Aaron Temple and Temple Living by Design have completed model homes for Senna, at Centennial Parkway and Commerce Street. Photo by Gary Thompson.

Though he's only 30, Aaron Temple is already building up his résumé as a local builder.

He built his first fourplex in Las Vegas at age 24. Then he built single-family, detached homes in the Autumn Chase and Cactus Springs communities in North Las Vegas and the Agave condos.

Now he's finished the first model homes at Senna, a loft-style development in the far reaches of North Las Vegas, near Centennial Parkway and Commerce Street.

The two-story duplexes range from 1,750 square feet to 2,300 square feet and start in the low $300,000s. The 18-unit first phase is nearly sold out and the second phase is about half sold.

Temple Living by Design, established by the late Larry Temple in 1984, is focused on building "architecturally forward" homes designed to meet the lifestyle needs and personal expression of today's homeowners, Temple said.

"We put a lot of detail into this. If you look at the design of this and look at a tract home in the same price range, you'd see the difference in details," he said. "Consumers are getting smarter. They're starting to know the difference. I give them a lot more for their money."

Temple said he wants to carry on his father's mission to create well-crafted homes that respect changing trends without compromising functional design.

Senna features oversized covered patios, built-in kitchens with a soffit around the cabinets, accented main suites and custom double-framed window recesses. Pete Larez is the architect.

The units have been received well by the public, said Chris Mash, sales representative at Senna.

"Everybody loves the design. It's a real retro, modern loft style like you'd see in New York," she said.

Temple bought 18 acres last year for about $6 million and has R-2 zoning for eight units to the acre, or a total of 148 units.

PARKWAY POINTE: Construction has begun on the two-story, 53,600-square-foot Parkway Pointe office building being developed by Christopher Commercial at the northeast corner of Summerlin Parkway and Town Center Drive. Completion of the $12.5 million project is scheduled for summer 2006.

Christopher Commercial Managing Director Douglas Crook said office tenants are looking for a prime location on a freeway interchange. Parkway Pointe will provide office space from 1,200 square feet to 26,500 square feet. The parking ratio is 4.75 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of building area, including a subterranean parking garage.

HABITAT HOMES: Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas broke ground Thursday on three of 60 homes it plans to build over the next three years in the Vegas Heights neighborhood. The homes are located in the 1400 block of Hassell Street, near Lake Mead and Martin L. King boulevards.

Sponsors for the homes are Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, Nevada Subcontractors Association and Wells Fargo Home and Consumer Loan Division. Upon completing these homes, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas will have built more than 30 homes in Vegas Heights.

APARTMENT LOAN: Pacific Coast Capital Partners, an El Segundo, Calif.-based real estate investment firm, secured a $13 million senior loan for Portico Properties to finance the acquisition and renovation of Emerald Gardens, a 234-unit apartment complex at 1550 E. Harmon Ave.

Emerald Gardens consists of 15 two-story buildings on eight acres. Built in 1979, the garden-style community is within walking distance to University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is 95 percent leased.

OFFICE PROJECT: JVC Architects has been hired as the architect for two 15,000-square-foot, two-story office buildings at Edmond Street and Oquendo Road. Alain Rivard is project manager.