Heritage Harbor Ottawa Blog

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Articles Tagged with: Lifestyle

Step into a Starved Rock Country Spring

There really is nothing so spectacular as the arrival of spring in the Midwest”

There really is nothing so spectacular as the arrival of spring in the Midwest.  After the serenity of the beautiful winter season, the segue into spring can seem like a slow tease, but if you look closely, the signs of spring are all around. Trees and bushes waiting to burst forth in vibrant shades of green, hardy spring bulbs pushing up through the ground in a kaleidoscope of color, birds chirping and bunnies dancing as they prepare for the arrival of their babies. You don’t have to look far to witness the renewal of the natural landscape.  

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New Marina Office and Boat Slips Add to Waterfront Fun at Heritage Harbor

“Today’s open and versatile ranch design, offers harmonious, breathtaking living spaces and, while historically the choice of empty-nesters, has surged in popularity with buyers of all ages”

Boater and non-boaters appreciate the state-of-art-marina and breathtaking water views at Heritage Harbor Resort in Ottawa, where a new floating marina office and fun water activities add to its appeal. Situated along the Illinois River, Heritage Harbor Resort is a premier vacation destination, offering second-to-none amenities and a variety of homes, including condominiums, villas, townhomes, single-family homes and custom residences, for purchase or rent, all centered around the state-of-the-art 152 slip marina.

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Ranch Style Homes with Marina Access Available this Summer at Heritage Harbor Resort

“Today’s open and versatile ranch design, offers harmonious, breathtaking living spaces and, while historically the choice of empty-nesters, has surged in popularity with buyers of all ages”

If you’re looking for the ease and style of a ranch plan in a recreationally-rich community, you’ll want to visit Heritage Harbor Resort in Ottawa, where a collection single-level living designs, at various price points, are available, some for summer delivery.

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PREMIER RIVERFRONT HOMESITES ALMOST SOLD OUT!

Only four picturesque, Riverfront homesites, overlooking the Illinois River, remain for sale at Pinnacle Pointe”

Only four picturesque, Riverfront homesites, overlooking the Illinois River, remain for sale at Pinnacle Pointe, a premier neighborhood of 23 custom homes within the larger Heritage Harbor Resort community in Ottawa. 

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Country Living is What You Make It!

At Heritage Harbor, we enjoy all the perks of ‘country life’ without all the labor country life usually requires.

Country Living is What You Make It!

What image comes to mind when you hear the phrase “country living?”  Oftentimes, what we imagine country living to entail includes the notion of rustic, farmhouse living on acres of land surrounded by animals and lots of work.  What if we were to tell you that country living is what you make it?!

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‘Fall’ in Love with Heritage Harbor and Starved Rock Country

The natural beauty of the trees attracts visitors from far and wide as they burst forth in blazing magnificent color. The trees truly show us how beautiful ‘letting go’ can be!

As we enter the final quarter of the year, we can’t help but wistfully long for the halcyon days of summer. However, there’s a sweet resignation to the start of autumn and the restorative and restful effect it has on us—mind, body, and soul. Fall is so much more than pumpkin spice and bonfires, although those things certainly boost our enjoyment of this beloved season in the Midwest.

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New Property Trends in Spring 2018 

The Resurgence of the pocket neighborhood” in the Midwest 

 

Do you remember a time when communities were built to last? Where houses and cottages were developed around common areas in such a way that people actually got to know each other, and families became lifelong friends simply because they shared a block or a garden or a driveway? Do you know that neighborhoods used to be walkable, secure and clean? If you do, and all of the above are favorable in your eyes, then you’ll be happy to hear that “pocket communities” are coming back into vogue. 

 

No, we’re not talking about the tiny house trend 

 

Okay, let’s face it – tiny houses are…tiny! And while the tiny house trend is serving those among us who prioritize travel and other lifestyle experiences over property investment, tiny houses aren’t really, well, big enough, to satisfy everyone. 

 

And no, you don’t live “in your neighbor’s pockets” in a pocket neighborhood, either 

 

We’re talking, here, about “a type of planned community” (thanks Wikipedia) that is made up of homes that are built around a common area. This is done with one primary goal: to promote the growth and development of close-knit communities, where residents actually connect on an authentic, meaningful level. Because, if we’re honest, we’ve lost the strength that comes with a healthy community – and instead we’re breathing auto fumes and living isolated lives in towns and cities that were built more for cars than for people. 

 

Walkable towns and pleasant memories 

 

Tom Heimsoth, Developer of Heritage Harbor in Ottawa, Illinois (a tastefully designed marina development made up of waterfront pocket neighborhoods) remarks that “…memories made in one’s earlier years in the context of close-knit communities, especially in nature, and on or near open water, are doubtless the most cherished memories in life. People are showing that fast-paced, isolated, overly consumeristic lives make for a depressed, anxious and lonely society. Walkable, secure and people-centric neighborhoods are a vital key for us to regain the lifestyle our souls were designed to live and enjoy”. 

 

Spring Builds at Heritage Harbor in 2018 

 

Situated along the Illinois Waterway in Ottawa IL, Heritage Harbor is breaking new ground (if you will) in rebuilding that close-knit, beautiful community that was commonplace in time past. 

It’s most recent feature, and the big attraction for Spring 2018, is the introduction of Port Place, the Harbor’s newest pocket neighborhood. Port Place is located in the West Peninsula neighborhood of the development. Heritage Harbor’s architectural designer (and the developer of the project), Kevin Donovan, says that the pocket neighborhood will include fourteen residential lots spread along Port Place drive. These lots will be made up of 10 single-family homes and four duplex townhome units. 

The pocket neighborhood is built around a purely delightful common area, and is situated just a few steps from the riverfront park, neighborhood pool, and harbor boat slips. The center of this charming area will take the form of an intimate park space, complete with a fire pit and dining platform. 

 

Cottage-style designs for pocket-style neighborhoods 

 

Pocket neighborhoods, while not being anywhere near as small as the tiny house configuration, are typically made up of compact housing that resembles more of a cottage theme. At Port Place, residents have the option of either ranch-style or two-story cottage units. Both plans offer optional basements and first floor master bedrooms, and all fourteen homes will boast two-car garages.  

 

What to expect from your pocket neighborhood cottage this Spring 

 

These high-quality homes, which have been designed for maximum spatial and energy efficiency, are graced with many unique features. The two-story model unit, which will showcase many of the options available to buyers of new homes in Port Place, will be completed by Mid Summer 2018. The home will have 1,700 SF between the first and second levels, with an additional 1,000 SF in a 9’ finished basement. It will also have three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, with an additional double bunk bed nook on the second level. The property will also come with a central private courtyard, and will possess the upgraded finishes, fireplace, built-in bar, Sonos sound system, and upgraded Miele appliances that will be on offer to home owners in the pocket neighborhood. 

To get in on the pocket-place magic, we suggest that you hop on over to Heritage Harbor and book your discovery tour! 

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