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Active Adult (55+) Country Club by Del
Webb Going Up Near Phoenix
March 1, 2003 It is described as a
one-of-a-kind community by the developers, Pulte Homes' Del Webb
brand, and it is Del Webb's first active adult country club for those
age 55-plus.
They will break ground with on March 8
at Corte Bella, located northwest of Phoenix, Arizona They say it
brings together the popular attributes of Del Webb's most successful
offerings, active adult communities and upscale country clubs.
"Corte Bella offers the unexpected, a
country club for people who might not otherwise join a country club,"
said Deborah Blake, marketing director for the Phoenix Active Adult
Division. "Our research has found that many people 55-plus want to
enjoy the benefits and amenities of country club living without the
stuffy attitude often associated with country clubs. Corte Bella is a
country club where friendship matters more than business connections,
and social gatherings aren't about high society."
"This is history in the making for Del
Webb," said Sheryl Palmer, president of Del Webb's active adult
division in Arizona. "The aging of the baby boomer demographic
continues to drive demand for age-qualified communities. Corte Bella
is the latest example of how we plan to diversify our offerings to
meet the varied demands of this generation. This is a ground breaking
development as we take our expertise on lifestyle and community
development to a new level."
Dave Schreiner, Vice President, Active
Adult Development for Pulte Homes, explains how Corte Bella is a
perfect example of how Pulte Homes and its Del Webb brand continues to
maintain a leadership place in the market by delivering tailored
community amenities in addition to building quality homes.
"There are a lot of home builders out
there competing for the active adult market," said Schreiner. "We
continue to be the nation's leading developer of active adult
communities because we utilize extensive market research and more than
40 years of experience with active adults to develop communities that
meet the needs of different segments of this buyer group. One size
does not fit all in this market."
The fastest growing source of demand
for new homes in the past decade has been the baby boomer generation
moving to new homes. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Report,
approximately 21%, or about 59 million people, are over the age of 55.
However, another 13.4%, or about 38 million people representing the
bulk of the baby boomer generation, are between the ages of 45 and 55
and are quickly adding to the active adult demographic.
"We estimate that someone turns 55
about every nine seconds," said Schreiner. "That means the active
adult demographic is growing by leaps and bounds every day, adding to
the roster of potential Del Webb customers."
Corte Bella adds to the Del Webb
palette of communities, expanding the options for those 55 and better
who are seeking an amenity oriented community offering with the
opportunity to enjoy an active and involved lifestyle. This
approximately 720 acre community will contain up to 1,850 affordable
luxury homes priced from approximately $130,000 to more than $300,000,
an 18-hole championship length golf course, and an approximately
11,000 square foot fitness center and spa with the latest in
cardiovascular and weight training facilities as well as a dance and
aerobic studio. The spa is planned to include treatment rooms,
separate men's and women's lounges, lockers, indoor therapy tub, sauna
and private sun patio. Outdoors, the facility is planned to feature a
combination lap and resort style pool, spa and six lighted tennis
courts.
The 7,500 square foot social
clubhouse, situated above the golf course to take advantage of the
sweeping views, is planned to feature a beautiful cafe and lounge as
well as multi-purpose rooms for private dining, special events and
resident club meetings. Corte Bella's planned 5,000 square foot golf
club will contain the golf pro shop and member's lounge featuring a
bar and fireplace that overlooks the practice facility and 18th hole.
The 18-hole championship golf course,
designed by renown golf course architect Greg Nash, is scheduled to
open in January 2004, including a driving range with target greens, a
practice putting green, a short game practice area and a private
lesson box. Troon Golf will manage the facility with a limited number
of memberships available.
Because of the considerable early
interest in Corte Bella, Del Webb decided to open its newest community
for sales prior to the completion of the model homes and neighborhood
roads. In fact, the general public will only be allowed on site after
arranging an individual appointment for a private tour.
Del Webb has always been a trendsetter
when it comes to new community types. In 1960, Del Webb made history
with the opening of the first Sun City retirement community outside of
Phoenix, Arizona. More than 100,000 people came to tour the community
in its opening days. In 1993, people camped out for more than a week
to be the first homebuyers at Terravita, Del Webb's first country club
community located near Scottsdale, Arizona. Then in 1999, thousands
attended the grand opening of both Anthem Phoenix, a family community
offering an unprecedented level of amenities, and Anthem Las Vegas,
the company's first multigenerational community with an upscale
country club, a Sun City community and traditional family housing all
in one master plan. The Del Webb Corporation was acquired by Pulte
Homes in 2001.
Initial sales operations for Corte
Bella are located in Del Webb's Sun City Grand's Administration
Building at 14780 W. Mountain View Boulevard in Surprise, Arizona.
Corte Bella is planning a grand opening for the model park in July
with a community grand opening planned for Fall 2003.
Pulte Homes, Inc., (www.pulte.com)
based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has operations in more than 44
markets across the United States. Under its Del Webb (www.delwebb.com)
brand, the Company is also the nation's leading builder of active
adult communities for people age 55 and older. Over its history, the
Company has constructed more than 300,000 homes and has been named
Builder of the Year for 2002 by Professional Builder magazine. Pulte
Mortgage LLC is a nationwide lender committed to meeting the financing
needs of Pulte Homes' customers by offering a wide variety of loan
products and superior customer service. |