1,000-Home Santa Rita Ranch Begun
By Nicole R. Grubbs, Arizona Daily
Star, July 19, 2003
Construction has begun on what will be a 1,000-home
development in Corona de Tucson on the city's far Southeast
Side.
The community is appropriately named Santa Rita Ranch
for its location in the Santa Rita Mountains foothills.
"The Santa Rita foothills are really the last
of the remaining undeveloped foothills in the greater
Tucson area," said Eric Abrams, vice president
of the Stanley Group Ltd.
That seems to be a draw for buyers, but current residents
"are not the happiest campers," said Pete
Inks, president of the Santa Rita Foothills Community
Association, representing about 2,000 residents. But
"the vast majority has accepted that growth is
inevitable," Inks said.
The developers are hoping to hold a golf tournament
to raise money for the Corona de Tucson Fire Department,
possibly in an effort to appease the community.
"My gut feeling is they've gotten a lot of complaints,"
said Fire Chief Bruce Whitehouse. "They've overrun
this area with construction."
The growth will be difficult for the small fire station
to handle, Whitehouse said, but "I think it's nice
that they're doing something for us."
KB Home, Richmond American Homes and AF Sterling Homes
will build the development in three phases. The first
phase will include 355 homes and is expected to sell
out in about 13 months.
The second phase will take nine months to complete
and will produce 300 homes, as will the third phase,
which will take three to six months.
Home prices start at $103,000 to $135,000, depending
on the builder.
"Sales are off to a very, very strong start,"
said Abrams, who said close to 100 homes sold in the
project's first three months.
The area is attractive to prospective buyers because
of its scenic views and location, said Anne Dutton,
director of marketing for KB Home.
The area is far enough from the city to feel secluded,
but close enough for people to enjoy Tucson's amenities,
she said.
"The setting is just absolutely gorgeous out there,"
she said.
Richmond American Homes has sold 30 homes in the community,
said Eddie Holmes, the firm's community manager.
"They don't realize how much growth is out here
and how beautiful it is," he said.
Carl and Janys Hellman recently bought a home from
Richmond American. They live in Coolidge, but have retired
and plan to move to Tucson.
Carl Hellman said they have looked at nearly 100 home
sites in the past three years. For them, Santa Rita
Ranch is the "best combination of house, climate,
location and value," he said.
The subdivision is bordered by the fire station; Santa
Rita Golf Course, 16461 S. Houghton Road; and the newly
built Sycamore Elementary School, 16701 S. Houghton
Road - all things that provide a better quality of life
for residents, Abrams said.
Dutton said KB is building 98 homes, many of them along
the golf course, which appeals to prospective buyers.
The elementary school's projected enrollment for January
2004 is about 460 students, but the school is designed
to hold 600 students. Calvin Baker, superintendent of
the Vail School District, said the school was designed
to prepare for growth in the area.
|
