The Enclave At Galewood Crossings To Redefine Historic Galewood Yards Site
New Single And Multi-Family Home Community By Red Seal Homes Will Redevelop Site Rich In Railroad History

Chicago, IL - (May 19, 2006) - For decades, Galewood Yards on Chicago’s far west side played a part in the long and storied history of railroading in the city. This 50-acre site at 1900 N. Central Avenue running from Laramie to Austin has not heard the rumble of a freight train or the chugging of a steam engine for quite some time now, as the property has been sitting vacant for years. About three years ago, Red Seal Homes of Northbrook became interested in this property, because it offered a chance for the company to do what they specialize in, that is, creating new residential housing on a former industrial site. The opportunity to create a new urban neighborhood was born and Red Seal began due diligence on the project now officially known as The Enclave at Galewood Crossings.

“Galewood Yards is the largest undeveloped piece of land remaining within the city limits of Chicago and we wanted to create something truly special on this historic piece of property that would benefit not only those who will live at this new community, but a redevelopment that would pay dividends for the entire Galewood neighborhood,” said Brian Hoffman, vice chairman and CFO of Red Seal Development Corporation. “In collaboration with the City of Chicago, the Master Developer Grand Central Center for Business LLC has created a progressive mixed-use neighborhood that will feature a 14-screen movie theater, a Laborers International Union training center and 187 new single and multi-family homes projected to be priced from the mid $200s. This pricing structure should prove affordable to households near the median income for Chicago and has been devised to encourage those already living on the northwest side of Chicago to consider moving to this new development.”

Pre-construction home sales will begin at Galewood Crossings on May 20th, 2006, when the on-site full service sales and financing center officially opens.

This 3,000 square foot facility will be staffed with experienced sales representatives and through a special arrangement with Northern Trust Bank, a dedicated mortgage banker will also work on-site to provide tailored financing and custom mortgage programs to meet the needs of buyers.

The history of the Galewood Yards site began in the 1860s, when President Abraham Lincoln signed documents for a land grant of the property to become railroad property. That railroad ultimately became the famous Milwaukee Road.

The Galewood Yards were considered a major freight yard for the railroad, with a number of industries served out of the yard. The yards serviced the Milwaukee Road’s line to Iowa. Galewood was three miles west of where the Milwaukee’s West Line split from its North Line.

Railroad buffs, or ‘railfans’ as they are known, spent decades around the bustling Galewood Yards site, snapping photographs and enjoying the sites of their passion. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus train made stops at Galewood over the years during the circus’ stay in Chicago.

Galewood Yards proud railroad history is also featured prominently in a 2006 calendar called “Steam Era Freight Scenes,’ in which the month of June is devoted to a picture of a general view of the Galewood Yards as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad in April, 1943.

With the history of the property in mind, Red Seal set about with the Master Developer to create a new city community that would represent the very best of urban architectural features set among private parks and open spaces. To this end, the company has created a mix of single-family homes, condominiums and two types of townhomes. This assortment will effectively meet the housing needs of the Galewood community.

Red Seal is also known for not only providing architecturally interesting and appealing home designs, but for also designing a streetscape and overall landscape plan that creates an overall sense of community. This was especially important in redevelopment of the Galewood property, since the abandoned property had become an eyesore within the community and Red Seal wanted to change the perception of this land from blight to right.

“We looked at Galewood Crossings as a model for neighborhood design. The homes are clustered to allow for ample green space between them, with adequate setbacks from the roads and carefully designed fencing to designate the neighborhood part of the property from the commercial interests and theater on the west side of the site,” Hoffman said. “We took care to design a neighborhood around a two-acre central park and a series of smaller parks with a separate dog park for pet owners. There is even a tot lot in a tree-lined corner of the central park.”

The Enclave at Galewood Crossings is located at 1900 N. Central Avenue, just east of the Central Avenue Bridge between Grand and North Avenue on Chicago’s northwest side. Red Seal has planned 187 homes on 15 acres. There will be 17 3,000 square foot single-family homes on oversized 30-foot wide lots; 40 smaller single-family homes; 54 condominiums; 53 27-foot wide Crossings townhomes and 23 traditional three-story townhomes. The community will feature alley-load garages for each home.

Prices start at $425,900 for the single-family homes; $299,900 for the townhomes and $239,900 for the condominiums. All pre-construction pricing is preliminary and is subject to change.

The theater on the west side of the Galewood site will be a 14-screen Cineplex operated by Kerasotes Theatres. The Cineplex would seat more than 2,700 people and will feature its own parking, with 466 planned spaces.

The union training center will be a 60,000 square foot building, which expects to train between 1,500 and 2,000 people yearly.

Easy access to the Galewood Crossings sales center can be had by the new Central Avenue Bridge.

“With all the news stories that have been written about the redevelopment of this site, we are very pleased that the project has been approved and that it is going to come to fruition as we envisioned it. A mixed-use redevelopment like Galewood Crossings pays dividends to the existing community in many ways and we’re looking forward to being a part of this neighborhood’s path through the 21st century,” said Hoffman.

The Enclave at Galewood Crossings is located at Access Drive (1900 N. Central Avenue) in Chicago, between Grand Avenue and North Avenue. To visit, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Central Avenue north, exit at the eastbound bridge exit (just north of North Avenue), east to the community. The sales center will be opening May 20th. For more information, call Red Seal at (773) 237-8900 or visit www.redsealhomes.com.