A wave of development is sweeping through the Village of Skokie, and Luxury on Lincoln, an elegant new townhome community, is part of the excitement.

Luxury on Lincoln is designed, built and brokered by award-winning Nea Maya Real Estate & Development, LLC in Morton Grove, a 34-year-old family-owned business run by the husband and wife team of Zach and Aida Joseph. Zach serves as the developer and Aida, managing broker.

“Everyone wants luxury and extra square footage at affordable pricing,” Zach says. “Luxury on Lincoln offers luxury in every sense of the word, huge open-concept floor plans, along with affordability and a fantastic location.”

The development suits a wide variety of buyers: downsizing empty nesters seeking upscale, maintenance-free living; first-time buyers who want to be close to work in the city; and families looking to settle down in an area with desirable schools and plenty of culture to keep their children engaged.

A talented designer who has won several industry awards for her kitchen and bath creations, Aida’s sharp sense of style adds value to the broker-client relationship.

“Most of the homes sold on the blueprint, before we even broke ground,” Aida says. She adds that the units are already 50 percent sold and estimates construction will be completed by spring of 2021 at the latest.

An easy commute

One of the closest suburbs to downtown Chicago, Skokie is about 20 minutes away from the city, giving homeowners the best of both worlds. “A lot of my buyers came from Chicago’s Lincoln Park,” Aida says. “They cannot afford the same quality and size in Lincoln Park they can here.” For residents who prefer to take public transportation, the CTA Yellow Line station is within walking distance and the Metra line is only a 10-minute drive away.

Still, it isn’t necessary to leave the area for dining, shopping and culture. Skokie has it all: restaurants, a quaint downtown shopping district, Old Orchard Mall, the Jeff Award-winning Northlight Theatre, an ice skating arena, state-of-the-art library, parks and museums.

Luxury on Lincoln has a total of 16 townhomes, four units per building and two buildings on both Lincoln and Floral avenues. Shaped like a triangle, the development at its tip overlooks Veterans Park, a meticulously landscaped green space with flowers and benches for relaxing and taking in the view. In the center is an upscale brick courtyard with overflow parking for guests and plenty of room for children to ride bikes or play hopscotch and four square.

Affordable luxury

Starting at $525,000, the townhomes at Luxury on Lincoln, at 8130 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie, come in 2,500-square-foot and 3,000-square-foot floor plans. Both options feature three bedrooms; four bathrooms; an attached, heated two-and-a-half-car garage; and an outdoor living space off the kitchen large enough for patio furniture and a grill.

Built like single-family homes, each unit has its own plumbing — which means if a neighbor’s pipe bursts, your clients won’t have to pay for it — mailboxes at the front door and the highest level of soundproofing to keep out noise. An association fee of $150 a month covers landscaping, snow and trash removal, and partial building insurance. The fee protects homeowners’ investments by ensuring the community will always maintain its curb appeal. But the intimate nature of the overall development process will also help to maintain value over the long run.

“I treat each job as if it were my own home or a family member’s home,” Zach says. “I don’t cut corners, and I am always honest. Some of my greatest friendships began as clients.”

All of the homes include high-end finishes that most builders consider upgrades, helping buyers stay within their budget without sacrificing desires while building the home of their dreams.

“Everything that went inside these townhomes is American made,” Aida says. “Nothing fell off the back of a truck. In a year, if something breaks down, you have a source. Everything comes with a warranty.”

Thoughtful design

Each unit has three levels, 9-foot-high ceilings and large windows capturing sunlight from the east and west. The first floor has a mudroom, a powder room and, depending on the address, either a bonus/family room (as seen in the units on Lincoln Avenue) or an office (on Floral Avenue).

“The steps going up are comfortable,” Aida says. “You have two to three steps and a landing. You’re not out of breath going from one level to the next.”

Moving up to the second level, the thoughtfully designed L-shaped kitchen is equipped with a large island covered in waterfall quartz, perfect for prepping meals or pulling up a stool and relaxing while someone else cooks. Soft-close cabinets by Minnesota-based Crystal Cabinets are 42 inches high and finished in crown molding. Completing the contemporary look are high-end stainless-steel appliances and a large window to draw in sunlight.

Outside the kitchen is an outdoor living space, ideal for alfresco dining or entertaining guests. The kitchen itself opens to a lovely breakfast area, spacious family room and dining room, generously sized for large gatherings.

A private oasis, the third floor has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a laundry room with plenty of space for sorting and folding clothes. The master bath boasts a freestanding Kohler tub, walk-in shower with frameless glass doors, and custom vanities with marble countertops. Equipped with shelving dividers and organizers to keep it tidy, the walk-in closet will hold clothes for all seasons.

Appeal for hard-to-please house hunters

Among those who have already decided to invest in Luxury on Lincoln, brokers might recognize some common themes. Aida recalls two empty nesters from Highland Park who found what they were looking for there, after much searching. “They went to so many properties and did not see any development that appealed to them for quality of construction as much as this did,” she said.

For a young doctor and his wife, a nurse, it was the location and the ability to customize finishes to suit their specific style that most appealed to them. They recently purchased a townhome on Lincoln Avenue, opting to use the first-floor flex space as a guest bedroom, which will be convenient when their in-laws visit.

“Almost everyone who bought these properties had the same reaction,” Aida says. “When they say, ‘We’ve seen so many properties, and nothing comes close to this,’ it’s a huge compliment.”

To learn more, visit www.luxuryonlincoln.com.