Ranch Roundup

In this case, the roundup doesn't involve cattle; from time to time, I like to take a wide lens view around Morrison Ranch and see where we are in the process of building a community.

Higley Groves
As our "oldest" neighborhood, Higley Groves is well established, the trees are beginning to dominate the landscape views, and many houses have already changed ownership in this mobile society. I've posted a few times about the elementary school under construction; Higley Groves children will be able to walk to school this fall without crossing a major street.

Higley Groves West
Since this is the neighborhood where The Mister and I live, it gets a lot of discussion on The Front Porch. Our trees are also getting large enough to make a difference aesthetically (as well as providing shade); I love driving down the street on my way in or out. Our tot lots are now covered; the HOA board is working on the monument lighting and a possible fertigation system; the fence where the truck plowed through during the police chase is being repaired; and the wind has brought out a plethora of kites recently.

Our Office
We've painted the outside, recovered the sidewalks with slate, wallpapered the inside, and at the moment The First Cousin is overseeing some additional painting inside. My corner office with the window view is a very pleasant place to work.

Higley Estates
This community is sold out, though I think they have yet to close on the final houses. There is still plenty of construction happening, both in home building and the owner's upgrades. All the moms I know agree that this neighborhood has the best tot lot to date. When the construction is finished, the streets will quiet down and this will be an especially pleasant stroll.

Lakeview Village
The building of the shops between the Albertson's and DiRicci's is progressing. The Mister noted that the separations inside between shops are going up. I know you will be surprised to hear me say that, yes, it IS taking longer than we planned. The juice bar/coffee shop is still working on their improvement plans for the oasis, and the negotiations with other shops continues.

The Grain Tanks
The area around the tanks looks great; the tanks themselves are shiny silver; and the lights are on the way. Well, sort of. There is a small snag on the lights, as we need to get approval from the town, since it is changing the appearance of the tanks. Bias For Action is overseeing this process as it goes through the Design Review Board procedure.

Highland Groves
As with any community, there have been starts and stops, successes and setbacks as this neighborhood springs from the ground. The rumor is that the lakes will begin filling early next week, but I have heard similar rumors before, and so I'm not holding that out as fact just yet. The Morrison Homes and Ashton Woods houses are going up lightning quick since there hasn't been much rain to slow the process. U.S. Homes is working its way through town approval for its designs; they are making a fashionably late entrance to the party, but we think they will be worth the wait. After the lakes are filled and available for irrigation, be prepared for an explosion of green as the common landscaping is installed.

Lakeview Trails North
We closed escrow on this neighborhood last Friday, and the staking has already begun. To remind you of the progression, they will stake the entire piece and then start grading until everything is smooth, and then tear it all up again as they bury the utilities and install the curbs. The builders should be able to start their models about January.

Lakeside Groves
This community is across the street from Highland Groves, and it is still in the paperwork process. We hope to open escrow with some builders this year, and close that escrow and start construction in 2007.

The Desert Place
This neighborhood is actually in Mesa; it is located on Sossaman between Elliot and Guadalupe. It will look slightly different from the rest of Morrison Ranch because we don't have access to reclaimed water. We hope to retain the tree-lined streets and rail fences; instead of turf, we are looking at hedges. We want it to have the same high quality feel of a Morrison Ranch neighborhood, with plenty of shade; but it will take on some desert characteristics as well. The Mister tells me that the very first preliminary applications for The Desert Place will be given to the city of Mesa this week.


That's a lot of progress; it is gratifying to see the completion above ground of all the work put in beforehand. When I stop to think about how much time and effort goes into a project, and how much time and effort it takes to bring the dream to fruition, I am amazed and thankful for the team at the office. As The Mister says, "If it were easy, everyone would be doing it." It isn't easy; but it is fulfilling.