Getting your player ready...
Rich Laws of Berkeley Homes – same builder that’s created a runaway success of luxury-low maintenance solar homes at Parkside at RidgeGate in Lone Tree – has been watching the strong market for ranch plans in suburban neighborhoods, and has tapped into a mother lode near S. Quebec and 470. Last spring he picked up some sites from a bank in a 15-lot enclave a mile from Park Meadows Shopping Center, opened his ranch model only five weeks ago, and has already sold eight homes.
You can come see that sharp-looking model at Foxridge Place by Berkeley today and this weekend; but you’re not going to see any homes you can move into right away. According to Berkeley’s Karen Temple and Calvin Kreusser, those have disappeared like free pumpkins, largely to couples coming out of 20- to 30-year-old homes in pretty neighborhoods north of County Line Road, laced by the Willow Creek Trail. And if you want to be part of this scene, they add, you’re looking at a May 2013 move-in and you need to be walking the remaining four sites right away.These are full single-family ranches with wide-open kitchen-great room areas under 10-foot ceilings, from 1,800 to 2,150 square feet on the main, not counting oversized 2-car garages (option for a third bay) and standard basements that can be finished now as part of the package. Some remaining sites are walkout, creating the possibility for day-lighted downstairs space for an entertainment area and/or guest suite. They’re priced from the low $400s. To put that in perspective, couples downsizing from similarly-aged homes in Englewood and Highlands Ranch have been paying well over $400,000 for low-maintenance townhomes a further drive west down the Highlands Ranch corridor; and have been aggressively buying luxury ranch condos at prices in the $300s. “Our target was always to create a product for couples coming out of these neighborhoods built in the 1970s and 1980s,” said Jeff Willis, vice president at Berkeley. The small enclave of 7,500-to-10,000-foot sites off County Line at Niagara, two blocks from St. Thomas More Catholic Church and walking distance from shopping and dining at Quebec, had a few that would take 2-story plans, but Berkeley wisely opted to keep the entire offering ranches. Meanwhile, the location has Highlands Ranch just south; something Laws and Willis figured would be a magnet for couples wanting to be close to grandkids who live in the master-planned community. Sure enough, some buyers are relocating to Foxridge Place from as far as Arvada, to do just that. But there’s been a surprise, according to Kreusser: Some sales are going to younger families, coming out of rentals, who like the short commute into the Denver Tech Center and Meridian; and the Cherry Creek Schools – Dry Creek Elementary, 10-for-10 stars at GreatSchools.net; plus West Middle and Cherry Creek High. You can tour the model (it’s for sale) just west of Quebec at County Line. From 470 exit at Quebec; then north a half-block to County Line and west two long blocks to Niagara, and north. You can also explore the last eight opportunities in ParkSide at RidgeGate in Lone Tree, a joint venture by Berkeley and Harvard Communities, from the high-$400s. It’s west of I-25 at RidgeGate Parkway; west on Crossington past the rec center. WHERE: Foxridge Place, by Berkeley Homes, only 5 homes left in an enclave of 15 ranches in Willow Creek area; 1,800 to 2,141 sq. ft. plus basements with finish option, most walkout; close to Willow Creek Trail. 6708 E. Phillips Pl., Centennial; from 470 exit Quebec; north ½-block to County Line Rd., west 0.4 mi. to Niagara, north 1 blk PRICE: From low $400s
