River Glen Homes in Libertyville Opens Door to LIFstyle Debut

A custom 65-unit residential development that broke ground at the end of 2015 also broke a long dry spell in the area: it is the largest new residential construction in the Libertyville area in more than a decade.

Its size doesn't come at the expense of quality, either. Mark Loeb, a highly regarded local developer for the past 35 years, is at the center of the upscale River Glen Homes.

The first homes are slated for move-in by early fall and the overall 26-acre development is projected to roll out over the next three years.

River Glen also marks the official launch of a collaboration that brings Loeb's firm, Interlacken Construction, under the same business roof with two other firms. They are Loeb Design Group, a kitchen / interior design firm, and Furniture by LaurieA an artisanal furniture design company.

Both are owned by Laurie Loeb, Mark's wife, and the formal affiliation of the companies reflects their growing synergy over the years. They have dubbed their collective LIFstyle, with "LIF" flowing from the first letter of the three enterprises.

"The name perfectly captures what we are all about because we are focused on creating environments that support a lifestyle of high quality and unparalleled comfort," said Laurie Loeb. "Mark and I have been teaming up for years professionally, and this is a natural evolution of that process."

"We're there from the concept to the keys," said Mark Loeb. "We take our clients every step of the way, from the beginning of the design to the installation of the last piece of hardware. Whether with River Glen, or another project, people can tap into one of our services, or come for all, and we are here to amplify the simple life people are striving for."

Loeb Design Group was founded by Laurie Loeb in 2005. Since then, she has designed premium-fitted kitchen furniture and customer cabinetry for hundreds of clients. In 2014, building on her passion for furniture, she launched Furniture by LaurieA, with Jennifer Kraus serving as both companies' director of operations.

Under the LIFstyle umbrella, the companies are all making their mark on River Glen, situated on the southeast corner of River Road and Route 120. With five designs of custom-inspired homes, ranging from the upper $500,000s to the mid-$600,000s range, the development unveiled its model home in mid-March.

Since then, River Glen has elicited enthusiastic feedback about the 2,700-square-foot showpiece that highlights the handiwork of Mary Cook Associates, an elite model home interior designer.

The development will appeal to a variety of prospective buyers, especially empty nesters who are looking to scale down from larger homes without a reduction in the quality craftsmanship and array of amenities to which they have grown accustomed, said Mark Loeb.

The Loebs are especially in tune with the market's needs, given the fact that each brings a perspective and experience driven by their status as early and late Baby Boomers.

Chris Shaw, a Gurnee resident and president of Riverside Management & Leasing Corp., is partnering on River Glen along with financier Merrill Barden through River Glen Capital Group LLC. Also involved in River Glen is BSB Design, an architectural design firm with nationwide scope whose local office is in Palatine.

"We have assembled a 'dream team' of professionals who are committed to excellence," Mark Loeb said. "After such a lull in the residential market, it's exciting to be part of something that adds so much vibrancy to the area."

"It has been about seven years since people in this area have had the experience of going to a model home in a development," he added. "Our model home, with its open-floor concept, volume ceilings, tall windows and other amenities has created a 'wow' factor from the moment people set foot inside."

Although the kitchen, sun room, dining room, and great room have been very well received, the most compelling aspect of the River Glen homes' layout options is that most feature a master bedroom on the first floor.

"The response to that has been overwhelmingly positive," said Loeb.

River Glen provides the best of rural charm and swift access to the rest of the region: it is nestled on 26 acres of rolling, wooded terrain, yet is only a quarter-mile west of the Tri-State Tollway. The community is close to recreational outlets as well, as it flows directly to the Des Plaines River Trail and Independence Grove, the crown jewel of the Lake County Forest Preserve.

Libertyville's downtown and Metra station are a 10-minute car ride-or an easily navigable 20-minute bicycle ride-away.

"In my 35 years as a developer, I have never built in a better area on a more exciting piece of property," Mark Loeb added. "It is really a one-of-a-kind piece of property that is on a road with exceptional rural charm."

A lifelong resident of Libertyville, he began his own business in 1981 after working with his father, Barney, for a decade in the residential development business. Barney Loeb, along with his partner, Quinn Hogan, formed L & H Builders in the 1950s. They were the founding fathers of Vernon Hills in 1958, among many other achievements.

Since forming his own company, Mark Loeb has built over 350 homes in the area. Of the five developments built along the River Road Corridor since the late 1980s, he has built more homes than any other builder.

That quantity has not come at the expense of quality, with Realtors routinely emphasizing "Loeb Built Home" in their marketing of properties that he has developed.

For more information about River Glen Homes, visit www.RiverGlenHomes.com or call 847-362-3230.

Online at www.lifstyleco.com, LIFstyle is passionately dedicated to the creation of customized work with integrity and quality. Through our products and services, we build relationships and community forged through trust and mutual respect.