12/17/02 - Dubin Residential Goes Electric With New Fireplace Model
12/17/02 - Dubin Residential Goes Electric With New Fireplace Model That's as Realistic as Ventless Gas Units.
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Dubin Residential Goes Electric With New Fireplace Model That's as Realistic as Ventless Gas Units
Upgrade available at Dubin communities in Lake View, West Loop and Evanston.
It may not be as earth shaking as when Bob Dylan went electric in 1966, but Dubin Residential's decision to offer the latest generation of electric fireplaces at three of its developments may raise eyebrows among some homebuyers.
Leonard Koenig, sales and marketing director with Dubin Residential, can understand their initial doubts. Before he was won over, he too held a dim opinion of electric fireplaces.
"When the distributor first approached me, I couldn't have been more skeptical. All I could think of were the old versions with the blowing streamers and unconvincing glowing logs," Koenig said. "But with this new model, seeing is believing. It is light years ahead of its predecessors and looks as realistic as any ventless gas fireplace."
The new model is the Deluxe OptiFlame Fireplace by Ontario-based Dimplex North America Ltd. Dubin is the first builder in Chicago to offer the deluxe model, and homebuyers can judge its realism for themselves by visiting the sales center at Welbourn Row, Dubin's new West Lake View condominium community at Wellington and Clybourn avenues.
The Deluxe OptiFlame simulates a three-dimensional fire by bouncing flame-like reflections off a refractory mirror mounted behind realistically smoldering embers and logs. Dubin is offering the electric fireplace as a $2,000 upgrade, which includes a ceramic hearth and surround. Buyers can upgrade further with a selection of mantels, wood finishes, and trim surrounds.
Dubin will also offer the deluxe electric fireplace at two townhome developments: Arcadia Place in the West Loop and The Courts of Evanston. By spring of next year, a built-out electric model will also be installed at The Courts of Evanston sales center, Koenig said.
"Dimplex has been working on this technology for five years," said Larry Goodwin, general manager of Flamemaster, the Chicagoland distributor. "The new electric fireplaces have been selling well for a couple years in California. It's taken them longer to emerge here because Chicago has traditionally been a wood-burning market. But in recent years, large numbers of Chicago homeowners are embracing ventless fireplaces.
"The great thing about our deluxe model is that it is powered by standard 120-volt outlet electricity," Goodwin said. "This means it can be installed anywhere in a home without the expense of running a gas line hookup. Just flip a switch, and you have an instant fireplace."
Goodwin noted several other benefits of the deluxe electric model:
* The cost of electric and ventless gas units is the same.
* Energy costs compare favorably with ventless gas units. Depending on the setting, an electric unit costs about 7 to 12 cents per hour to power, and a gas unit costs 7 to 13 cents an hour.
* No concerns exist regarding gas fumes or unvented carbon monoxide exceeding safe levels.
* Electric units can double as space heaters. The unit's lowest setting is for ambiance only, but the middle setting generates 5,115 British Thermal Units of heat - enough to take the chill out of a large bedroom or family room, or keep a 12-foot-by-13-foot room comfortably warm. (The highest setting generates twice as much heat, but requires a 220-volt source of electricty.)
"Ventless gas models remain an excellent option, and we will continue to offer them at all of our communities," Koenig said. "But by offering a high-quality electric fireplace, we're giving homebuyers more choices and flexibility in which to inexpensively furnish their homes."
He added that Arcadia Place and The Courts of Evanston will continue to include ventless gas fireplaces as a standard living room feature, but the electric fireplace provides the most practical option for installing in the master bedroom and/or first-floor family room. At Welbourn Row, he expects the living room to be the most popular installation location.
Buyers can visit the Welbourn Row sales center at 2975 N. Clybourn Ave., one mile east of the Kennedy Expressway at the southeast corner of Wellington and Clybourn. If heading east on Interstate 90, take the 46A/California Avenue exit. Turn left onto Diversey, and left on Clybourn. If heading west on I-90, take the 46B/W Diversey exit, go east on Diversey and turn left onto Clybourn. Contact (773) 528-8000.
Phase I of Welbourn Row consists of two, four-story brick buildings with 15 condominiums each. Five floor plans range in size from 875 to 1,206 square feet and offer one bedroom with a den or two bedrooms, and one to two baths. All homes feature balconies, 9-foot ceilings and open, contemporary layouts. Base prices range from $216,900 to $276,900.
Arcadia Place offers 34 three-story townhomes with two to three bedrooms, two to three baths, attached two-car garages, balconies and roof decks. Ranging in size from 2,000 to 2,140 square feet, the homes are located just south of Madison Street on Aberdeen and within walking distance of the Loop. Pre-construction prices range from $379,900 to $499,900. Contact (312) 738-1818.
The Courts of Evanston is a 90-townhome community located at Chicago Avenue and South Boulevard. The homes feature three levels of outdoor space and attached, two-car garages. Six floor plans offer 2,200 to 2,774 square feet, two to three bedrooms, and 2 to 21/2 baths. Base prices range from $368,900 to $458,900. A seventh plan, base-priced at $649,900, features 4,032 square feet, four bedrooms, 31/2 baths, a den, family room and two-car garage. First deliveries are expected in late spring 2003. Contact (847) 328-1888.
All Dubin sales centers are open Saturday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, also visit www.dubinresidential.com.
Building townhomes, condominiums and lofts in Chicago since the early 1990s, Dubin Residential has earned a reputation for quality and value. It is currently developing nearly 300 homes in the Chicago area. These include Ainslie Row in West Albany Park, Buck City Lofts in West Bucktown, and Emerson Point in Rogers Park.
Prices subject to change.