Gannett Newspapers, May 11, 1997.

When William G. Balter entered the new single-family home building industry in 1989, a recession and tight economy made for rough waters in the market.

People who cold afford to move into a newly built home wanted top value for their dollars, which some developers couldn't provide depending on their overhead was Balter who with Rober t H. Wilder Jr. co-owns Elmsford-based Wilder Balter Partners LLC.

As the economy and single-family housing market continues to make broad improvements in 1997, little has changed as regards customers' demands for value, Balter said. But they also want a little more, which Balter believes comes with his new single-family home development, Westwind, in Croton-on-Hudson.

Westwind is a 34-home community that started construction in September 1996. It's built upon a 35-acre site along the Hudson River. Approximately 15 acres are preserved as open space, Balter said.

We chose this site because it's a very desirable village to live in, and its on of the latest underdeveloped subdivisons in the village of Croton-on-Hudson," Balter said. "It has beautiful views of the Hudson and it's close to two express train station stops. And it's in a terrific school district, the Hendrick Hudson School District.

"In 1996/1997, compared to 1989, you can sell more single-family houses as long as you give people tremendous value, a good school system, good transportation and an architecturally pleasing house.

Balter attempted to provide the latter by offering colonial-style homes. The homes come in four basic models, each featuring four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a two-car garage and a full basement. Average square footage for the homes ranges from 2,300 square feet to 2,800 square feet of living space, said Perry Goldman, president of New Home Sales & Marketing Inc., the marketing company for Westwind. That does not include basement and garage space. The homes are built on an average half-acre home site. Several have a view of the Hudson River of the Hudson Valley. Prices range from $299,000 to $425,000, Perry said.

Goldman said the homes feature many of the amenities that new and second-time home buyers want, such as central air-conditioning, fireplaces, 9-foot ceilings on the first floor and hardwood floors. A complete landscape package is included in the deal.

So far, two homes are completed, with one sold, Goldman said. Eleven homes are under construction. Goldman expects to be sold out by summer and have all the homes built by the summer of 1989.

Westwind buyer are predominantly young families with young children or couples expecting to have children in the near future, Goldman said. "We created a real neighborhood feeling here." Goldman said. "Friendships have formed already, and people are getting to know their neighbors.

Article reprint from the Gannett Newspapers, May 11, 1997.