Summerlin tackles water shortage

Summerlin residents may have noticed that the grass in the roundabout at Town Center Drive and Village Center Circle is dying. But that is OK, according to a representative of The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the community.

"The brown will soon give way to green, both in new water-smart landscaping and in dollars saved," said Tom Warden, vice president of community and government relations. "It's all thanks to a major landscape conversion that will remove the turf and replace it with a colorful and more interesting water-smart desert landscape.

"The Howard Hughes Corporation and the Summerlin North Community Association, owner of the roundabout, are working with Southern Nevada Water Authority to make it happen."

Warden said a decision was made early this summer to discontinue watering the grass even though the conversion was not scheduled to begin until October.

"It seemed wasteful to continue watering the roundabout this summer when we're going to tear it up in a few months," he said. "By shutting off the tap now, we are saving more than a million gallons of water a month. So, putting up with a little dead grass seems like a small price to pay. Perhaps it will remind residents that we all have a responsibility to be part of the valley's water solution."

The Summerlin North Community Association will fund about $170,000 of the estimated $400,000 project, according to Hal Bloch, association president.

"It wasn't easy convincing the association board to remove perfectly good grass," Bloch said. "But the more we studied the issue and the more we have become aware of the Las Vegas Valley's current water situation, we realized the investment now would not only reap future financial savings, it was the right thing to do."

Hughes Corp. and the water authority, through its Water Smart Landscapes rebate program, are to pay the balance.

"As the largest master-planned community in the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin can make a significant difference in not only saving water, but in setting a good example and encouraging resident participation. It's about pitching in and doing our part," Warden said.

Doug Bennett, water authority conservation manager, credited Hughes Corp. for its responsible approach to development.

"Summerlin incorporated water-smart landscapes into the community design long before they were required," he said.

"We appreciate the (company's) leadership and its support of the community's conservation efforts."

Summerlin aligns the western edge of the Las Vegas Valley and comprises villages.

It is home to parks, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities and business parks.

Nearly 120 model homes showcase the available single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums.

Residences are priced from the mid-$300,000s to more than $2 million. Custom-home sites are priced from the $500,000s.

For more information, visit www.reviewjournal.com/real estate and click on the Summerlin link.

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