HVAC; and high-speed internet capability.

Most residences have either balconies, Juliet balconies or patios. Kitchens are equipped with G.E. appliances, including refrigerator with icemaker, gas oven and range, dishwasher, disposal, and built-in microwave oven, as well as choice of designer cabinetry.

Most baths will include ceramic tile, oversized mirrors, linen closets and choice of designer cabinetry. Residents of Belle Plaine Commons will have access to the Advocate Health Center, also part of the Senior Campus.

The development was conceived and facilitated by Ald. Gene Schulter, who said one of his strongest goals for the 47th Ward was to provide affordable housing options for senior residents.

“It has been a long road, but through the generous $20- million land donation from Advocate Health Care and the many financial contributors our dream has come true,” Ald. Schulter said.

Schulter said it was his long-range goal to build a senior campus to enable long-time residents to remain in the community.

“Many seniors who have to move out of their homes for a variety of reasons including financial, health and mobility issues now have the opportunity to remain in their neighborhood,” he said.

“In partnership with Alderman Schulter and the City of Chicago, Advocate Health Care was pleased to be able to donate five acres of land to make affordable housing a reality for senior citizens in the 47th Ward,” said Jim Skogsbergh, Advocate’s president and chief executive officer.

Belle Plaine Commons is located in the heart of the North Center neighborhood, on the northern edge of Lake View and near the upscale housing enclaves of St. Ben’s, Ravenswood and Lincoln Square.

New restaurants and shops have made this area one of the fastest growing and most popular in Chicago.

Convenient shopping is within a few blocks at Roscoe Village, the Addison Mall, and Riverview Plaza on Western Avenue, which includes Jewel Foods, Dominick’s Finer Foods, and a Walgreens Pharmacy, among other retail establishments.

The Lincoln Square neighborhood located just to the north of Belle Plaine Commons features The Old Town School of Folk Music, The Davis Theater, bakeries, delicatessens and a variety of shops and restaurants.

Belle Plaine Commons is also in close proximity to the major expressways as well as alternative routes to and from the central city. The CTA’s Irving Park and Western bus lines are conveniently located near the building. The Metra and CTA Blue Line are close by, providing access to and from the Loop and O’Hare International Airport.

The North Center Associates development team brings many years of cumulative experience to Belle Plaine Commons.

Together and separately, the principals have been involved in more than 150 developments containing more than 12,000 residences, including townhomes, mid-rise and high-rise buildings, single-family homes, rehabilitations, and lofts, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The developers of Belle Plaine Commons have extensive experience providing creatively designed housing alternatives for adults 55 years and better, and have developed more than 6,000 of these residences, ranging from affordable condominiums to rental and congregate housing.

The Belle Plaine Commons sales center at 2335 W. Belle Plaine Avenue –the southwest corner of Belle Plaine and Oakley is open Saturday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The model is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 p.m.

The sales center is closed Thursday and Friday. View floor plans and amenities at www.belleplainecommons.com. For more information or a personal appointment, please call Judy Westerberg at 773-442-6995.