La Estancia: Coming Soon and Tucson Can’t Wait!

The first master planned community in over 20 years within Tucson, La Estancia, will be celebrating its opening soon. This long awaited community is being developed by Sunbelt Holdings who acquired the block plat back in August 2013.

Located in southeast Tucson, between Wilmot and Kolb north of I-10, and carefully planned from its inception, the 565-acres will include up to 2,500 homes at full build out.

Housing demand along the I-10 corridor is strong because of the convenience for workers from Raytheon Missile Systems, University of Arizona Tech Park, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and Tucson International Airport all within the Vail School District, rated one of the top school districts in the state.

La Estancia is planned to include a mix of affordable housing and begins first and foremost by setting aside a portion of the community for natural or enhanced open space, linear parks, pedestrian trails, bike paths, environmentally-friendly recreational facilities, and preserved desert wildlands all integral to the community’s design. The Julian Wash Linear Park, running along the northern portion of the community will provide additional trails that can eventually link La Estancia residents to downtown Tucson.

A large park is strategically planned near the center of the community that will encompass several acres and include a rec center with pool, splash park, shaded playground, multipurpose field, picnic area, shaded tot lots, and ramadas.

The pool and splash park will be ready for summer. “The infrastructure is in place along the two main roads and dry utilities are in place, with storm drains for the first 258 lots surrounding the Boca Grande Park and recreation center,” said Bob Bambauer, senior vice-president of Sunbelt Holdings.

The master plan will build out from this centrally located community park amenity and will accommodate a variety of single family housing types and styles, that borrow from southwestern architecture.

“La Estancia’s park is a signature amenity, offering a hub of connectivity, and will foster a sense of community for residents,” said Bambauer.

Bambauer added, “Homebuilders are showing more interest as we progress with our development. La Estancia should be a welcomed addition to the pent up demand for lot inventory in the area.”

Meritage Homes will have the first neighborhood vertical at La Estancia and should have its public report in another two weeks for the first 195 lots to start building.

Briana Radar, Forward Planning Manager at Meritage, told us the homebuilder looked at other eastside communities and concluded that although they were good, La Estancia amenities would have all these, plus more. Something that differentiates La Estancia from other communities, will be brand, product, location and price point, according to Radar.

Meritage is bringing all new products to this this new neighborhood, having worked hand-in-hand with Sunbelt to achieve the best elevations that will take advantage of the views. “We believe in the area and are excited to be back in Tucson after several years building outside, along the Tangerine Corridor,” said Radar.

La Estancia’s first phase of 258 lots includes an additional 63 lots sized at 65’x110’ that Sunbelt is marketing to homebuilders. La Estancia is among three Tucson-based communities that Sunbelt will develope in the area. Other planned communities include the 550-acre Sendero Pass community and the 1,598-acre Sycamore Canyon.

“It’s a huge event for Tucson,” said Will White of Land Advisors Organization in Tucson. “This timing is very good as the new home market is off to a strong start in 2016 and lot inventory is coming at a premium in town.”

“The project’s many strengths are its proximity to Tucson’s employment core, central location, convenient access, community amenity, and being located in Vail School District,” White stated.

“We are currently in discussions with multiple homebuilders about building in La Estancia. The demand is getting stronger as the project gets closer to opening and they can see the level of quality that Sunbelt is putting into the community,” White added.

White represented Sunbelt in the initial land acquisition and continues to represent Sunbelt to homebuilders.

Sunbelt has been a recognized leader in real estate development, management and investment throughout the Southwest since 1979. Over the years, the firm has gained an understanding of the area’s unique characteristics that only time and experience can teach. Sunbelt entered the local market more than 30 years ago with a strong presence in commercial development and asset management. Early projects like the Phoenix Gateway Center remain successful icons. Recent acquisitions of turn-around assets have provided unique opportunities to add value in the ‘Class A’ office market with the Marina Heights project in Tempe, the largest office development in the state with 2-million square-feet, and the PV|303 industrial project in the West Valley. Sunbelt also developed some of the Valley’s most beloved residential communities including McDowell Mountain Ranch in Scottsdale, Power Ranch in the East Valley and Vistancia in the Northwest Valley. In all, Sunbelt has developed more than 50,000 acres of land during the past 30 years. For more information, please visit www.sunbeltholdings.com.