buildings under construction at the Van Aken District-end of the
corridor, the Townhomes of Van Aken is the only grouping of new
single-family homes currently available in Shaker Heights.
Buyers have four designs to choose from, and can customize many of
the finishings. All units have a two-car attached garage, private entrance,
and outdoor seating area. Size varies from 1,800 to 2,100 square feet
with some homes having ground-floor bedrooms while others have a
home office or study just off the main entrance, perfect for a homebased
business.
The second level is an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area
with a half bath (and in some units a bedroom with an en suite
bathroom), and most units have an upper floor with two bedrooms
and two full baths.
The design for the townhomes and the development overall places an
emphasis on maintenance-free living. As newly constructed homes, all
have the modern amenities and highly efficient systems buyers expect,
including air conditioning, washer and dryer, and modern kitchens
and baths. These features extend to the exterior where the homeowners
association is responsible for most of the maintenance and upkeep,
including the landscaping and snow removal.
While homebuyers may expect all of this to come at a premium cost,
several factors combine to make these homes more affordable than
nearly any comparable home in the area. The savings start with the
10-year property tax abatement, meaning that homebuyers will pay
almost no property taxes for the first decade of ownership, and this is
transferable to a new buyer during that period.
Next, the first four homebuyers will qualify for a rooftop solar panel
system at no additional upgrade cost thanks to a grant secured by the
city. This system is expected to offset roughly half of the electricity use
in the home, saving homeowners another $600 to $1,000 annually at
current electricity rates.
Finally, the low ongoing costs – given the new construction and the
homeowners association’s group buying power – result in a monthly
cost less than what many Shaker homeowners pay for just yard care
alone. Combined, these savings could add up to nearly half of the cost
of one of the townhomes, which start at $269,900 (based on availability
at press time and subject to change).
For young professionals looking for an easy downtown commute to
empty nesters who want to stay in Shaker Heights, the Townhomes of
Van Aken provides a welcome addition to housing choices in the city.
As Chip Marous says, this is a perfect fit for Shaker residents “who
are busy and on the move, want efficient condominium lifestyle living
where you don’t have to take care of the yard or shovel snow, and are in
a walkable neighborhood where everything is close by.”
Top: Spacious bathrooms with expert tile work bring a spa-like luxury.
Middle: Architectural details, like the windows in the master suite,
enhance the aesthetics.
BoTToM: First floor rooms make convenient office spaces or private
guest rooms.
For more information on
The Townhomes of Van Aken visit
townhomesofvanaken.com or
call 216-319-1199 to arrange a visit.
THE TOWNHOMES
OF VAN AKEN
shAker heighTs, ohio
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SHAKER LIFE | FALL 2017 11