Housing Bulletin

Smart Tech’s Bungalows for the 21st Century

In Logan Square, East Pilsen, and other Chicago neighborhoods, new residences are going up—and being swiftly bought—that go by the brand name Smart Tech Homes. But they could also be called the bungalows of the 21st century.

Like the bungalows that proliferated in Chicago in the early 20th century, Smart Tech Homes are designed to provide relatively affordable housing for the middle class. And like their predecessors, they come with standardized but stylish looks and room for expansion as the family can afford it.

Smart Tech is headed by Irina Druk; Karen Biazar and Staci Slattery of North Clybourn Group are serving as sales agents. Since January 2011, the company has closed 20 sales, and has eight more homes under contract and another ten homes under construction and for sale.

Price is key to the success so far. The 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2.5-bath homes start at $339,000 in locations like East Pilsen and pop up to $499,000 in the hotter Palmer Square neighborhood. Donna Kwapis-Velez bought the first Smart Tech home; she’s still pleased to have “bought a new house in the city for $403,000. That’s amazing.” She says her husband, Bill Velez, is a fan of the original bungalows; they looked at some of those but went for the energy-efficient Smart Tech Home instead.

Click through the slides below for a look at Smart Tech’s houses.

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