Summerlin prospers during 2007

While 2007 was a challenging year for the Southern Nevada home building industry, the master-planned community of Summerlin continued to celebrate milestones, according to Kevin Orrock, top division executive of The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties and developer of Summerlin.

"As one of the valley's most well-established master-planned communities, Summerlin is continuing to unfold as the pre-eminent community in southern Nevada," Orrock said. "Thanks to a mature physical and social infrastructure and long-term planning to ensure the community's continued vibrancy, 2007 was a year of robust development for Summerlin -- despite a downturn in the economy."

Construction began on Summerlin Centre's 1.6 million- square-foot regional retail center. Other 2007 highlights included the opening of three new schools, the completion of a major community park, the opening of the community's third fire station, expansion of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center and groundbreaking for Nevada Cancer Institute's Research Facility, the opening of a new neighborhood shopping center in The Vistas and commencement of construction on a new non-gaming hotel.

Now entering its 18th year, Summerlin still has 9,000 of its 22,500 acres left to develop, according to Orrock.

"While local home builders are slowing growth a bit until the economy improves, we are continuing to bring significant new developments to the community," he said. "By emphasizing amenities like parks, shopping centers, schools and office buildings, we continue to enhance Summerlin's long-term value."

Residential development highlights included the opening of three new neighborhoods and the sellout of another four neighborhoods. Residential development in Summerlin during the year was focused primarily in five villages: Summerlin Centre, The Paseos, The Vistas, The Mesa and The Ridges.

Four of the five villages are located west of Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway. Growth is also occurring in Summerlin's southern region which extends south of the 215 beltway to Warm Springs Road.

In The Ridges, Summerlin's luxury custom-home village, one new luxury neighborhood opened year: Azure, located adjacent Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear's Best Las Vegas.

Both development and sales in The Ridges continued with the opening of Club Ridges, a private fitness facility for the exclusive use of Ridges residents and the sale of nearly 30 custom-home sites at an average price of more than $700,000 each.

"Our ongoing success in The Ridges underscores the continued strength of the luxury market," Orrock said. "Luxury remains one of the economy's bright spots, and The Ridges is no exception."

Other new Ridges neighborhoods launched during 2007 included Fairway Hills by Toll Brothers, a luxury townhome neighborhood, as well as Boulder Ridge by Christopher Homes, a new semi-custom home neighborhood.

Schools, parks and shopping centers topped the list of newly completed amenities in Summerlin last year.

They included two private schools which opened for the 2007-2008 school year. Bishop Gorman High School, one of the valley's oldest and most established private Catholic schools, opened on a 35-acre campus with more than 1,200 students; and The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson School, the valley's first Jewish high school, opened adjacent to Milton I. Schwartz Hebrew Academy in The Trails Village.

Faiss Middle School, a public school operated by Clark County School District, also opened in August with more than 1,000 students.

The Vistas Park, an expansive 20-acre community park, opened in April with a Little League season opener ceremony attended by more than 2,000 community residents. The 21st major community park in Summerlin larger than 5 acres, The Vistas Park, added significant recreational amenities to the community's already long list, including two lighted softball fields, a concession stand, lighted tennis courts, basketball court, group picnic pavilion, children's play area, restroom facilities and the community's first lighted football field.

Vista Commons, a nearly 13-acre neighborhood shopping center soon to be home to more than a dozen retail tenants, opened last year. Anchored by Albertsons, the shopping center will bring a variety of service and dining amenities to Summerlin residents who live west of the I-215 beltway.

Construction activity in Summerlin during 2007 included the ongoing development of another community park -- The Mesa Park, located in the community's southernmost village.

Other construction highlights included the expansion of two major medical facilities. Summerlin Hospital Medical Center is adding space to the emergency room, as well as a six-story, 170-room patient tower, a four-story medical office building and third parking garage.

The Nevada Cancer Institute began construction on a 101,000-square-foot, three-story support service building and parking garage that will house a 200-seat conference center. And construction began this fall on Element, Summerlin's first non-gaming, extended-stay hotel.

The hotel is expected to serve patients and visitors of nearby Nevada Cancer Institute.

In Summerlin Centre, the community's urban core currently under development, 2007 was a landmark year that included the commencement of construction on a 1.6 million-square-foot regional retail center and the announcement of Nordstrom and Crate and Barrel as major tenants.

Grading and infrastructure construction are well underway with vertical construction expected to begin early this year.

Phase one of the regional retail center is targeted for completion in late 2009.

"The urban core of Summerlin, which includes the outdoor pedestrian retail and lifestyle center, is just beginning to unfold and will undoubtedly be the biggest development story to come out of Summerlin for the next several years," Orrock said. "Residents are eager to have a first-class shopping and entertainment center in their own backyard, and many are looking forward to enjoying urban-style offerings -- right in the heart of suburbia."

At Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, a second 400-room hotel tower opened in 2007, along with a 72-lane bowling complex, Red Rock Lanes.

"The resort has been a real benefit to Summerlin residents, bringing world-class dining and entertainment into the community," Orrock said. "The resort has more than redefined the community's skyline, it has forever changed how and where residents seek entertainment."

New office space was also added to the list of Summerlin amenities this year, including a 150,000-square-foot Class A office building on West Charleston Boulevard, just east of the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa facility.

The office building is the Southern Nevada headquarters for City National Bank and includes many other tenants as well.

Additional new office space in Summerlin includes a new corporate office facility for Station Casinos adjacent to Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa.

And finally, Summerlin got its third fire station this year with the opening of city of Las Vegas Fire Station No. 47.

The building was recently recognized by Southwest Contractor magazine as the best public facility under $10 million.

"The ongoing addition of new amenities keeps Summerlin vibrant and attractive, further enhancing and reinforcing the quality of life for which the community has become known," Orrock said. "From the beginning, Summerlin was designed as a community where residents can live, work, play and learn. As original areas of the community mature and new areas are developed, we remain committed to that same goal of providing all residents with a premier living environment. This is created by access to abundant recreational, educational, social and cultural amenities, as well as a sense of belonging and pride in a community where quality of life is paramount. It is this design philosophy that has kept Summerlin on the list of the country's best-selling master-planned communities for the past decade."

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with about 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

The community is currently home to more than 95,000 residents. Amenities available to residents include more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of the Summerlin trail system, nine golf courses, a dozen houses of worship, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks, 22 public and private schools and more than 100 actively selling floor plans.

Homes are available in a variety of styles -- from single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts -- priced from the high $200,000s to more than $2 million. Custom home sites in The Ridges are priced from the $500,000s.

Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.

For more information on Summerlin, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.