Home buyers like Siena's `hometown spirit'

When they first heard about the Siena village in southwestern Summerlin, George and Christy Roberts were residing in Monterey, Calif.

When they relocated to the age-qualified community, they packed up and left their home overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

"We wanted to downsize and retire," George Roberts, an attorney and real estate broker, said.

"We were thinking Arizona, then fell in love with Las Vegas. More than anything, we wanted to be part of a cohesive community. Siena already has a great hometown spirit."

The Roberts have exercised faithfully for years, so the community's health and fitness center was a major factor in their decision to buy a home in the Southern Nevada community.

The 15,900-square-foot facility has a cardiovascular and weight room, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, a spa, lighted tennis courts, and bocce courts.

They plan to take golf lessons and use the community's 18-hole championship golf course. One-third of the community's 1,900 homes will be on the par-72 course, which is open to the public. Homeowners are given preferred rates and tee times.

The 665-acre Sunrise Colony Co. community's guard-gated entrance and location near Spring Mountain also impressed the couple.

"The colors and shadows change constantly with the lighting and the sunsets are amazing," said George Roberts, who counts photography among his many hobbies.

They are just as excited about the neon landscape to the east.

"I was visiting Las Vegas as a kid, around 1955. We went to a restaurant on the Strip ... called Luigi's," Christy Roberts said.

"I was so overwhelmed because Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall and Dean Martin were playing pool in the front area across from the bar. We're still like two kids at Christmas living in Las Vegas, thrilled with the shows, shopping and restaurants. And we get such friendly vibes from the people here in Siena."

Other amenities include a 40,000-square-foot community center with arts and crafts facilities, meeting rooms, a library, ballroom and theater, card rooms, billiards room, and a computer and business center. There is a full-time activities manager, Kristyne Blake.

The social center will host a New Year's Eve celebration tonight.

Priced from the mid-$150,000s to more than $650,000, 14 single-story floor plans are available, ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet.

To visit the community, take Sahara Avenue to Town Center Drive and turn south. Proceed past Desert Inn Road and follow the signs.

The model homes and sales office are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

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