It's a first in the United States, both in its scale and its offerings: a hotel resort and spa, two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf courses and high-end homes — all in one.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, in Marana won't open its doors until next fall, but already the buzz is loud.
Five models will be available at The Residences, as it will be called, with base prices ranging from $1.6 million to $2.4 million, and expected to top out at $3.2 million with all available upgrades. Custom home lots will start at around $700,000 and fetch up to $1.8 million for seven acres.
In addition, there's a $125,000 one-time golf membership deposit, plus an additional $550 to $750 a month to cover golf club and Homeowners' Association dues. Even then, homeowners still have to pay for a round of golf or a spa treatment, although they do get 10 percent off the normal rates.
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The developers of The Residences are selling the 350 homes on the approximately 850 acre-development as not just fancy dwellings but a lifestyle experience. With weekly landscaping, trash removal, concierge services and pool and spa maintenance, it's supposed to resemble living at a five-star hotel.
The Star first visited in September, the same week Lehman Brothers collapsed and Wall Street started to implode. Nevertheless, sales executive Karen Jernigan was smiling, saying there were already 750 interested parties. From Tucson and nationwide, people had been knocking on the door wanting to buy, she said. "And these people found us on their own. We've done not one bit of marketing yet."
A week later, as the country's investment-banking industry unraveled, Tim Bolinger, principal with Greenbriar Southwest Corp., one of the project's co-developers, was less bullish. "Sales are going to be very challenging. We'd be less than candid if we didn't say we're very concerned with what we see around us. But we have a very unique product, and it's aimed at a much larger market than just the local market." He added that both its partners — Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Cottonwood Properties — and its financial institutions were "very strong."
Until mid-November, would-be buyers are being offered sweeteners such as golf membership, building discounts and credits they can spend in the hotel, golf club or spa.
Then, says Jernigan, the sales office will close until January, when the really big marketing push comes.
Jernigan is expecting a lot of part-time homeowners, those with properties elsewhere. And with Marana Regional Airport just 10 minutes' drive away, she says, they're even geared for private jets.
» Living the high life at The Residences: what you get
• Weekly weed treatment, irrigation repair, shrub and tree pruning, leaf and debris blowing.
• Swimming pool and spa cleaning.
• Trash removal and recycling.
• Caddie with every round of golf.
• Concierge services, including dry cleaning drop-off/pickup; air, lodging and entertainment reservations; notary public; flower orders.
• For an additional fee, wedding and party planning, electronics hook-ups, picture hanging, minor painting jobs, furniture assembly, housecleaning and more detailed landscaping.
