Longford Group shifts into high gear

Three businessmen operate Longford Group, a residential and commercial development company based in Las Vegas. The men have a combined 56 years of industry experience -- and they are brothers.

John, Chris and David Murtagh thrive on being an industry leader with products ranging from building single-family homes for rent to developing commercial properties for sale.

John Murtagh, company president, has been building homes for 20 years. First, in 1991, under the name Longford Homes; and more recently under the name Wexford Homes. Combined, Longford and its affiliates have built more than 4,000 homes in Southern Nevada, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The brothers formed Longford Group in 1998 with Chris Murtagh bringing 20 years of experience in manufacturing, and David Murtagh adding 16 years' experience in information technology.

"We've always been close as brothers," John Murtagh said. "Along with five other brothers and four sisters, we learned early on about the importance of teamwork, trust and tradition."

David Murtagh agreed.

"On Saturday, the rule was that we could not go out and play until chores were completed in and around the house," he said. "Three teams were chosen and the work began. The lessons we learned hold true today at Longford. Working together is more fun and the job at hand gets completed faster and better."

A competitive edge Wexford Homes long ago adopted is the Wexford Design System, which allows buyers to plan their homes.

"(It) gives our buyers the luxury of creating their own custom floor plan on a user-friendly computer before their very eyes," John Murtagh said. "We provide them with a multitude of floor plans from which to choose, and they literally build the home around their particular lifestyles."

Wexford Village, which offers homes priced from the low $100,000s, is located on Nellis Boulevard, north of Lake Mead Boulevard.

Two additional projects will open soon: Wexford Village North at Puebla Street and San Miguel Avenue near Nellis Air Force Base, which offers residences priced from the low $100,000s; and Mira Vista at Gowan Road and Clayton Street in North Las Vegas, which has homes priced from the $150,000s.

Longford Properties was formed in 2000, and is headed by Chris Murtagh. The division's flagship property is Longford Plaza, a 320,000-square-foot, single-story professional/medical office complex on Warm Springs Road, west of Pecos Road.

"The unique aspect of the plaza is that business owners can buy their own office building, from sizes that start at 1,600 square feet and go up to 10,000 square feet," Chris Murtagh said. "They'll wind up paying less per month than they would on a lease (and) get a return on their investment."

Longford Medical Center is scheduled to open in Summerlin next year. The 135,000-square-foot complex, with a surgical center and specialty heart center, will be built at Summerlin Parkway and Buffalo Drive.

Longford Apartment Division, overseen by David Murtagh, includes Diamond Pointe, a 344-unit complex at Stewart Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.

Construction starts in August on Diamond Vista, which will feature single-family homes in a gated setting with a park. The residences, located at Gowan and Walnut roads, will be available for rent by year's end.

"These homes are specifically designed and priced to be leased by those who can't yet afford to buy, but want to live in a new-home community," David Murtagh said.

Alan J. Perlmutter, a veteran commercial developer, recently was named vice president of business development for Longford Properties.

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