Getting your player ready...
The Boulder lifestyle has such an appeal, that wouldn’t it be nice if you could bottle it and sell it? That’s close to what McStain Neighborhoods is doing at Indian Peaks South in Lafayette, the very final phase of a master plan the famous builder began in 1992, when McStain had already been exporting Boulder’s allure for 25 years.
The attraction of Indian Peaks South’s location at 95th and Baseline has taken on a lot of value since then – 15 minutes from Pearl Street Mall; five minutes from popular taverns in historic Louisville and Lafayette, where McStain began building in the 1980s. Just as with McStain’s other Boulder County neighborhoods, you’ll see trails, open space and parks, and a Boulderesque emphasis on connecting people to their neighbors as well as to the outdoors. You’ll find three series McStain is creating – a new Bungalow collection from the $270s (the first will be completed this spring), a fast-selling, family-sized Traditional series, and a Classic collection for larger sites (some lots to 17,000 square feet). Most prices are way lower than buyers find a few miles east in Boulder proper; and McStain lets them personalize plans to degrees rare for anything but custom builders. They also find a big emphasis on sustainability. As a founder of the Built Green movement, McStain has more EPA-certified Energy Star homes to its credit than any other private Colorado builder. Designs also trend toward what McStain president/CEO David Ware describes as an emphasis for quality over size – fewer towering volume areas and more well-planned spaces for family interaction. “People tell us they don’t want a huge house, but prefer to customize for how they really live,” says Cindie Reddington with CopperWest Colorado Real Estate at Indian Peaks South, who’ll be on hand with Joan Heller to show you around. You’ll find single-family design and 2-car garages on even those affordable Bungalows; options for finished basements (80 percent of Indian Peaks buyers do that); and you’ll hear about new solar shingles by Dow Powerhouse. What you WON’T find are move-in ready homes; inventory near Boulder is way too low for that. However, you can get on an interest list for those new Bungalows (email Cindie@copperwest.net). Reddington says that buyers – some from Denver areas like Highlands – are willing to wait for the location and the prices. To visit, from U.S. 36 take Storage Tek/Northwest Parkway north a mile, jog left onto 96th and continue north four miles (becomes 42) to Baseline, then left. WHERE: Indian Peaks South by McStain, affordable ‘Bungalows,’ family sized ‘Traditionals,’ large-site ‘Classics’; super energy efficient; ‘Ironwood’ model 2,393 s.f.; solar option, Boulder Valley Schools;, dining, trail nearby. 2824 Grand Lake Dr., Lafayette; from U.S. 36/Turnpike take Storage Tek/Northwest Pkwy north 1 mi., jog left on 96th, north 4 mi (becomes 42) to Baseline, left (west) to Roser. PRICE: Bungalow homes from $270s; Traditionals from $360s; Classics from high $500s WHEN: Today noon to 5 p.m.
