Cornerstone Communities

Next month, Cornerstone Communities will unveil Veranza at The Summit Eastlake, a new neighborhood of 111 two-story triplex homes in Chula Vista.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 11th and come view three decorated models showcasing exciting interiors by Blackbird Interiors and outdoor living by Terra Firma Landscape.  Veranza offers an ideal combination of style, value, energy efficiency, and a preferred address.

Distinguished by Spanish, Santa Barbara and Craftsman architecture, the Veranza residences will range from approximately 1,259 to 1,656 square feet, including three bedrooms and two and one-half baths plus a side-by-side, two-car attached garage. The largest home will also encompass a versatile loft, and kitchens in two plans will feature a gourmet island for meal preparation and serving. Prices are expected to start in the mid $200,000s.

Veranza offers a new level of quality construction and efficiency.  Homes are framed with Eco Red Shield lumber, a proprietary eco-friendly chemistry that controls moisture and protects lumber from mold, wood-rot, termites and fire—dramatically increasing the life of the lumber and the safety of the home.  Veranza is an SDG&E-certified California Advanced Home project with an abundance of energy-saving enhancements, including Low-E dual-glazed vinyl windows, cool roofs, radiant barrier roof sheathing, insulated garage doors, and tankless water heaters.

“We are committed to serving California families by creating homes that emphasize inspired design, efficiency and privacy as well as neighborhoods that stand the test of time,” said Michael Sabourin, Cornerstone Communities President.

Outstanding interior appointments will extend throughout each residence, including designer-selected two-tone paint, luxurious master suites with large walk-in closets, Moen® plumbing fixtures, and advanced wiring systems for telephone, cable TV and computer connections with the option to upgrade to a Control4 home automation system.  Kitchens boast Basix solid-surface countertops with integral sink, birch cabinetry in saddle stain, and dependable Whirlpool® appliances, including gas range, microwave/hood combination and four-cycle Energy Star® dishwasher with DuraWash™ system.

A Veranza address will bring with it all the lifestyle advantages of The Summit Eastlake, including gated privacy, a community recreation center with fully equipped kitchen, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a large 25-yard lap pool, extended spa and separate children’s play pool. In addition, the community is close to major shopping centers, excellent schools and numerous fine restaurants.

Cornerstone Communities currently offers San Diegans a full spectrum of homes and townhomes with seven active communities in Chula Vista, San Diego, and San Marcos ranging from $209,990 up to $1.1 Million.

Sudberry Properties

With 500 homes and apartments currently under construction, Sudberry Properties’ walkable and sustainable 230-acre village of Civita is easily the largest residential construction site in San Diego County.  It’s also among the most ambitious.  After 10 years of planning, Sudberry Properties is transforming a 75-year-old sand and gravel quarry into a mixed-use oasis with 60 acres of parks, trails and public spaces, 4,780 residential homes and apartments in numerous configurations, and nearly a million square feet of retail shops, offices, and civic structures.

The 230-acre community, located north of Friars Road, between I-805 and Mission Center Road, expects buildout in 10 to 15 years at a cost of approximately $2 billion.  The community’s name was derived from the Latin roots for “civic” and “vitality,” values that area also reflected in the design of the community, which blends the intimacy of a village with the vitality of an urban hub.

The first residents will be arriving soon.  December marks the grand opening of Civita’s first for-sale attached neighborhood — Origen by guest builder Shea Homes.  In January, leasing will commence at the first apartment community, Circa 37, whose name recalls the year that mining started on the site.  Residents are expected to move into both neighborhoods next spring.

“Origen is a fine example of Civita’s commitment to sustainable design, architectural character, smart growth principles, community spirit, and uncompromising quality,” said Marco Sessa, senior vice president of Sudberry Properties.
Origen features three- and four-story attached homes with urban-style architecture, dramatic vertical lines, and generous volume spaces.  Prices at Origen start in the low $400,000s.

Sudberry Properties’ Circa 37, a multi-family apartment neighborhood located in the southwest corner of Civita, will feature classic architecture with an urban vibe, and a luxuriously equipped, resort-like recreation center with a saltwater pool and extensive amenities.  Lease rates are expected to range from approximately $1,500 to $3,000 per month.

The heart of Civita, which sets the tone for the entire community, is an amenity-rich community park with two miles of trails that radiate into each neighborhood and encourage walking and neighborly interactions.
“Inspired by San Diego’s natural network of canyons, the Park District will create a highly visible greenbelt spine that visually connects Serra Mesa to the San Diego River Valley,” said Sessa.

The enhanced city park will have intimate areas for reflection and relaxation, as well as large open lawn areas. Specific details for the park will evolve out of a series of community planning sessions set for next year.
The Park District will be adjacent to the community’s Civic Center that will further celebrate Mission Valley’s connection to the San Diego River with a museum operated by the San Diego River Park Foundation.

“Civita’s location in the heart of San Diego was the muse for every aspect of the community,” said Sessa.  “Civita is taking advantage of its proximity to the San Diego Trolley by building a pedestrian bridge over Friars Road.  As a result, most Civita residents will have an easy 10- to 15-minute stroll to the trolley.  Civita is also planning to offer residents a shuttle system and a hybrid-car sharing program to provide easy access to all Mission Valley has to offer.

To create the community’s unique landscape character, Sudberry Properties sought out esteemed landscape architecture firms with decidedly different points of view and asked them to create a landscape tapestry that was lush, colorful and water-wise. Lifescapes International, Inc., which has designed 15 luxuriant casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and high-end resorts around the world, and San Diego’s Schmidt Design Group, known for its artistic artistry and environmental sensitivity, came together to create a botanical wonderland that takes advantage of Civita’s unique location and climate.

“We’re set designers – sets you can actually live in,” said Don Brinkerhoff, chairman of Lifescapes International, whose philosophy was reinforced by a professor from Madrid, who counseled, “’If you want to be happy for an hour, go to dinner; if you want to be happy for a month, take a trip; if you want to be happy for a lifetime, plant a garden.”
As a result, Civita will be replete with formal gardens and massed plantings that emphasize color, texture and form.  Medians don’t present a single row of trees marching down the street; rather, they combine flowering trees, shrubs, and flowers to create a lush garden ambiance that will define Civita.  The landscape team’s initial design is now visible along the new Civita Boulevard that traverses the community west to east, starting at Mission Center Road.

Brinkerhoff says he has an easy-to-follow rule for creating spectacular landscapes:  “Buy big trees.”  Trees take a long time to grow, he said, “So if you buy big trees, you’re buying ten to 15 years of life.”

The developer of Civita took that recommendation to heart.  Many of the trees are three times larger than typical landscape specimens.  And, for Arbor Day last year, Sudberry Properties planted a Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus Macrophylla) that was 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide with eight trunks – similar in size and impact to one of Balboa Park’s landmark specimens.

Sudberry Properties’ attention to detail is already paying off.  It has amassed numerous prestigious awards for its earth-friendly and sustainable design, including the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), California’s highest environmental honor.   Last year, Civita was identified as a ‘Catalyst Project” for the California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program by the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. The Civita plan achieved a “Gold” certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-ND pilot program for its numerous sustainable features.

For information, visit www.CivitaLife.com

Menas Realty Company

I guess you could say Menas Realty Company is  approaching “middle age” as we will be celebrating our  39th anniversary in 2012.   This time of year always seems to be a time of reflecting on the past while looking to the future.

As I look back at Menas’ earliest days and compare the little ole HOA Management company from 1973  with today’s version, I’m proud to say that while we might be a different company than we were when we took on our first HOA, we are the same company.    We may not look like we did in the 70’s  ( no more bell bottom pants and big hair), but the core values that were at the heart of Menas Realty Company in 1973 are the same core values that define us today.

Menas Realty Company is a “company of people” not just HOA’s.  We hire great People who have a passion for serving others, and we give them the Freedom to be themselves and to take care of our clients.  We treat our Employees like Family and our Clients like guests in our home.  Our guiding principle is, above all else, The Golden Rule (Treat others like you would want to be treated).

We offer competitive pricing delivered with our very personalized quality customer service.   We give our Clients what they ask for in a very timely manner hoping they are pleased and impressed and will think of Menas Realty Company when asked for a recommendation.

As you may know, Menas Realty Company recently purchased a new software, VMS, and we’re now in the process of integrating our two systems. VMS is attractive to us for many reasons, including their track record of making companies like ours become more successful and efficient.

Menas Realty Company will continue evolving to adapt to the ever-changing environment around us. After all, change is one of the only constants in our industry.  That said, as we embark on our next 39 years, we do so anchored by the same core values that inspired our foundation.

Thank you all and let’s make it a great 2012!

 

Davidson Communities

There’s a flurry of construction activity just north of San Diego’s popular SR 56 corridor at Carmel Valley Road and Caminito Vistana where Davidson Communities will open its newest gated community, Miraval at Torrey Highlands, early next month.

The Del Mar-based homebuilder is now completing Miraval’s model home complex, a gated entry and water feature, and the first phase of seven new homes. Davidson is also widening a stretch of Carmel Valley Road from two to four lanes and installing new landscaping and a trail connection.

Davidson’s Miraval offers 41 four- to six-bedroom, single-family detached homes on lots averaging 5,000 square feet. Pricing is expected to begin in the $700,000s.

“Located near high-achieving schools like Westview High School and Cathedral Catholic High School, Miraval was designed to complement the lifestyle of busy families,” said Bill Davidson, president of Davidson Communities.

Miraval’s three floor plans, range from 2,793 to 3,287 square feet and offer four to six bedrooms, 3.5 to 4.5 bathrooms, and a two-car garage. Popular features include a teen loft, generous flex space, walk-in kitchen pantry and a downstairs bedroom with a full bath.

Del Mar-based Design Line Interiors is handling interior design for Miraval’s model home complex.

Design Line Interiors

Design Line Interiors of Del Mar has been awarded four Silver Awards for design excellence from The Nationals, a prestigious sales and marketing competition sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Sales & Marketing Council, based in Washington, D.C.

Silver award winners are the top vote getters in each category and move on to become finalists for Gold Awards, which will be announced and presented on Feb. 8, 2012 at The Nationals’ awards in Orlando, Florida.

One San Diego builder, ColRich earned two silver awards, both for the Sandalwood project in Carlsbad. Brookfield Homes Southland division was awarded a silver for Garden House, and William Lyon Homes won a silver award for The Flats in Los Angeles.

Here are the official categories:

*Best outdoor living space:  Sandalwood Plan 2 – ColRich (San Diego)
*Best interiors under 1,500 sq. feet:  The Flats Plan 4 – William Lyon Homes (Los Angeles)
*Best interiors 1,500 to 2,500 sq. feet:  Garden House Plan 1 – Brookfield Homes Southland (Orange County)
*Best interiors over 2,500 sq. feet: Sandalwood Plan 2 – ColRich (San Diego)

“It’s always an honor to be recognized by one’s peers, especially on a national level,” said Dawn Davidson, president of Design Line. “These four silver awards cross the full spectrum from luxury detached to attached urban homes, and are a tribute to the quality produced by our homebuilder clients.”

Now in its 31st year, The Nationals pays tribute to superior sales and marketing achievements by individual professionals, homebuilders and associates, and sales and marketing councils. A full list of silver award winners can be found here: http://www.thenationals.com/pages/winners/silver2012.php

Brookfield Homes

Construction has begun at Brookfield Homes’ newest community, Sago at The Foothills in Carlsbad. The builder will debut Sago’s three model homes in March 2012.

“Currently, the first and second floors are raised and roof sheeting has started,” said Lora Heramb, vice president of sales and marketing for Brookfield Homes.  “Upon completion, these model homes will reflect many innovative and creative interior design characteristics with unique use of color, design and space”.

Sago will offer two-story homes ranging from approximately 1,750 to 2,050 square feet with three to four bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Priced from the mid $400,000’s, Sago will offer affordable yet amenity-rich housing to those wanting to live in Carlsbad without the high price tag.

Located three miles from the coast at The Foothills in Carlsbad, Sago has four floor plans to choose from, all of which include courtyards for outdoor living space. All Sago homeowners will have access to The Foothills’ resort-like Swim Club, equipped with a pool, paddle tennis courts, fireplace, barbecue and more.

Brookfield Homes, who was just voted #1 New Home Builder in San Diego, has had great success at The Foothills, debuting its eco-savvy neighborhood Rockrose in 2010. Rockrose was recently voted #1 New Home Community in San Diego, and has received accolades from several parties including the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). With the debut of Sago, Brookfield is anticipating continued success at The Foothills.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 2:54 pm and is filed under Membership, People & Projects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.