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Developer Profile

Chicago Agent Magazine
April 14, 2005
Charlie Vlahogiannis

Gladstone Homes

During the past five years, developers have bought up hundreds of acres of West-suburban farmland to build homes. New subdivisions have cropped up in towns like Aurora, Oswego and Naperville. The population of Plainfield, for instance, grew from 13,038 in 2000 to today’s estimate of 20,673.

Today, the majority of newly built homes in the Western suburbs are built by either production-based builders whose goal is rapid development, or custom builders who build per a buyer’s exact specifications.

Some buyers go to boomtowns like Plainfield for the small-town charm, and others go to raise their children in an excellent school system. However, most simply want a newer or larger home that would be unaffordable in Chicago. But how can a buyer afford a home without paying for the price of custom construction or without buying into one of many row homes tucked away in a characterless subdivision? With a building method developed over 16 years, Gladstone Homes has shown that an attractive home can be within the average person’s reach.

Dave Bolger, founder and president of Gladstone Homes, inherited a passion for customer satisfaction and business savvy while working in his father’s Franklin Park real estate brokerage, Gladstone Realtors. In 1989, Bolger branched off with a single parcel of land and founded Gladstone Homes. Today, his company is on pace to build over 200 homes, building subdivisions across Chicago’s Western suburbs, from Heritage Oaks in Plainfield and The Estates of Thornberry Woods in Woodridge to The Moose Lake Estates in North Aurora. In a market flooded with developments which many consider cookie-cutter, Gladstone Homes have made good on their motto, "A lasting impression behind every door," with homes rich in character, style and charm. The secret to Gladstone Homes’ success has been to offer homes at every price point with custom touches throughout.

Scott Multer, director of marketing for Gladstone Homes, says buyers expecting the standard fare of upgrades and amenities are in for a shock. "Hardwood floors throughout the house with beautiful volume ceilings are all standard with our single-family homes—not upgrades."

Multer says buyers can also depend on elegant painting schemes and decorative, molded wainscoting in common areas. "We want to make an immediate impact on the buyer, so we plan for the foyer and the living area to inspire a sense of awe."

The "Jadestone" model’s foyer showcases attractive ceiling details and gracious columns, which lead to a large family room with a brick detailed fireplace. Their "Briarstone" model offers a generous dinette with windows on all sides. For families, spaces like these provide a warm, comfortable setting for daily life. "A charming home on its own won’t attract buyers," says Multer. "We take care to plan subdivisions in attractive school districts that will be a draw for families."

Among Gladstone’s current developments are 64 lots dubbed The Estates of Thornberry Woods in Woodridge; Moose Lake Estates in North Aurora, which encompasses over 133 acres of land; and Eagle Crest at Grande Reserve in Yorkville.

Gladstone Homes can build subdivisions composed of homes with custom finishes by limiting the selection of models to a set number. "We have the strict deadlines of a production builder but insist on giving our buyers a large chunk of control in the construction process," Multer says. He adds that their selection is limited to a set number of layouts, with a choice of 11 during the summer months, but finds the selection gives buyers a wonderful array of home styles to choose from.

"People love our building method because they get a better looking home than they would from a production builder, more affordably than they would from a custom builder, more efficiently than both because we let the client make the big decisions while we worry about the details."

The Estates of Thornberry Woods in Woodridge offer backdrops of scenic DuPage County forest preserves and are also a part of the nationally acclaimed Naperville District 203 schools. Prices for single-family homes start from $542,000. Moose Lake Estates in North Aurora offers semi-custom homes up to 4,000 square feet on walkout lots. Prices there start from $382,000. Eagle Crest at Grande Reserve in Yorkville offers families Yorkville’s small-town charm, with scenic surroundings in the Fox Valley countryside. Sales offices have recently opened on 2811 Cryder Way in Yorkville.

Square footages for a Gladstone single-family home begin at 3,055 and get as large as 4,012 square feet. Their models have contemporary or traditional facades with brick fronts and roundhead windows in some foyers. All offer a large family room with a fireplace, cathedral ceilings, a private study, laundry room and a two-car garage with extra storage space. A hall bath on the second floor and four comfortable bedrooms with a common hallway overlook the foyer. Prices begin at $370,000 and go up with the size of the home.

Gladstone Homes has proven that a great looking home in the Western suburbs can be as distinctive and stylish as any found in Chicago. Their methods of construction guarantee that buyers don’t have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for a great-looking home. "The way we’re going to make a lasting impression," concludes Multer, "is by offering many options to our buyers so they get exactly what they want at a cost that they love."

--Charlie Vlahogiannis