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Harbor Happenings

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For Living…

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]“We’re excited to introduce the Cottages at River Row as the newest addition to our pocket neighborhood concept at Heritage Harbor Ottawa, which allows us create distinctive residential experiences within the larger community,” said Tammy Barry, director of sales and marketing for Heritage Harbor Ottawa. “This enclave of homes was inspired by buyer demand for smaller, low-maintenance residences perfect for placing in our on-site rental management program, but also featuring the architectural aesthetics and high-quality design buyers want in a home they will enjoy themselves. These homes complement the neighborhood’s liberal rental policy, while also giving buyers everything they’re looking for in a vacation or weekend residence.”

Barry noted the Cottages at River Row neighborhood is also distinguished by its proximity to the new West Peninsula pool, as well as easy access to the riverfront and other resort amenities.

“These are the first pool-side homes we’ve built at Heritage Harbor, and they have a real ‘getaway’ vibe that comes with a pool being just steps from the back door,” said Barry. “Of course, the new West Peninsula pool will also be a terrific new amenity for all of our residents and guests to enjoy as part of the relaxing resort lifestyle at Heritage Harbor Ottawa. When it opens later this summer, residents will have two pools to choose from in the community, including our existing pool next to the marina.”

The new Cottages at River Row neighborhood will include three single-family homes, which are being built on a speculative basis, and four duplex residences. Two of the single-family homes will feature floor plans by nationally-renowned architects Peter Brachvogel and Stella Carosso of Bainbridge Island, Wash.-based Perfect Little House Company, which offers smaller home designs infused with quality and character.

“The Perfect Little House ideology, that you can live big in a well-designed smaller home, is a terrific fit for the lifestyle at Heritage Harbor,” said Barry. “The company’s floor plans have been prominently featured in popular vacation home communities in the Northwest, and we look forward to bringing more Perfect Little House designs to Heritage Harbor in the future. These two homes are a great way to showcase examples from their portfolio for our buyers.”

A third single family home was designed and is being built by Lisle, Ill.-based Rivercrest Development Group LLC.

Priced from $249,000 to $299,000 and ranging from 800 to 1,250 square feet, the three single-family homes have one to three bedrooms and 1 to 2½ baths. They are expected to be available for September move-in.

The four duplex residences at Cottages at River Row will measure approximately 1,300 square feet and will feature multiple outdoor spaces including front porches and rear decks. Priced from $259,000, the duplexes have two bedrooms and 2 ½ baths. Construction will start later this summer, with expected move-in by late fall.

Construction is already underway on the new West Peninsula pool, which is expected to open during the current boating season. An adjacent pool house will feature restroom facilities for swimmers. The pool is the second of many neighborhood-sized pools that will be built within the resort’s different pocket neighborhoods as the development grows.

Barry noted this spring has already been busy at Heritage Harbor, with construction wrapping up for the development’s “Flite” series of contemporary townhomes. Additionally, the community’s on-site restaurant reopened last month as the Red Dog Grill. The redesigned restaurant features harbor-side dining and a menu of contemporary American grill cuisine.

“It’s an exciting time at Heritage Harbor as more and more people discover Starved Rock Country as a vacation-home destination, with so much to offer in the way of hiking, biking, water sports and more,” said Barry. “Heritage Harbor is designed to be the ideal home base for enjoying everything that makes this region so unique, and it’s very rewarding to see this community grow and give even more residents an amazing waterfront lifestyle in this area.”

Heritage Harbor Ottawa features a full-service marina that can accommodate up to 450 wet slips. Open April 1 through October 31, the marina is equipped with a dual boat launch area, single-load floating docks, WiFi, fresh water, cable service, a full-service fuel dock, pump-out services, and car and trailer parking. Quest Water Sports’ Quest Express boating membership is available on-site, giving participants access to a fleet of boating equipment for an annual fee.

For information on Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort and available homes, call (815) 433-5000 or visit www.heritageharborottawa.com.

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July 4th Weekend at Heritage Harbor

Friday Night Live Music 5-8 pm—Casey Carrino

Friday Night FREE Outdoor Movies at dusk—“GREASE”

Ottawa’s Old Town Farmer’s Market 8-12:30 pm

Saturday Night Live Music 5-8 pm—“Sing With the Band”

Ottawa Fireworks Downtown or View from River at dusk

Sunday Pick up Volleyball game & Bags at 11 am

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard, Hike Starved Rock, Bike the I&M Canal and enjoy everything that Starved Rock Country has to offer!

Every Friday Night

FREE Outdoor Movies at Heritage Harbor at Dusk

Every Saturday Morning

8-12:30 pm Ottawa’s Old Town Market

Every Saturday Night

Music in the Park in Washington Square 6 pm

Dog Days of Summer Live Music at Heritage Harbor 8-11 pm

Other Upcoming Events

7/8-7/12 LaSalle County 4-H Show & Junior Fair

7/18 Saturday- Catfish Kayak Fishing Tournament

7/19 Sunday- Y Knot Cardboard Regatta

7/25 Summerfest at Skydive Chicago

7/28-7/30 IAFF-MG 10th Anniversary Motorcycle Rally

7/29-8/2 Ottawa River Festival 7/29 to 8/2[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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For Boating…

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For anyone who is passionate about boating, the idea of having a vacation home on the water – and near your boat – has probably crossed your mind. But with so many options out there for waterfront living, it’s important to think long and hard about what you want most in a waterfront property, and arm yourself with a check list of your top priorities.

Likewise, there are some special considerations that are unique to purchasing a second home and waterfront property. As the director of sales and marketing for Heritage Harbor Ottawa, a marina resort community along the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., just 90 minutes from Chicago, I’ve helped a number of homeowners through the process of evaluating what type of waterfront home is best for their lifestyle. Here are some of the most important things I tell any buyer – and boater – to keep in mind:

• Location: Your choice of location will certainly be directed by the type of boating you want to do (River? Inland lake? Large body of water?). A good first step is to spend a day boating in any location you are considering to make sure the experience is what you are looking for – particularly if you aren’t already familiar with the area. Also, when purchasing a second home, think about how close it is to your primary residence, and how much time you are willing to spend traveling there. Is it an easy drive, or are you likely to encounter traffic and congestion? Is it close enough that you can comfortably make the trip for a weekend, or even an overnight stay, without feeling exhausted from time in the car?

• Boating Amenities: Scope out the proximity of boating amenities, whether they are available within a community where you are considering purchasing a home or nearby on the body of water where you plan to boat. Where are the best options for fuel, pump-out, service and off-season storage? Are local marina facilities public or private? Of course, a marina-based community will offer boating amenities on-site, but be sure to check the age and condition of the facilities and costs for using them. Finally, are there interesting destinations to boat to, such as waterfront restaurants, festivals, fireworks displays, islands or beaches?

• Length of Season: Research the length of the boating season where you are thinking of purchasing. Case in point, while Heritage Harbor Ottawa is near Chicago, our boating season is typically one to two months longer than the city’s Lake Michigan harbors thanks to differences in weather and water conditions. but thanks to differences in weather and water conditions, our boating season is typically one to two months longer than the city’s Lake Michigan harbors.

• Home and Lifestyle Decisions: Look for a home that complements the lifestyle you want to enjoy on the waterfront. Does the home have decks and outdoor spaces for enjoying water views, and easy access to the waterfront? Do you plan to have friends and family stay with you frequently? If so, look for flexible spaces, such as lofts or dens, which can accommodate a variety of sleeping arrangements. Open floor plans, with the kitchen flowing into the living space, are popular in vacation homes since it makes it easy for large groups to enjoy time together.

Your storage needs may be very different in a waterfront home than your primary residence. Is there space on the property to store your boat and trailer during the off-season, or are there dry dock facilities nearby? Does the home have space in the garage or a storage closet for all the extra gear and toys you are likely to accumulate living on the water – from kayaks and paddle boards to tubes, skis and assorted rafts, not to mention outdoor furniture?

• Nearby Recreational Activities: To get maximum enjoyment out of your second home, look for a location near other activities besides boating that interest you – from dining and shopping options to opportunities for hiking and biking. For example, at Heritage Harbor Ottawa, many of our residents appreciate that we are located within Starved Rock Country, a popular recreational region with four state parks, miles of biking trails, and quaint towns where they can try new restaurants for dinner or visit charming boutiques.

• Financial Considerations: Make sure you are informed about additional costs associated with owning any waterfront home, such as requirements for carrying flood insurance, or HOA fees to cover maintenance of waterfront and boating amenities including docks, marinas and beaches. Also, investigate opportunities to offer your waterfront property as a vacation rental when you are not using it, which can be a great way to offset the cost of owning a second home. This can be a very turnkey process if the community has an onsite rental management program, such as the one we offer homeowners at Heritage Harbor.

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July Harbor Happenings

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