Tri Pointe Homes Arizona Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Arizona partnered with experts to comprehensively assess the living needs of a unique core customer to masterfully craft a home of convenience and comfort for the 55+ demographic of Victory at Verrado’s Active Adult Community.

Precision in Craftsmanship for a Unique Core Customer

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Arizona is a developer of single-family homes for premium homebuyers in the greater Phoenix and Tucson markets. Using a suite of proprietary processes and tools including FlexDesign^®, LivingSmart^® and their Design Studio, the company specializes in home customization, reliably delivering homes that are tailored to a buyer's specific needs. In early 2015, the company debuted the Freedom Collection of Homes at the brand new active adult community of Victory at Verrado, located in the West Valley of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

Opportunity

Arizona, and specifically the Phoenix market, is one of the most fiercely competitive homebuilding markets with the highest concentration of national and regional builders in the country. As a popular city for retirement, Phoenix has seen a surge in homebuilders catering to the active adult housing market. To be successful in a market inundated with competition, it is critical a homebuilding company differentiates itself. To thrive, Tri Pointe Homes Arizona was charged with designing not only a great home, but delivering a premier, customized product that exceeded the market expectations. This meant fully immersing themselves in the living needs and desires of the 55+ demographic to carefully orchestrate a flawless design.

Solution

As a company that prides itself on customization, Tri Pointe Homes Arizona took to the experts to assist in its quest to offer a sharp design, fitting for a more mature demographic. The company worked with national active adult experts to develop its Freedom Collection of homes, which combines beautiful architecture with subtle design cues that add convenience and ease to living, such as one-story floor plans, split master bedrooms, wider hallways and doors, sitting showers, raised appliances and easily accessible storage. The Freedom Collection not only offers a home of comfort, but a home that the 55+ demographic can continuously grow into as they live their active lifestyles.

Result

By collaborating with subject matter experts, Tri Pointe Homes Arizona was delighted to unveil the Freedom Collection, masterfully crafted for convenience and comfort for the 55+ demographic. With home sales underway at a brisk pace, the features included in the Freedom Collection capture the spirit of an active lifestyle and celebrate the community of Verrado. Within the Victory district, Tri Pointe Homes Arizona owned 98 home sites with another 92 under contract so the company could further expand its homebuilding success.

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Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire puts the customer first to produce thriving communities.

Putting Customers First to Produce Thriving Communities

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire boasts an outstanding reputation in California's Inland Empire as the premier builder of quality master-planned communities. The company prides itself on seeing projects through from raw land to home closing, one of the last homebuilders of this kind to legitimately own the entire development process. Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire emphasizes competitive production cycle times while always being cognizant of a safe working environment. The company's high-ranking sales performance with award-winning customer satisfaction is evidence of their high regard in this market. With a combined total of over 60 years in homebuilding experience in the Inland Empire, the key executive personnel for Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire are the masterminds behind the esteemed Canyon Hills development, a thriving master-planned community in Lake Elsinore that, upon completion, will consist of 3,500 homes and an 18-acre sports park with two recreation facilities.

Located west of Canyon Lake in the Foothills of Lake Elsinore, this flawlessly designed community offers shopping, parks and recreation with homes that touch a full spectrum of potential buyers, presenting products spanning from townhomes and small lot detached homes to traditional single family and move-up homes.

Opportunity

As a secondary commuter market in the greater Los Angeles area, primary commuter markets are steep competition for Canyon Hills, and state and local jurisdictions make building in lower revenue markets a challenge. For homebuyers to consider purchasing in secondary markets, the prerequisite for quality design increases exponentially. Purchasers expect to find far more luxuries and benefits from moving farther from the city center in hopes of offsetting the additional commuting distance, with added value being of the utmost importance.

Solution

Due to the company's longevity in the Inland Empire, strong relationships with jurisdictional partners have been established, which allowed for efficiency in maneuvering through cumbersome city-related obstacles, ultimately allowing Canyon Hills to become a reality. While Canyon Hills may compete geographically with the commuter markets, Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire remains unrivaled in customer satisfaction, offering floor plans and design options that many home seekers find unexpected at the company's competitive $361,000 average price point. The company strives to find innovative ways to cater homes to customers' needs, presenting opportunities to build homes that families can continue to grow into. The perks of being within a master-planned community, such as convenience, amenities and open space, allow for endless marketing opportunities for the target market, with living luxuries buyers wouldn't otherwise have access to in primary commuter markets.

Result

By leveraging its strong knowledge base in master-planned communities and focusing on customers' needs, Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire was able to deliver Canyon Hills, a prosperous community. The company's ability to take on the role as planner, developer and builder of this community has fortified Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire's aptitude in large scale planning, with an unwavering focus on the customer first. The company's customer-centric approach won them the 2014 Avid Cup Award for the highest customer satisfaction ratings in North America. The success of Canyon Hills illustrates the expertise that Tri Pointe Homes Inland Empire has in this full range of development and, to date, over 2,500 of the 3,500 homes in Canyon Hills have been built with 2,650 homes sold. The addition of commercial spaces, schools, community parks and recreation amenities further solidify Canyon Hills as a magnificent neighborhood for years to come.

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Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles highlights leadership and innovation with “Rock the Block”.

Highlighting leadership and innovation with “Rock the Block”

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles builds thoughtfully designed and innovative new homes and communities for first-time through luxury homebuyers, including Aliento, an exclusive, gated enclave with four distinct neighborhoods in Santa Clarita, close to work, retail, entertainment and the LA lifestyle via the nearby SR-14. Aliento provides a modern, sophisticated take on timeless, resort-style living and gives home shoppers the option to combine features from the myriad of choices offered within design packages to personalize their homes and create a look all their own.

As a company known for innovation and thoughtful design, Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles was excited to be selected to participate in Season 1 of HGTV’s popular home design series, “Rock the Block.” The series featured four of HGTV’s biggest stars in the home renovation and design space who competed to see who could best apply their unique talents and personal touches to four identical, side-by-side homes at Aliento. The goal was to use the homes as their canvas and create one-of-a-kind designs that would become extraordinary dream homes with elevated property values.

Opportunity

Now more than ever, consumers are well-educated and well-versed in design, from how a kitchen is laid out, to which materials are used in a master bathroom. And, they have very particular needs and demands when it comes to how their new homes will complement and enhance their lifestyle. How do builders accommodate a myriad of buyers who want specific choices and personalization in their new homes?

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles accomplishes this by offering some of the industry’s most unparalleled design options on the market, building its reputation as a premium lifestyle builder —a key reason that its community was chosen as the backdrop for HGTV’s hit series. The show was the perfect avenue to demonstrate the innovative ways the homebuilder curates home design selections and options and elevates customer experience and expectations, while delivering homes that are unique to each buyer’s needs, desires and lifestyles.

Result

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles was able to create a fun and unique approach for millions to see its award-winning strategy for master-planned community concepts and how it pushes the design envelope of well-designed, premium lifestyle residential offerings at attainable price point across several demographics.

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles’ appearance on the show achieved impressive results for the show itself. The Season 1 finale drew a 56 percent rating increase over year-ago levels and a 43 percent boost over the previous six weeks. The show homes were also put on the market and proved so popular with home shoppers that only one remains available to purchase. Meanwhile, the “Get the Look Packages” concept has been a major hit with homebuyers. These packages, offered through Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles’ Design Studio, continue to inspire home shoppers who are using the wide array of design elements from the hit series to create looks that are personal and one-of-a-kind.

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Tri Pointe Homes San Diego Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes San Diego leverages strong, established relationships with jurisdictions and community organizations to deliver highly sought after 2600-acre master-planned community of Pacific Highlands Ranch.

Delivering a Legacy of Master-Planned Excellence Through Solid Reputation and Relationships

Background

For over 61 years, Tri Pointe Homes San Diego has been San Diego's premier homebuilder, providing quality home choices for a spectrum of households and price points, with particular focus on superior master-planned settings that also include schools, parks, shopping and other amenities. As a powerful brand with a solid reputation, Tri Pointe Homes San Diego is committed to excellence-a commitment that has not only earned the company generations of loyal repeat customers, but also the loyalty of a tenured, skilled team. Tri Pointe Homes San Diego is the proud master plan developer of Pacific Highlands Ranch, which occupies one of San Diego's best coastal-close locations.

Opportunity

As a 2,600-acre master plan that, upon build out, will consist of nearly 5,000 homes, six schools, three parks and a mixed-use retail village core and commercial office, a development that required the approval of voters throughout San Diego. Being a highly constrained market, developing a master plan in a strategic coastal-close location meant working alongside jurisdictions, agencies, environmental and community groups to make agreements for entitlement of land assets.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes San Diego’s proven track record of successfully collaborating with the involved groups was instrumental in the progression of the development. The coalition created a land design that preserved key natural resources and provided for schools, parks and community services. The residential densities were designed in such a way to be highest in the mixed-use core and lowest at the community edges in order to blend with surrounding neighborhoods. A stormwater quality program was implemented and environmentally-friendly features and options were presented together with an ongoing education effort through the company's model homes. The mindful design and elements of this master plan allowed Tri Pointe Homes San Diego the opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders.

Result

By effectively working with the City of San Diego, Carmel Valley Community Planning Group, Sierra Club and other environmental and community groups, Tri Pointe Homes San Diego ultimately achieved two successful city­wide ballot measures a dozen years apart, allowing the company's full community vision to become a reality. Even during the recent recession, Pacific Highlands Ranch held its value, and sales continued throughout the country's economic hardships and subsequent recovery. Pacific Highlands Ranch is currently 40 percent built out, with nearly 2,000 homes, four highly regarded schools (with another under construction), a new park, and the Village retail scheduled to open end of first quarter, 2015. To date Pacific Highlands Ranch and its neighborhoods have received over 30 awards, recognizing excellence in sustainability, energy efficiency, green building, home design and master planned community of the year.

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Tri Pointe Homes Washington Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Washington partners with City officials to lift a development moratorium and successfully sells out of 23 home Woodland Community.

Establishing Premium Communities through Cohesive Partnerships

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Washington has been building Washington state homes for over 45 years and is known for its philosophy of constructing homes and neighborhoods for the lives people want to live. The company has maintained a willingness-to-refer rate of over 93 percent throughout the construction and sale of 15,000 homes, establishing Tri Pointe Homes Washington as a regional leader in premium homebuilding. The company focuses on building desirable communities in close proximity to highly rated schools, jobs and retail centers, and the Woodland development is a testament to these standards. Woodland is one of the first communities to feature Tri Pointe Homes Washington’s premium approach to home design, sales and land procurement. Located on Seattle's desirable eastside, its early interest list qualification and strong sales velocity has defined this development as an exceptional place to live.

Opportunity

Coming out of the downturn, the Puget Sound market continues to face supply constraints on lots. For many years, plat maps weren't being drawn, and the pipelines for new starts were not being filled. Tri Pointe Homes Washington strategically purchased the parcel of raw land for Woodland from an individual owner, and needed to work diligently with the city of Woodinville on the terms of its citywide development moratorium, which directly affected the property and, ultimately, Tri Pointe Homes Washington’s development conditions.

Solution

As a well-capitalized company with an extremely competitive land-buying strategy, Tri Pointe Homes Washington leveraged its 45 years of experience to secure the lot and the fate of the Woodland development. With strong local relationships and extensive jurisdictional knowledge, the company offered testimony at public meetings and worked together with the city to modify code language calculating developable area in its medium density zone. This collaboration with the city resulted in the lift of the moratorium for the property and allowed for approval of entitlements for Woodland, creating favorable opportunities to directly benefit the Woodinville community. Through the entitlements, the company partnered with Woodinville to enhance an off-site wetland, and facilitated much-needed road and sidewalk improvements while making traffic safety a priority throughout the construction. This partnership allowed for favorable development conditions for the company, allowing Tri Pointe Homes Washington the flexibility needed to develop the raw land into what is now a thriving community, boasting with beautiful homes that incorporate the best in design thinking.

Result

By working cohesively with the city of Woodinville and building upon strong local partnerships, Tri Pointe Homes Washington was able to build the Woodland development to its maximum potential, establishing it as the flourishing community it is today. The homes, priced from the mid-$500's to mid-$600's, were highly sought after by tech professionals employed in the surrounding area. Woodland has surpassed all sales goals, selling out of all 23 home sites in just ten months. The project's incredible success validated Tri Pointe Homes Washington’s position as a first-class home builder, further paving the way for the company's many premium communities to come.

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Tri Pointe Homes Houston Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Houston reinvents traditional home design to meet buyer demand for views and inviting streetscapes resulting in new development positions.

Reinventing Traditional Home Design to Meet Buyer Demand for Views and Inviting Streetscapes Results in New Development Positions

Background

For nearly 45 years, Tri Pointe Homes Houston has been a staple in Houston as the region's leading builder of superior luxury homes, defining the concept of an affordable luxury home. The company's consistently strong customer satisfaction scores have earned the builder a glowing reputation, with two-thirds of sales coming from word of mouth. The company's strong leadership and reputation has also attributed to its financial strength spanning over four decades, having never taken a loss-even during market downturns. In a market that is constantly changing, Tri Pointe Homes Houston takes pride in adaptability, offering unique products that set them apart from competitors. The Living View Series, designed with families in mind, is evidence of Trend maker's ability to stay ahead of the homebuilding curve, offering an advantageous spin on the traditional home footprint, resulting in fantastic views, usable yards and inviting streetscapes.

Opportunity

To remain a leader in an evolving market, Tri Pointe Homes Houston strives to think outside the box. With a focus on both aesthetics and resourcefulness, the company began conceptualizing ways to address lot availability and lot delivery constraints. Crafting a plan that would drastically change traditional architectural designs would mean changing layouts on lots as well, and in the initial offerings of this design, it became evident that finding a solution to these age-old issues would mean re-conceptualizing lot spaces, as well.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes Houston remained steadfast in making this series a flawless reality for its customers. By turning an architectural design concept on its side, literally, the Living View series provides an expansive front elevation, allowing for panoramic 'living views' from both the front and back of the home rather than providing the less desirable views of the sides of neighbor's homes or fences. Rather than trying to squeeze the design into a 90-foot lot, or tampering with the home design and sacrificing square footage, the president and land team of Tri Pointe Homes Houston presented the concept for larger lots to developers, and were able to secure larger lot sizes for future offerings to allow the design to realize its full potential. Tri Pointe Homes Houston now requires a 110-foot or larger lot depth for the Living View series, allowing the customer to maximize the views and utilization of both the front and back yard.

Result

By creating and perfecting the Living View series, the company is continuously offered positions in different developments due to the series' success and customer satisfaction ratings, with four developers in seven different communities designing sections for it specifically. Additionally, re-conceptualizing lot plans has allowed the company positions in communities they wouldn't have otherwise had, and without developers having to eliminate existing land segments-a proverbial win/win for all interested parties. Over the years, Tri Pointe Homes Houston has built the Living View series in seven communities throughout the Houston area. The company has closed 296 homes with the Living View design between 2009 and 2014 at an average sales price of $376,000.

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Tri Pointe Homes Colorado Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Colorado maximizes coordination with the City of Denver and design experts to create a 29-unit infill neighborhood three miles south of Denver’s thriving downtown.

Utilizing relationships and experience to bring new single-family housing opportunities to the Denver market

Background

Based in Denver, Tri Pointe Homes Colorado was founded on over a century of combined real estate industry experience. Although relatively new to the Colorado market, Tri Pointe Homes and its established leadership team have built solid relationships with local land sellers and jurisdictions to define themselves as a market leader, growing from a start up with initial sales and closings in one community in 2013 to a top 15 position in the Denver/Northern Colorado market by the end of 2014. Tri Pointe Homes Colorado makes customer experience a pillar of the operation, achieving a high level of customer satisfaction by putting the customer perspective at the forefront. The company relishes the opportunity to create desirable new home designs that stand out in a marketplace epitomized by conventional, production builders. A testament to the company's expertise, Platt Park North is an infill neighborhood consisting of 29 single family detached alley-loaded homes, located three miles south of downtown Denver.

Opportunity

The location selected for Platt Park North was within an existing neighborhood, which meant tight working confines and less flexibility to build in both a traditional and efficient manner. Aesthetically, Tri Pointe Homes Colorado was determined to create homes that exhibited forward-thinking architectural elements, but needed to work within the constraints of the city's requirements to design a home that would fit into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. Because of the community's infill setting, the Tri Pointe Homes Colorado marketing team was not able to utilize many of the tools available in suburban locations, nor could they leverage the power of a master-planned community marketing program to assist in the sales process.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes Colorado’s onsite construction team coordinated closely with the developer of the adjacent townhome product, the City and County of Denver, as well as the neighboring residents to minimize the impact on the existing streets and alleys, allowing for a production strategy that was practical for all involved parties. With a mission to build a beautiful home inside and out, Tri Pointe Homes Colorado called upon the Woodley Architectural Group to create livable plans within the zoning constraints, and the Duet Design Group to merchandise the models in a fashion that spoke to the targeted buyer. Armed with the ingredients needed to promote a successful development, the marketing team took to a grassroots outreach program to connect with specialty area realtors through a series of events and one-on-one meetings. A digital marketing program was leveraged to more effectively target the proper buyer demographic, as well as a print advertising campaign in publications geared at the affluent target market.

Result

The construction for Platt Park North is at a halfway point, with completion expected by the end of 2015. The pace for sales has been at over 2.5 a month since the opening of the models in July of 2014. The average sales price has been over $690,000 on the 11 closed homes, and $750,000 on the remaining backlog-both of which are well above the underwriting assumptions for the neighborhood. The flawless design of Platt Park North homes has led to multiple awards, including the 2014 MAME Awards (presented by the Home Builder Association of Metropolitan Denver) for Best Interior Merchandising of a Detached Model Home in the 2,201 to 2,600 square foot category, as well as the 2015 Nationals (presented by NAHB National Sales and Marketing Council) Gold Awards for both the Best Architectural Design of a Single Family Home and the Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Home in the 2,000- to 2,499-square-foot category.

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Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area Division utilizes infill expertise to develop 285 urban homes on city-adjacent Alameda Island.

Using Infill Expertise to Create Profitable New Urban Opportunities

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area is a San Ramon-based designer, constructor and seller of premium single-family homes and condominiums. Founded on more than a century of combined real estate industry experience, the company focuses on building quality master-planned and urban infill communities throughout Northern California. Alameda Landing is a maritime-inspired mixed-use urban village located just off Alameda's Webster Street Tube, which attaches the island of Alameda to the city of Oakland. Formally the United States Navy's Fleet Industrial Supply Center, this 72-acre mixed-use urban village is comprised of retail, office and residential. Maximizing space and indoor/outdoor living, the homes are designed to blend with the project's commercial elements and for the way people live. As a proven leader in providing housing that meets the demand for closer-in city living, Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area was chosen as the exclusive builder of 285 homes at Alameda Landing, which has transformed the once deserted military land into a vibrant community.

Opportunity

Infill is a big part of the Northern California Real Estate market and land entitlement challenges are par for the course in the Bay Area. The city of Alameda specifically is a "hot spot" for development and the approval process for a property of this size and close proximity to the water presented challenges for Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area. As the first redevelopment of its kind in the city of Alameda, Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area was also faced with the task of structuring a fair market-pricing model without having any real estate comps to refer to while simultaneously adhering to the strict affordability quotas set forth by the city.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area worked diligently with the city of Alameda to smoothly work through the various approval procedures set forth by the city. The company was able to bypass the often onerous noise restriction process since the development is separated from the surrounding neighborhoods by retail on one side and the bay on the other. To address the affordability quotas, Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area agreed to build 16 affordably priced homes, donated an acre of land to the city and is providing capital to help pay for construction of another 23 affordable units.

Result

By working cohesively with the city to gain approval, Tri Pointe Homes Bay Area was able to break ground in 2012. The company entered the market at a pricing level in the high $800,000s for detached homes and mid $500,000s for attached homes. At a price point marginally lower than median prices in neighboring San Francisco, Alameda Landing surpassed sales and revenue expectations. Additionally, they have been afforded the luxury of securing a diverse community of age, ethnicities and employment, resulting in a neighborhood that truly encompasses the greatness of the Bay Area.

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Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro leverages innovative design to create environmentally friendly Silver Springs Community development

Leveraging Design Innovation to Create Green Community

Background

Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro is known for its Design Studio, which gives customers the ability to work one-on-one with designers to create a home that fits their unique lifestyles. Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro offers the program at each of its single-family and townhome communities throughout the Washington D.C. region. In the past 30 years, Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro has delivered more than 18,000 homes, establishing the company as a regional leader in premium homebuilding. Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro's Poplar Run community in Silver Springs, Maryland is a 308-acre development committed to preserving open green space for a full half of its acreage, providing homeowners a natural, serene setting coupled with Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro's award-winning design program. With a clubhouse, three pools, walking trails, vast green space and its close proximity to downtown Silver Springs, Poplar Run has proven to be an extremely desirable community for both families and commuters alike.

Opportunity

Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro strategically chose a former country club as the site for the Poplar Run development, embracing the lush landscape of its predecessor. While the vast, open space of the land allowed for unlimited building potential, the existing configuration made for challenges beyond what might be found in a typical area parcel, such as structured plumbing and access to a drain line to the Chesapeake Bay. Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro was tasked with creating these essential plans, while being mindful to not impede on any existing environmental barriers in order to preserve the green space. In addition to ecological complexities, a lack of staff in the jurisdiction of the development site meant permit delays and elongated approval processes, and the company also needed to maintain a strong, structured sales process throughout all phases of the development.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro was able to design an innovative plumbing system that aligned to an existing drain line without compromising the landscape, allowing the vision of preserving the land's green space to become a reality. The company proactively studied the Silver Spring-Glenmont Master Plan goals and objectives in order to design a master plan that complemented the integrity of the city's goals, allowing for efficient approval processes within the jurisdiction. Additionally, the company engaged the community by conducting over thirty outreach meetings to keep the neighborhood informed of the development proposals, which enabled Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro to negate customary objections, further securing support for Poplar Run. To achieve sales goals, Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro implemented a company-wide effort during opening that enabled them to achieve 45+ immediate sales.

Result

By proactively working with the city and remaining steadfast with design throughout development's many phases, Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro was able to realize its vision of the thriving Poplar Run community. The company has maintained the momentum set from the initial company-wide sales effort, having achieved tenacious sales targets on an ongoing basis, with 477 homes sold out of the 773 planned as of February 2015. The lush neighborhood boasts a beautiful entry drive and a plethora of amenities for homeowners, with the fine craftsmanship of the Poplar Run Centennial Home Style winning the 2013 PCBC Grand Awards Gold Nugget Award for Best Single-Family Detached home in the 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot division, further validating Tri Pointe Homes DC Metro as a leader in luxury homebuilding.

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Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles Case Study

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles utilizes community feedback to deliver premier Huntington Beach development from former school grounds.

Designing Premier Developments Based on Community Feedback

Background

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles is an Irvine‐based designer, constructor and seller of premium single-family homes and condominiums. Founded on more than a century of combined real estate industry experience, the company is devoted to astute design and superior craftsmanship, setting new standards in homebuilding and customer experience. Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles is dedicated to bringing housing to both urban infill and award‐winning master‐planned communities throughout core growth markets in Southern California. Truewind and Fairwind in Huntington Beach are testaments to this dedication; built upon two separate Huntington Beach School District parcels—both with shuttered elementary schools on site, these now thriving neighborhoods offer homebuyers the opportunity to own brand‐new homes in a mature and settled community.

Opportunity

The real estate market in Southern California has seen a surge in infill developments, and the availability and cost of land where people most want to live remains an ongoing challenge. The long stretch of sandy beaches and renowned surf town vibe make Huntington Beach’s real estate highly sought after, but as the most populous beach city in Orange County, it stands as an established community. As an innovative, expansion‐minded company, Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles saw the potential in the former school sites of the Wardlow School and the Lamb School, but knew rededicating land that once housed community schools was going to be a complex undertaking. The sites had sat vacant for years, and in the case of the Wardlow School, the abandoned buildings had become an accessible secluded hangout for transients and teenagers, and the open land that was once a playground area had been reformed by neighbors who assumed they could use it for their own purposes. Both communities were apprehensive about the repercussions large‐scale housing would have on their privacy and access to sunlight. The Wardlow School site community conveyed immediate concerns about storm drains and parking needs for the adjacent baseball fields and the effect the weekend parking overflow would have on their community. The Lamb School site community expressed concerns about the need for more open space in the existing 2.6‐acre park, as well as the faulty storm drains that caused regular flooding issues in the adjacent neighborhood. Assembling these two parcels into a cohesive whole was going to be a challenge in itself, but considering the concerns of the surrounding community became an immediate priority in the planning process.

Solution

Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles established a community outreach program for each site and designed its site plan and home products to address residents’ concerns and issues. The company incorporated an 80‐space parking lot into their design for the Wardlow School site, and built several hundred feet of storm drains for the city, plus voluntarily put together a green‐building program that includes a “starter” photovoltaic system for each house and water conserving irrigation systems for landscaping. At the Lamb School site, Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles improved the 2.6 acres of land adjacent to the former school site for the City as a park and sports field, and built a half‐mile of public storms drains to alleviate regular flooding issues in the adjacent neighborhoods. In laying out its homes, the company doubled the required City setback to 20 feet, and created a further setback to 30 feet for the second floors when adjacent to the existing neighborhood. Homes were positioned so that only a few would be back‐to‐back with existing houses, and positioned certain floor plans with less second floor massing against existing homes with shallower rear yards.

Result

By designing sites that directly addressed community concerns, Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles was able to make their vision for the Fairwind and Truewind developments a reality while simultaneously making community improvements. The company’s ability to win local trust fortified their place in the City of Huntington Beach, and their achievements are subsequently winning buyers over. As of May 2015, 48 of Fairwind’s 80 homes have sold, and 42 of Truewind’s 49 homes have sold, illustrating the expertise Tri Pointe Homes Orange County-Los Angeles has in this full range of development. The additional community involvement and improvements continue to solidify Fairwind and Truewind as welcomed neighborhoods within this charming beach town.

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