Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate Blog

Diana Balazs
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 26, 2007 12:39 PM  PARADISE VALLEY – Much has been said about how the residential villas at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa under construction in Paradise Valley look like on the outside.

Many have questioned the design of the two-story homes that have risen southeast of Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive.

Be patient has been the mantra of project developer Crown Realty & Development Corp.  Beginning Nov. 8, the public can view a $2.9 million finished model by appointment. The showplace villa is one of seven that have not been sold.

“We’re really proud to be at this stage of our project. Our first homeowners will be taking possession of their homes in about six to eight weeks, and we’re looking forward to the resort opening in about seven or eight months from now,” said Robert Flaxman, Crown’s chief executive officer.

The project generated a lot of media interest, Flaxman said.

Flaxman showed off a finished villa this week for the media and commented on 3 1/2years of press.

“A lot of good, a little bit of not so good, but most of the press that’s occurred to date has always been about expectation, about what we are saying we’re going to do and what people think we’re going to do,” Flaxman said. “Today is the first time you actually get a chance to see what we really did,” he told the group.

Twenty-seven of the 34 detached homes built have sold, with prices starting in the low $2 millions. They range in size from 3,800 to 4,700 square feet.

While it remains a construction site, the decorative facades of the villas are taking shape. Each exterior varies in design with judicious use of stone, tile and other accents.

No expense was spared in the three bedroom, 3.5-bath model villa designed by Scheurer Architects Inc. and built by Rowland Luxury Homes. There is custom lighting, hand-forged ironwork, hand-painted tile, plastered veneered walls, reclaimed hardwood floors, antiques, and original paintings and frescoes by local artists Susan and Doug Diehl.

Beth McGehee, principal with Studio B, leads the villas’ design team. She said she is proud of the results.

“We have many happy homeowners at this point anxious to move into their houses. They did make their purchase decisions based on an on-site studio, finished materials that we could show them, and visual representations of what this was to look like when it was completed,” she said.

Longtime radio personality Bill Heywood is a Montelucia sales executive.

He said of the 26 villas sold, 21 were bought by Paradise Valley residents who want to scale back.

“They don’t want to move out of the area. They love the area,” he said.

Thanks to the quality and craftsmanship of the villas, Flaxman said the 26 homes sold for an average price of $3.3 million. The buyers chose the lifestyle because the project integrates both great design and service, he said.

“These people are not silly. They’re not stupid. They’re very smart in how they allocate their money,” he said.

If you are looking for a home in Montelucia or Paradise Valley click here:  http://www.theholmgroupaz.com/ParadiseValley.htm

Or Call 480-767-2738