I went out to Heritage at Cadence, yesterday for their grand opening. My initial plan was to just give my first impression of this newest local age restricted option. Since that visit it has occurred to me that it may be helpful to also give some history as to local age restricted developments and how they have evolved over the years.
The first, Beverly Green is a co-op and was built in 1956. Another small co-op, Casa Vegas Apartment Homes, was built in 1971 and then was followed in the 1970’s by Desert Inn Condos (no longer in existence) and Royal Crest, a high-rise built in 1977. All were and are centrally located on the east side of town. All were condominium type developments with the largest unit at just over 1,500 sq. ft at Royal Crest.
The mid to late 1980’s featured a surge of age restricted development including two townhome developments, Quail Estates and The Promenade, both on the near west side. Also in 1988 Sun City Summerlin and Los Prados, with its age restricted areas commenced to build.
In the 1900’s and 2000’s several projects came on line. Five more Del Webb developments, Siena, Las Brisas, Silver Springs Sterling and Silver Canyon. I do have extensive information on these communities on my web site.
What has changed over the years? First off size. Sun City Summerlin, for one, offered some very small homes, starting at under 1,100 sq. ft. From the late 1980’s till the present, the home sizes in age restricted communities have increased a great deal, on average. Lots sizes have shrunk. Both phenomena are also present in non-age restricted.
Comparing homes in Sun City Sumerlin with the new offerings in Heritage at Cadence is instructive. First off, the smallest home at Heritage is a duplex style home at 1,808 sq. ft. Free-standing home start at 2,023 sq. ft. Lot sizes are smaller at Heritage, with some of the larger models having very limited rear yards. In Sun City Summerlin even the smallest free-standing home at 1,108 sq. ft. usually came with a 7,000 sq. ft lot. Gone also are the open style yards of SC Summerlin. All lots at Heritage have fully fenced rear yards.
Several of the homes at Heritage have what is described as living space to accommodate dual living situations and multi-generation families. Three of the floor plans I walked through had separate living areas including front room and kitchen combinations and separate bedroom. One even featured a separate small laundry room. This was unheard of in the 1980’s. The emphasis was then, I suppose, sizing way down and getting away from Mom and Pop and the grown kids. Now, I suppose that is no longer as desirable and/or possible for some. I have had, over the years, many clients wish for something like this. It is now a reality.
Gone also from Heritage as well as the other new option, Ardiente, are the traditional 6 ft. sliders. Now the rears of these homes have much larger sliders that open up the rear considerably. Traditional living areas have been in decline for some time and that is evidenced at Heritage where all the present models are built in a great room style. Large kitchens and large islands are the norm. Of course, as in non-age restricted, all those recessed areas for yesterday’s TV’s are gone. Heritage will be guard gated. Only one other existing somewhat larger age restricted local community is truly guard gated and that is Aridiente, which is also selling new. Siena and Solera at Stallion Mt. do have guard gates, but also have electronic gates which, in my option, make the guard gates mainly cosmetic.
One other noticeable feature that I am sure will be of interest to some is that at least one model at Heritage has an RV sized garage. This garage is 43+ feet in depth with a width of 22+ feet (see photo). This really has to be catnip for RV owners. There will be two floor plans built here that are two story. That is a big departure from the larger existing age restricted communities which have no two story homes. Oh yes, prices run from $320,000 to slightly over $400,000 and include most of the observable upgrades in the models, other than flooring. Sizes for the present free-standing homes are from 2,023 to 3,204 sq. ft. The duplex style homes are not as yet modeled or are floor plans available. The largest duplex style home offered with be 3,016 sq. ft.
The other new option in age restricted that is scheduled to open this year, Regency at Summerlin, has tentatively shown price points from the $400,000. That is a lot of money if their floor plans do in fact start at 1,600+ sq. ft. That is it for now. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
