Inspirada’s New Urbanism ‘intrigues’ New Jersey pair

After moving from New Jersey more than a year ago, Michael Belle and his partner Fernando Cardoso weren't certain how living in Las Vegas was going to pan out. They knew they wanted a change of scenery and climate, but wondered what living in the desert would be like -- a question that was quickly answered after securing an address in Henderson.

"We absolutely love it here," said Belle, who travels back to the East Coast three days a week to work as a hair stylist. "When we moved, we bought a home that was quickly available in order to give us time to look around for a more permanent residence."

According to Belle, the search for their new residence kept he and Cardoso busy -- especially with his jet-setting job.

"We spent most of the past year going from builder to builder and looking at several communities in the area," Belle said. "When we first learned of Inspirada, its concept and what the overall plan is for the community, especially the parks and town center, we were instantly intrigued."

Inspirada is Nevada's first large-scale development incorporating a New Urbanism planning concept, creating an environmentally conscious community reminiscent of towns and cities developed before the widespread use of automobiles in the 1950s.

New Urbanism promotes the creation of diverse, walkable, communities combining a variety of home styles, offices, shopping, entertainment, schools, parks and civic and municipal functions.

"We understand that many features in the community will be built over time, but we liked the idea of being a part of a community from the very beginning," Belle said. "To be among the first residents of the neighborhood and to see everything grow and come to life is very exciting."

After visiting all the model home complexes now open at Inspirada, Belle and Cardoso purchased a 3,439-square-foot DaVinci Estate Home from KB Home.

"There were so many options of floor plans and the flow of our home is just what we were looking for," Belle said. "We had the opportunity to build our home to order -- choosing finishes and options to fit our tastes. Our experience with KB Home and Inspirada has been fantastic and we look forward to moving into our new home this summer."

Toll Brothers and Meritage Homes also are offering Estate Homes at Inspirada, which range from 2,200 to 4,400 square feet and are the largest single-family residences available in the community. These homes, available in one- or two-story plans, feature open balconies, wraparound porches, casitas, backyards and recessed two- and three-car garages with porte cocheres.

Additional single- and multi-family home styles are available from all three builders, ranging from 1,100 to more than 4,000 square feet with prices beginning in the low $200,000s.

Other single-family residences available at Inspirada include Village Homes, which vary from 1,900 to nearly 3,500 square feet and offer front porches with arched or covered entries. Garden Homes are two-story residences ranging from 1,350 to more than 2,100 square feet and are planned to front landscaped paseos.

Select builders at Inspirada also are offering multi-family home options. City homes, or townhomes, provide a style of living reminiscent of that found in major metropolitan cities and are available in two- or three-story floor plans ranging from 1,100 to 2,800 square feet. City homes offer various design options; including individual stoops providing direct access to landscaped streetscapes.

Toll Brothers is offering a Mansion Home style that consists of four individual condominiums grouped together under one roof -- offering the external appearance of one home. Residences vary from 1,556 to 1,716 square feet and include wraparound porches, private balconies and patios. Each Mansion Home has a shared private motor court with hidden two-car garages.

When complete, Inspirada will consist of seven individual villages, each with its own distinctive theme -- music, art, athletics, dance, exploration, painting and science. Each village will be anchored by a central park, with civic amenities such as schools, police and fire stations interwoven throughout the community. At the heart of Inspirada is a town center named Civita that is planned for additional residential, restaurants, cafes, retail shops and entertainment venues.

Within nearly 2,000 acres, Inspirada is planned for 300 acres of trails and parks, including three community parks, six neighborhood parks and miles of trail systems. Surrounding the open spaces and parks will be 13,500 homes providing residence to about 30,000 individuals.

In addition to KB Home, Toll Brothers and Meritage Homes, the consortium of home builders and developers that have come together to create Inspirada, along with the city of Henderson, include Focus Property Group, Woodside Homes, Kimball Hill Homes, Pardee Homes and Beazer Homes.

On April 5, Inspirada will host the Nevada Child Seekers 14th annual 5K Dash and 1-Mile Stroll. On-site registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Solista Park and the race starts at 7:45 a.m. Registration for the run or walk is $25 and pre-registration is available now by visiting inspirada.com.

In addition to the run and walk, the event will offer free activities from 7 to 11 a.m., including child safety education, fingerprinting, child ID kits and games.

Inspirada is located at 1890 Via Firenze in Henderson.

To visit, from Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, exit Eastern Avenue and head south to St. Rose Parkway. Turn west to Starr/Executive Airport Road and turn south. Follow the signs to the community entrance.

The Inspirada information center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 866-758-5483 or visit inspirada.com.