Street of Dreams may boost economy

The Street of Dreams housing and lifestyle show is under way at MacDonald Highlands in Henderson. The show, which runs through June 16, attracted thousands of visitors when it opened last weekend.

Dave Straughan, president of Street of Dreams Inc., said the event not only brings opportunities to view fine housing and lifestyle products, but it can also provide a boost to the local economy.

Straughan said a formula created by show organizers leads to such economic predictions. According to the formula, on average, each show home is valued at $2.92 million unfurnished, which when multiplied by four equals $11.69 million. Furthermore, Straughan said each home, on average, will generate within the subsequent two years five custom home-building contracts for each builder to construct homes valued at about $2.75 million each, which generates an additional $11 million per builder.

The formula also considers that the average cost for interior decorations and furnishings in each show home is estimated at $400,000 and 50 percent of that merchandise is typically sold to show attendees, equaling about $800,000 in sales.

According to Straughan, because many the show's projected 50,000 attendees leave the show with a better knowledge of new products and trends, it is not unreasonable to assume that each may upgrade his or her purchases for his or her home by $125 during the next year, which would generate another $6.87 million in sales.

This is the third Street of Dreams event in Southern Nevada and the first at the guard-gated MacDonald Highlands community, which is centered around the DragonRidge Golf Club and three neighborhood parks. The show homes are located in the Highlands custom-home neighborhood.

"We are very pleased with the builders and designers involved in creating these spectacular homes for Street of Dreams," Straughan said. "Their talent and hard work have made this show an unforgettable experience for the thousands of visitors we are seeing each week."

The hillside designs are valued from about $1.995 million to $3.75 million and range from 5,408 to 8,251 square feet. Builders and their design firms are: Job Construction and Sydni Jay Associates -- Designers; Sun West Custom Homes and Karen Butera Inc.; 5 Star Development/Hi-Con Inc. and Designers Touch; and GJM Development and Joy Bell Design Associates.

Among the homes' unique features are edge pools with spas, swim-up bars, waterfalls and trellises; entries with skylights, wood ceilings and floating ceilings; a basement recreation room with underwater windows that view into the interior of a pool; a glass elevator spanning three stories; a 1,700-square-foot master suite; vanity mirrors that transform into television and computer monitors; a flat acrylic screen in an eating nook with a hidden projector that enables television viewing and Internet access at the touch of a keypad; custom glass art; a dry cleaning machine in a master suite; and gourmet kitchens with myriad gadgets.

The show is open Tuesdays through Sundays and on Memorial Day. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with ticket sales stopping at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for senior citizens and children ages 4 to 12; and free for younger children.

To reach MacDonald Highlands, take Interstate 215 to Valle Verde Drive, and go south to Horizon Ridge Parkway.

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