Neighborhood of the week: Lake Forest West

If you've been wondering what's happening at the corner of Ramsey Road and Canfield Avenue recently, wonder no more. What's happening is the opening of Lake Forest West.

Lake Forest West is one of the newest neighborhoods on the northern edge of Coeur d'Alene. But its location, nestled as it is amongst established neighborhoods, affords the best of both worlds. Homeowners can help determine how their new community develops while taking advantage of the amenities afforded by the other, older communities around them.

And then, there are the trees. The beautiful, mature, towering trees.

"Buyers love that the builders are leaving as many trees as they can," said Brad Richmond, a Realtor with Northwest Realty Group, representing Hallmark Homes. "They left as many trees as they could to give it that mature feel. The trees are the big thing."

Termac Construction and Hallmark Homes are the builders operating in Lake Forest West. One of the benefits of having quality builders in this neighborhood is that the homes aren't a jumbled mix of professional and owner-built houses. There's a consistency that speaks of care and thoughtful planning.

Hallmark Homes is striving for that "northwest Craftsman feel" with their homes, featuring earth tones, natural materials, and houses tucked into the trees. The lots in Lake Forest West are wide, averaging 80 feet, but not super-deep, Richmond pointed out. The layout is perfect for homeowners who want elbow room, but would rather not spend their weekends maintaining a large yard. "There's plenty of room to store your toys," Richmond said.

In Lake Forest West, Hallmark Homes is including a wide variety of features usually considered upgrades by other builders. "Hallmark offers the best standard features in the business," Richmond said. And then there are the warranties: lifetime on the roofing, lifetime on the laminate floor, and 10-year structural.

In the bath and kitchen, you'll find granite, with tile backsplashes. Elsewhere are hardwood floors. Gas fireplaces. Staggered Huntwood custom cabinets in the kitchen, with crown moulding. The doorways are arched and the ceilings soar to 9 feet, lending an elegant, spacious feel to the living spaces. Upgraded Craftsman trim packages. For your comfort, there's central air conditioning and the most efficient furnace in the industry.

Outside, the front and rear yards are landscaped with sprinkler systems. Homes have HardiePlank siding, carriage-style garage doors, stone columns and beam accents.

Homeowners select their own lighting, flooring, etc., from specified vendors, so you'll play an important role in creating your dream home.

A special feature of these homes is the covered back patios, which come in a variety of sizes and are included in the price. Picture yourself lounging on your patio on warm summer evenings, surrounded by those silent, towering pines.

Lake Forest West is being developed in approximately 45-lot phases; there will eventually be 175 homes in this neighborhood. Prices of lot and home packages start at $250,000 and go up to $350,000.

HOA dues are $300/year, which cover maintenance of the common areas and beautiful monuments that grace the entrance to the community. The wide streets are city-maintained.

Centrally located with easy access to US 95 and Interstate 90, Lake Forest West is close to schools, shopping, restaurants and other services. Sidewalks meander through the neighborhood lead to the extensive trail system crisscrossing our area, so you're only a quick bike ride away from the Kroc Center, Riverstone, or downtown Coeur d'Alene. Or take the Centennial Trail to the lake or Spokane Valley; the possibilities are endless.

There's a lot of interest in Lake Forest West. Hallmark has two spec homes under construction and has already sold three lots, and they haven't officially opened yet.

Speaking of opening, the Grand Opening is Saturday, October 18 from 12-4 p.m. at the model home, located at 6816 N. Glensford Drive. Stop by and enter to win a side-by-side refrigerator valued at $1,000 from Fred's Appliance. They'll have refreshments, and KPND and K102 will be doing radio remotes from 1-4 p.m. "It'll be an old-fashioned barbecue with hot dogs, chips and pop," Richmond said.

There will be other prizes as well; enter by stopping at the model home Oct. 11-17 from 12-5 p.m. daily, or at the Grand Opening on the 18th.

If you're curious about what's happening at the corner of Ramsey and Canfield, call Brad Richmond at (208) 661-7516 or Jane Schippers at (208) 755-2551 for more information. Or stop by the Grand Opening on Saturday, Oct. 18 for a hot dog and a tour of the beautiful model home, and to learn more about life at Lake Forest West.

If there's a neighborhood that you'd like to see featured, please contact Beth Hanggeli at (208) 659-8367 or bhanggeli@cdapress.com.