Developer provides peek into Mountain's Edge

Ground will be broken in mid-February for the first homes at Mountain's Edge, a 3,000-acre master-planned community in the hills of the southwestern valley. With an Old World theme, accentuated by olive groves and aged-stone walls, the lifestyle will center on outdoor recreation influenced by the geographical area.

"I like the fact that with our communities we try to create connections to the natural environment," said John Ritter, chief executive of Focus Property Group, the developer. "There will be trails throughout the community. ... It will be very pedestrian friendly."

Of the 670 acres allocated for public facilities including schools, a fire station and shopping centers, 550 acres are designated for parks, including a 320-acre regional facility and an 80-acre park near the entrance that Ritter hopes will be "the pride and joy" of the community. "It will be the first natural mountain park in Las Vegas."

Focus has been revegetating the area with indigenous plants and building a trail leading to the summit.

Trails also will connect with the mountains and open areas south of the community.

"When you develop a dense community, you need to provide common open spaces and tie in to the open spaces surrounding the development," Ritter said. "Summerlin is a good example of that."

And because the Old Spanish Trail passes through Mountain's Edge, Focus plans historical and cultural tie-ins such as replicated petroglyphs, Native American artifacts and settler history. For example, a western-themed park will feature two play areas: one resembling a village from the Old West with rocking horses in front of mock hitching posts and covered wagon play equipment, and the other an Indian village with a tepee climbing structure and totem-pole seesaws.

Ritter said the community also will promote energy efficiency and drought tolerance.

"We have worked very closely with (water officials) to make this project the poster child of how to develop a project that is aesthetically pleasing but water efficient. Along our primary roads and entries there will be more ground cover, with an emphasis on low-water usage plants."

He pointed out that there will be no unusable turf and that the only grass within the community's common areas will be in the parks.

More than 1,500 acres will comprise neighborhoods developed by 20 builders.

Ritter projects that homes will be priced from about $150,000 to $700,000, with the median price about $245,000. Models are expected to open by early second quarter, as is a community information center.

"We're striving to have the project include a good blend of natural and suburban development," he said. "We look at Las Vegas as a place to raise a family, and we're aiming this project to be a place to raise a family."

Mountain's Edge is located near Rainbow Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road. It will comprise about 12,500 homes.

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