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Will $430K Pricetag for 35th and Parnell Townhomes Attract 'Classy' People?

By Casey Cora | September 8, 2014 5:11am
 Shengshi Square will feature four townhome buildings, each with six units. The 2,200 square-foot homes will have three bedrooms, 2½ baths, balconies, two-car garages and granite countertops, among other amenities.
Shengshi Square will feature four townhome buildings, each with six units. The 2,200 square-foot homes will have three bedrooms, 2½ baths, balconies, two-car garages and granite countertops, among other amenities.
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DNAinfo/Casey Cora

BRIDGEPORT — Developers are hoping to break ground on new luxury townhomes at 35th and Parnell as soon as November.

Shengshi Square will feature four townhome buildings, each with six units. The 2,200-square-foot homes will have three bedrooms, 2½ baths, balconies, two-car garages and granite countertops, among other amenities.

Prices start at $429,000.

"It's not cheap, but I think it's reasonable," said C.M. Chan, the project's architect.

Located a few blocks west of U.S. Cellular Field, the townhomes would bring new housing to a commercial stretch of busy 35th Street.

Jose Villenueva, 50, was raised at the southwest corner of 35th and Parnell, right across the street from the planned project. A suburban factory worker, he now lives there with his family and rents out the top floor.

He said neighbors are excited about the prospect of new development on the long-vacant lot, which used to contain an auto parts dealer, commercial laundry and a dry food warehouse.

"No more rabbits, rats and raccoons. For that type of price, I think they can get some classy people here. It's not like they are building a ghetto. It looks like these are going to be nice homes," he said.

Chan said developers Shi Cai Zheng and Shi Tan Zheng, who won a zoning change in June after representation from the powerful Daley and Georges law firm, would like to start construction as soon as possible but "the city is very slow" to grant building permits.

"After we finish the first one we'll set up a model home inside. We think if there's a really nice model the rest will sell well," Chain said.

And if they don't?

Chan said the developers aren't worried about that — the quality of the construction and proximity to Downtown and the expressways make it an attractive option for professionals.

As for the price, Chan said the price of the homes is in line with other luxury developments like the Lexington homes located roughly a half-mile away at 37th and Sangamon and the fancy brick pads on Parnell just north of 35th, which he said fetched prices in the $700,000 range.

In fact, Chan, a Chinatown-based architect, said he just might buy one himself.

"That's my dream, to live in a house I designed," he said.

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