Home construction begins at Siena

     Special to Real Estate
      Bob and Jennifer Stickles, 10-year residents of Las Vegas, are among the many buyers eagerly awaiting to move into their new homes at Siena, a 665-acre age-restricted community in Summerlin.
      "We love the entire concept of Siena, especially the fact that there will only be about 1,900 homes built here," said Jennifer Stickles, an interior designer. "The smaller size of this community and its private, guard-gated entry are going to be over-and-above anything else we know of in the valley. There will be a lower population factor and no unwanted traffic coming through our streets, which will make us feel as though we are living in a more exclusive and protected community."
      Bob Stickles, an executive in the automotive industry, was impressed by the common amenities.
      "We're looking forward to buying a golf cart and having a lot of fun here," he said. "All the conveniences we want will be right here in our own private community. We can come home from work at the end of the day and enjoy a massage, a relaxing game of golf, and even pingpong, which is one of our favorite pastimes."
      All homes are single-story designs, ranging from 1,250 to 3,100 square feet. Early-phase pricing starts from $140,000 to about $450,000 for homes on premium golf course sites. About one-third of the homes will be built adjacent to the golf course.
      Buyers can choose from five collections of homes, 14 floor plans and three exterior designs. In addition, a design center can assist buyers in decorating their homes.
      The Stickles chose Plan 5130, a 1,573-square-foot home in the Milan Collection. Their home will feature two bedrooms, a den, two baths, a great room and a covered patio.
      "This home will be the perfect size for us, as we wanted to downsize somewhat in terms of square footage, but needed sufficient room for our larger furnishings," Jennifer Stickles said. "We like the openness of this home, with a huge great room and a patio that spans the entire width of the great room. Another nice feature is the separation between our master suite and the secondary bedroom, which will provide a high degree of privacy for us and our guests."
      The couple purchased their home on their first visit to Siena.
      "We were originally impressed by what we saw in the plans, and as construction progresses, we can see that this community will not only meet, but surpass our highest expectations," Bob Stickles said.
      Hal and Ardean Stone, also 10-year residents of Southern Nevada, chose a 2,713-square-foot floor plan in the Florence Collection. Their home is being built with three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a great room and a covered patio.
      "There is a two-car garage on one side of the home and a third-car garage on the other, which will serve perfectly for parking a golf cart and additional storage," Ardean Stone said.
      Hal Stone was impressed by the size of the community and its guard-gated entry. "Another strong factor in our decision to buy here is the all-single-story design of the homes, which will help protect the views we will have of the golf course, water features and the Las Vegas Strip," he said.
      Siena, a development of Sunrise Colony Co., has posted more than 40 sales, according to company President Jack Conlon, who said the first buyers are scheduled to move in by November.
      "Our initial home buyers are very excited to see how construction is progressing at Siena," Conlon said. "These are people who bought homes solely on what they saw in the plans for this community. Now they are beginning to see firsthand the exceptional design and quality these elegant floor plans offer."
      Also under construction are the first nine holes of a championship golf course, which is scheduled to open for play in January. The second nine holes are expected to open in July 2000.
      Jimmy Jones, vice president of sales, is impressed by the response to the community.
      "We are seeing very interesting reactions among our buyers, including a few who have expressed interest in purchasing more than one home here and several who are already bringing us referral sales," Jones said. "We were gratified to have so many sales during preconstruction, but to actually see buyers bringing their friends and relatives here is a tremendous source of satisfaction for us. It's a strong testament to how much more Siena offers ... adults both working and retired."
      Planned amenities include a 32,000-square-foot community center with a 5,700-square-foot ballroom with a stage. Also featured will be a bar, lounge, library, meeting rooms, a billiard room, business center, craft and card rooms, a communication center and a computer lab.
      Its fitness center will contain exercise equipment; locker rooms with saunas, steam rooms and massage areas; an indoor lap pool; and a wellness center offering diagnostic services. Outdoor amenities will include a pool, spa, lighted tennis courts and boccie courts. A play area will be available for guests of residents.
      A clubhouse will have a pro shop, a multi-tiered driving range and patio dining.
      The temporary sales office is located on the northeast corner of Sahara Avenue and Town Center Drive. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.Sunday, August 15, 1999 aPage 1M