Published: July 04, 2009 12:18 am      

Maplewood developer awaits subdivision approval

The first of up to 30 homes in a Richland Township development could be under construction later this year, developer Russell Kosinko said.

As proposed, the Maplewood Estates subdivision would extend in an area off of Mount Airy Drive from Pleasant Drive to the rear of Skyview Estates, another growing subdivision.

Development plans will come before Richland’s planning commission at its 7:30 p.m. meeting July 14 in the municipal building.

“As soon as the subdivision is approved, we are going to be pushing this very hard,” Kosinko said Friday.

The sluggish economy doesn’t worry Kosinko, who also owns Kosinko Enterprises home builders.

He specializes in insulated concrete-form construction, and he says the “green” alternative can help families get more house for their budget.

Made of stacked, interlocking blocks, the concrete-form homes go up faster than a conventional building and provide superior energy efficiency, Kosinko said.

“If they are paying $900 to $1,500 (a month) for a mortgage, they don’t want to spend another $600 to heat and cool it,” Kosinko said.

“With these homes, they can still make ends meet with no problem.”

Although he is not putting any covenants on Maplewood’s lots requiring insulated concrete-form construction or designating a contractor, Kosinko expects to build many of the homes through his company.

“I’d like to see them all ICF homes because they are green and energy efficient,” he said.

Maplewood will offer large, level lots in a rural setting.

Lots range in size from one to three acres and include wooded and open lots.

“Some have a trout stream running through them, and some have springs on them,” Kosinko said.

“I made a development that I would want to put a house on.”

In fact, Kosinko said he plans to build his own home in Maplewood.

Lots will be priced from the mid-$40,000s, he said, and the homes will likely sell for about $240,000 and up.