Amenities to Include in a Ouray Subdivision

When you think about developing a neighborhood subdivision on parcels, such as Ouray’s 9 Acres, you begin to think of lot layouts, streets, and what amenities would make sense. Amenities for one group, or demographic, are different than for another. As an example, desirable amenities for retirement age couples are probably different than for young marrieds.

Building costs relate to size of the subdivision structures, and their design and finish levels, to mention a few. A luxurious community, targeted towards 55+ individuals, will have different amenities than one with starter homes (pickle ball courts – a good example).

As amenities are added, popularity can increase, but also, costs can shoot up. It is always a good project starting point to have in mind the profile of your ideal property owner. This will help determine and define the amenities. Regardless of subdivision price range, a common trend among new-home communities is … amenities galore! Amenities can add value to your investment and that’s exactly what homebuilders aim to do by offering a variety of amenities in these new-home communities — not to mention the homeowner gets the added benefit of simply being able to use them any time they want.

A study by real estate advising company Robert Charles Lesser & Co. shows homebuyers are increasingly looking for green space and trail systems for walking, running and biking. As a result, parks and trails have become important community amenities. Here is their Top List of desirable community amenities:

1. Parks and green spaces 2. Paved trail systems for walking, jogging, biking, etc. 3. Village centers with retail services and cafes for gathering and socializing 4. Outdoor, resort-style pools 5. Exercise rooms and equipment 6. Natural (unpaved) trail systems for hiking and walking

A beautiful thing about Ouray’s 9 Acres – it can deliver on all of these. The property borders an already, in place, majestic trail and exercise system that is next to the Uncompahgre River! It is common to see joggers and physical fitness buffs passing by. Follow the trail a bit towards Mt. Abram, and you soon are at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Park, with their exercise rooms and equipment. Translation … these desirable features are already in place for a community on Ouray’s 9 Acres. Since the 9 acres is subdivided into two parcels and with C2 zoning, it is also possible to think of an area for retail services, number 3 on the list.

Well … if those six amenities mentioned above don’t suit your tastes, there are still even more amenity trends taking over in new-home communities around the country. “We found that it’s the custom touch to the amenities we offer that really appeals to our buyers,” says Marshall Gobuty, developer of the award-winning Mirabella communities, designed for 55-plus active adults. “Pickle ball courts and a dog park just for the residents’ canines address two recent trends adopted by many master-planned communities, and which are offered at Mirabella in a more personal environment. Pets are now family members and, increasingly, for-rent and for-sale communities are responding to home buyer demands for dedicated spaces to care for the four-legged family members,” he said, adding that dog parks show up in almost every community, in addition to the occasional dog-wash station. Again – Ouray’s 9 Acres already has something to offer – a kennel and doggie spa is next door on the south property boundary, and many walk their pets along the trail to Ouray’s dog park. Pet waste bags are located along the trail.

“We’ve learned that today’s home buyers will not settle for a community that doesn’t echo their needs and expectations,” says Michael Lindeman, vice president of sales and marketing for Taylor Morrison’s Austin division. “Finding a community that offers the amenities you desire is important and makes the home buying process worth every penny. An amenity-rich community obviously helps with resale value,” says Gobuty, “but of equal importance to our buyers: a diverse offering of leisure activities that fosters a stronger sense of community.”

Steve Snoddy, vice president of sales for Phoenix-based AV Homes, agrees. “We like to create a community, which means we want people to utilize the amenities we build to help bring people together and have an enjoyable living experience when they’re outside of their home,” he says. “It’s not the home, it’s not necessarily the neighborhood; it’s the lifestyle that is offered with that community. It’s really all about trying to connect people with the neighborhoods,” Snoddy says. “It provides a reward for us, but it also really provides a sense of community for the people living there.”

Ouray lifestyles are active and outdoors – the residents live in the views and like to look out at them through floor to ceiling windows. Hiking, biking, running, off-roading – recreation is a cornerstone of the community. Clean air, natural beauty, the smell of pine – create an aura that keeps tourists returning too. Whether propelled by youthful legs or vehicle motors, residents love the trails that are probably the key Ouray attraction. So … a subdivision community might be well served with an area for “toy” and “trailer” storage as an amenity – either a building or parking area.

A new home owner in Ouray will certainly be a popular individual. Long lost friends and family have a tendency to show up for holidays and vacations. Therefore, a consideration for inclusion in a new Ouray community might be an event center for hosting family events such as weddings, anniversaries, and other gatherings. Such a revenue center as part of the master plan can help offset ongoing community maintenance costs, and make living and buying within the community even more attractive. Ouray’s 9 acres is ideally located, contoured, and zoned for such additional community use.

Is high-speed Internet through fibre optic cabling an amenity or an expected utility? We suspicion it is more of a requirement in today’s media demanding world, and not really an option. Trenching for utilities to the lot – might as well bury and terminate fibre optics on the property, or regret it later.

Call us with any ideas or questions – and make sure to visit the property and see the opportunity for yourself.

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