For 30 years, Joe and Betty Palello resided in a 3-bedroom single- family home. But when they became empty-nesters, they didn't need so much space.

"A lot of extra space went to waste," said Joe. "We would really use only three rooms -- the kitchen, the living room and the bedroom. All of the other rooms were unnecessary."

Then, they decided to downsize -- at Main Street Station, a condominium development in Roselle.

"Betty and I decided that it was time to find something simpler and to get away from all the maintenance and upkeep of a single- family home," he said. "I was tired of doing yard work and shoveling snow and tending to the home's exterior. Every week, I'd spend an hour or two just doing landscaping chores -- cutting grass, trimming bushes, pulling weeds. I wanted to move to a place where I could relax and my time was my own."

The Palellos wanted to remain close to their two sons, who reside in the northwest suburbs. The couple opted for a 1-bedroom, 1-bath unit. They moved just before Christmastime.

The Palellos asked the builder, the Gammonley Group, to eliminate a wall between the living room and the kitchen.

"It was an L-shaped wall. When it was removed, that turned the whole living and kitchen areas into a great room," Joe said. "At first, it was rather difficult to visualize how the room would turn out because we could only see it on paper. But the Gammonley Group reassured us that they would make it right, and they did."

Betty said she loves everything about her new home. "Our home faces east, so we get the morning sun coming in through the glass doors from the balcony and the bedroom windows," she said. "That just makes for a nice, cheery, bright home. Plus the view from our balcony is beautiful. We can even see the very top of the Sears Tower."

While the Palellos' new home is smaller than the last, there's still plenty of room for family. When their sons and their families visit for dinner, Betty simply puts a leaf in the dining table and they're all set.

"Our new home makes life a lot simpler," said Betty. "Of course, we're going to have more time for running around and visiting our children and grandchildren, which we're really looking forward to. But we're also excited about just sitting back, kicking off our shoes, relaxing, and enjoying our retirement years."

Main Street Station has 48 units on four floors. Just a handful of units remain for sale, priced from $204,415 to $428,445.

Main Street Station, 45 E. Main St, Roselle. Gammonley Group, (630) 295-5805.

BRIDGEVIEW. One hundred homes have been sold -- in just six weeks -- at Bridgeview Place, a townhome development in Bridgeview.

"The buyer response has been overwhelming," said Mike Templeton, vice president of marketing for Concord Homes, the builder.

Base prices range from $197,490 to $266,990. One- and two-story floor plans are sized from 1,244 to 1,763 square feet. Units have 1 to 3 bedrooms, 1 to 2 baths and attached 1- or 2-car garages.

A 265-square-foot great room anchors Plan 722, priced from $214,490. Plan 722, with 1,410 square feet, has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 1-car garage. The master bedroom suite has a walk-in closet and a private bath.

Bridgeview Place, 76th Avenue and 103rd Street, Bridgeview. Concord Homes, (708) 237-0600.

PALATINE TOWNHOMES. Seventy-six town houses are planned at Palatine Commons, a development in Palatine.

Prices start in the mid-$300,000s. Units have 2 or 3 bedrooms, 21/ 2 baths and 2-car attached garages.

Amenities include fully applianced eat-in kitchens, separate dining rooms, great rooms, lofts and wood-burning fireplace (with gas starters). Sizes range from 2,800 to 3,300 square feet (including walk-out basements).

Construction is scheduled to start soon. One design has a first- floor master bedroom suite.

Palatine Commons, Palatine. Palatine Commons LLC, (847) 705- 2000.

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