LAKEWOOD, CO -- Solterra, the 300-acre European-inspired west metro Denver hill town community, is partnering with Remington Homes, in adding 74 low-maintenance, highly energy efficient ranch-patio luxury homes that will appeal to the area’s booming active adult population.

According to Amy Sherman, president and CEO, West Chamber Serving Jefferson County, active adults are going to be a big part of the future of the region. “Jefferson County is aging and the market will need to respond to that trend.”

Solterra is located in Jefferson County, in west metro Denver’s Rooney Valley, just east of the new C-470 and Alameda Parkway interchange.

“Remington Homes has a solid following with metro Denver active adult homebuyers,” said James Schwartz, marketing manager, Carma Developers, which is developing Solterra. Since its grand opening in Sept., Solterra has sold more than 30 luxury homes, one for $1.6 million.

The Remington Homes ranch-patio homes that are being offered at Solterra, currently are priced from the high $400,000s and from the low $500,000s. Each of the Remington Homes at Solterra will receive a five-star home energy efficiency rating from Energy Star Homes and include R-21 insulation in exterior walls. Residents also will have access to the many amenities at Solterra.

Remington Homes also provides homebuyers a consultation with an interior designer and offers a custom change program for the convenience of customers.

The new ranch-patio homes will be centered about grand great rooms and oversized kitchens and range from about 2,200 to 3,500 square feet. “Many of our homebuyers have more than one home and enjoy a carefree and active lifestyle,” said Remington Homes Community Sales Manager Vicki Albert.

“Our targeted homebuyers guide us in the design of our homes as well as in the selection of the communities in which we build,” added Debbie Millage, sales director.

Four plans are being offered by Remington Homes at Solterra, some with finished basements, three-car garages, stucco and tile roofs. Standard in the luxurious homes are vaulted ceilings; deep carpet pads; art niches, fancy master suites with large closets and six-foot oval tubs; decorator lighting packages; stone-faced fireplaces, extensive home wiring; cable service; a 50-gallon hot water heater; granite countertops; top-grade appliances; a ceramic tile floor laundry with upper cabinets; white china oval lavatory sinks and exterior coach lights.

Remington Homes will offer home sites taking advantage of views and providing walk-out options. One of the main features of the homes -- because the active adult crowd is on the move -- are generous garages for their vehicles, as well as a boat, RV or vintage car.

Residents will also enjoy quick access to Belmar and Colorado Mills, as well as being close to the new St. Anthony Medical Campus, downtown Denver, the foothills and mountain attractions.

To learn more about Solterra, Remington Homes ranch-patio homes and other homes available in the master-planned community, visit solterra-community.com or contact Kristin Peterson, community concierge, 303.790.6611.

DENVER, CO - The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA) today announced that 100,576 visitors attended the 2008 Parade of Homes, which was held July 26 through September 1 at Solterra, a new master-planned community located east of C-470 and the new Alameda Parkway exit in Lakewood.
The attendance was an increase of 11% or 11,299 more visitors than attended the 2007 Parade. The 2008 Parade figures rank among the highest in the Parade’s 23-year history and is the highest in the last eight years the Parade has been held.
This year’s Parade featured eight new custom homes designed with Tuscan and French Provencal-styles reminiscent of hilltown villages in Old Europe. The homes were built by 9 One 5 Custom Builders, Littleton; Ades Design Builders, Evergreen; Brookline Homes, Denver; Cline Design Group, Littleton; Element Custom Builders, Denver; Gregg Design Custom Builders, Englewood; and Wall Custom Homes, Englewood.
Vicki Pelletier, vice president of operations for HBA, said, “We think this year’s Parade was especially successful considering the downturn in today’s real estate market and the fact we competed for attention with the Olympics and the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It indicates that consumers still have a high interest in learning about the latest trends in homebuilding construction and design, and are looking for ideas for their current homes, or planning ahead for their next home.”
“On behalf of the HBA, I want to thank all our custom builders and their teams and vendors for creating these beautiful homes. I also thank Carma, the developer of our host community, Solterra, for their great hospitality; the wonderful cooperation from the City of Lakewood; and the support of our sponsors and volunteers who all contributed to making this year’s Parade a great success.”
A perennial Colorado favorite, the Parade of Homes introduces new custom homes featuring the latest in construction technology, decorating, architectural and landscaping concepts. It is considered to be the largest walking tour of luxury custom homes in America. For more information, please visit www.paradeofhomesdenver.com.
All Parade homes are certified Built Green® Colorado, meaning they were designed and constructed to comply with a rigorous checklist of more than 200 features in 22 categories covering energy efficiency, materials, health, safety and resource conservation. A Built Green home is more energy efficient, requires less maintenance, provides cleaner indoor air quality, is built with higher quality materials and will save the home buyer money. For more information, please visit www.builtgreen.org.
A portion of the proceeds from the Parade of Homes will benefit the Home Builders Foundation (HBF), the philanthropic arm of the HBA. The HBF provides accessible and improved housing environments for individuals and families affected by long-term disabilities. HBF projects include simple modifications like building wheelchair ramps to completely redesigning homes, all performed with donated materials and labor. For more information, please visit www.hbfdenver.org.
The 2008 Parade of Homes was sponsored by Furniture Row Shopping Center® and Stevinson Lexus of Lakewood in association with the City of Lakewood, Built Green® Colorado, ColoradoNewHomes.com, 9NEWS, The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, Comcast Corporation, Renewal by Andersen and State Farm Insurance are supporting sponsors. Grand Lodge on Peak 7, HealthStyles Exercise Equipment, Red Rocks Country Club, Vibrant Solar, and ReLogic (the smart way to do real estate) were official suppliers of the Parade of Homes.
About the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA) is a trade association representing approximately 1,300 businesses involved in the residential development, construction and remodeling industry in the eight-county Denver metro region. Members of the HBA include home builders, land developers and remodelers, as well as trade partners including architects, mortgage lenders, building material suppliers and sub-contractors. For more information, call 303-778-1400, or visit www.hbadenver.com.

LAKEWOOD, CO - Solterra, the European-inspired hilltown community located along Alameda Parkway near C-470, is still constructing its nine-home model complex that will be finished this fall for Cardel Homes, Infinity Home Collection and Wall Custom Homes. Yet, already to date, homebuyers have purchased 28 custom and semi-custom luxury homes in the community, with a total value in excess of $20 million. "We are extremely pleased with pre-sale progress at Solterra," said James Schwartz, Marketing Manager, Carma Developers, the developer of master planned residential communities in the U.S. and Canada. "Solterra pre-sale home prices currently range from about $680,000 to more than $1.3 million," he said. Solterra homecrafters include Cardel Homes (from the low $500s), Infinity Home Collection (from the mid $600s) and Wall Custom Homes (from the high $700s), along with eight other luxury and custom homebuilders. The grand opening of the 300-acre community - a European-style festival - is set for Sept. 20 and 21. Solterra now is hosting the annual Parade of Homes daily through Labor Day. Showcased at the event are eight luxury custom homes presented by 9one5 Custom Homes; Ades Design Buidlers, Brookline Homes, Cline Design Group, Element Custom Homes, Gregg Design Custsom Builders, Wall Custom Homes and Waterstone Homes Colorado. To learn more about Solterra, contact Kristin Peterson, Carma community concierge, at 303.790.6611 or email kpeterson@carmadevelopers.com.

LAKEWOOD, CO - Ades Design Builders, an Evergreen-based custom home builder, won the "Judges Overall Choice Award" in the 2008 Parade of Homes judging competition held July 11, at Solterra, the site of this year's Parade.

Ades Design Builders' Tuscan-style home, Casa Vecchio e Nuovo, which means "house of old and new" in Italian, captured first place in voting by winning first place in four categories; second place in four categories; and third place in one category. This is Ades Design Builders' first Parade home.

Sixteen independent volunteer judges comprised of architects, builders, interior designers, landscape architects and marketing experts toured the eight custom Parade homes last Friday. Judging the homes in 12 separate categories, they designated their first, second and third place choices.

The categories included: best landscaping, best main kitchen area, best architecture, best floor plan, best interior design, best living area, best master suite, best outdoor living area, best specialty area (other floor), most innovative, and best specialty main floor.

In the "Judges Overall Choice Award," Ades Design Builders took first place; Brookline Homes, Denver, won second place; and Element Custom Builders, Denver, finished third.

Clarence Hughes, chair of the 2008 Parade of Homes and owner of Renaissance Homes, Centennial, announced the winners.

Vicki Pelletier, vice president of operations for the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA), said, "For the first time in a many years, the judging was extremely tight in terms of the points awarded in each of the categories. As a result, we had a much closer field of winners. Every home won at least one award, which to me indicates that this year's Parade is outstanding. Each home builder and their teams set a higher bar for performance. They did a fantastic job of designing Old World-inspired homes with innovative and livable spaces and they utilized the latest technologies to make their homes energy efficient."

Casa Vecchio e Nuovo by Ades Design Builders
The award-winning Casa Vecchio e Nuovo combines the best of old Tuscany with today's design innovations and invites visitors through the Mediterranean courtyard that adjoins the dining room, office and garage. The cozy, yet open floor plan reveals a blend of old and new from the steel fireplace to Lyptus Brazilian wood cabinets, knotty hickory floors, knotty alder wood doors and recycled beams. Exposed stone meanders throughout this 8,000-square-foot home. The home's central staircase with its elegant modern railing leads to a three-story stone tower. An art gallery bridge looks out over the great room; and a modern wine room, downstairs, is tucked behind a wall of glass.

The architect is James Group Architects of Evergreen, with collaboration from architectural designer Winegard Design Group, also of Evergreen. Jennifer Jelinek of JJ Interiors, Arvada, created the interior design, while American Design & Landscape, Parker, served as the landscape architect.

Andy Ades, owner of Ades Design Builders, said, "This was a team effort and we had a great team working together on this home."

This year's selected custom home builders include:

• 9 One 5 Custom Builders, Littleton
• Ades Design Builders, Evergreen
• Brookline Homes, Denver
• Cline Design Group, Littleton
• Element Custom Builders, Denver
• Gregg Design Custom Builders, Englewood
• Wall Custom Homes, Englewood
• Waterstone Homes Colorado, Littleton

While the homes are uniquely designed and appointed, the builders have incorporated an Old World feel into each home featuring modern conveniences and energy-efficient technologies. The homes have been designed to resemble old European-style homes with the appearance they have been added onto over the years to accommodate growing families.

Built Green® Awards
Two homes also received special Built Green® Colorado awards for their energy-efficient construction.

The "Energy of Excellence Award" was presented to Brookline Homes for its Tuscan-inspired home, Il Campanile, which is the most energy-efficient house in the Parade. The home includes numerous energy-efficient features including tankless water heaters, energy star appliances/light fixtures, and solar panels reducing electricity costs by 50%. This home receives nearly 22% of its annual electricity needs from the sun. Furthermore, the eventual owners of this home will make money from this system through a process called "net metering," in which Xcel Energy pays the homeowner the retail price of the electricity their system feeds back into the grid.

The second Built Green® award, The "Award of Excellence," was given to Cline Design Group, Littleton. This Tuscan ranch, Bella Vista, has a 94% efficient furnace with electronically commutated motor (ECM) on the air handler. Furnaces equipped with ECM have lower annual operating costs and can save up to $300 per year depending on how the furnace fan is used. These efficient motors use significantly less electricity to deliver warm air throughout the home, and they operate with as little as 80 watts of electricity. This is nearly 10 times less than standard fan motors. In addition, the home's kitchen cabinets are made from reclaimed beetle kill pine wood. By reclaiming the wood, it removes material from the waste stream and saves trees. The cabinets throughout the home have been finished with a durable water-based urethane which protects indoor air quality.

All eight Parade homes are certified Built Green meaning they were designed and constructed to comply with a rigorous checklist of more than 200 features in 22 categories covering energy efficiency, materials, health, safety and resource conservation. A Built Green home is more energy efficient, requires less maintenance, provides cleaner indoor air quality, is built with higher quality materials and will save the home buyer money.

The 2008 Parade of Homes
The 2008 Parade of Homes opens at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 26, at Solterra, a new master-planned community located a half-mile east of C-470 and the new Alameda Parkway exit in Lakewood. The community is being developed by Carma and it overlooks the Rooney Valley, Red Rocks Park, and the foothills.

This is the 23rd anniversary for the Parade of Homes, considered to be the largest walking tour of luxury custom homes in America. More than 90,000 visitors from throughout the region and the U.S. are expected to attend the event's five-week run from July 26 through Labor Day (September 1).

The HBA created the annual Parade of Homes to educate consumers on the latest trends, technologies and design innovations in residential construction. The Parade also demonstrates Denver-area builders' work while benefiting local charities. This year's beneficiary is the Home Builders Foundation, the philanthropic arm of HBA.

The Parade is sponsored by Furniture Row Shopping Center® and Stevinson Lexus of Lakewood in association with the City of Lakewood, Built Green® Colorado, ColoradoNewHomes.com, 9NEWS, The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, Comcast Corporation, Renewal by Andersen and State Farm Insurance are supporting sponsors. Grand Lodge on Peak 7, HealthStyles Exercise Equipment, Red Rocks Country Club, Vibrant Solar, and ReLogic (the smart way to do real estate) are official suppliers of the Parade of Homes.

For more information about times, how to purchase tickets and directions, please visit www.ParadeOfHomesDenver.com.

About the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver
The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA) is a trade association representing approximately 1,300 businesses involved in the residential development, construction and remodeling industry in the eight-county Denver metro region. Members of the HBA include home builders, land developers and remodelers, as well as trade partners including architects, mortgage lenders, building material suppliers and sub-contractors. For more information, call (303) 778-1400, or visit www.hbadenver.com.

About the Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver
Founded in 1993, the Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver (HBF) is the philanthropic arm of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver. Through the generosity of hundreds of professionals and tradespersons who work in the home building industry, the foundation is able to pool resources to provide housing accessibility and other services for victims of tragic circumstances. Its mission is to help relieve beneficiaries of physical and financial constraints, opening the door to happiness, independence and new opportunities. For more information, call (303) 778-1400, or visit www.hbfdenver.org.

About Built Green® Colorado
Built Green® Colorado encourages home builders, suppliers and manufacturers to use technologies, products and practices to build homes that are better built and better for the environment. Colorado has the most successful green building program in the nation with more than 33,100 homes having registered with the program by the close of 2006. The statewide, voluntary program was introduced in 1995 through the joint efforts of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA), The Governor's Energy Office, Xcel Energy, and E-Star Colorado. For more information, call (303) 778-1400, or visit www.builtgreen.org.

2008 Parade of Homes
Judging Categories and Winners

Best Landscaping
First Place -- Brookline Homes
Second Place -- Ades Design Builders
Third Place -- 9 One 5 Custom Builders

Best Main Kitchen Area
First Place -- Element Custom Builders
Second Place -- Ades Design Builders
Third Place -- Gregg Design Custom Builders

Best Architecture
First Place -- Ades Design Builders
Second Place -- Element Custom Builders
Third Place -- Wall Custom Homes

Best Floor Plan
First Place -- Ades Design Builders
Second Place Element Custom Builders
Third Place -- Brookline Homes

Best Interior Design
First Place -- Ades Design Builders
Second Place -- Brookline Homes
Third Place -- Element Custom Builders

Best Living Area
First Place -- Element Custom Builders
Second Place -- Ades Design Builders
Third Place -- Wall Custom Homes

Best Master Suite
First Place -- Ades Design Builders
Second Place -- Brookline Homes
Third Place -- Element Custom Builders

Best Outdoor Living Area
First Place -- Brookline Homes
Second Place -- 9 One 5 Custom Builders
Third Place -- Wall Custom Homes

Best Specialty Area
Other Floor
First Place -- Brookline Homes
Second Place -- Wall Custom Homes
Third Place -- Element Custom Builders

Most Innovative
First Place -- Element Custom Builders
Second Place -- Ades Design Builders
Third Place -- Brookline Homes

Best Specialty Main Floor
First Place -- Brookline Homes
Second Place -- Waterstone Homes Colorado
Third Place -- Ades Design Builders

Judges Overall Choice Award
First Place -- Ades Design Builders
Second Place -- Brookline Homes
Third Place -- Element Custom Builders

Built Green® Colorado Awards
Energy of Excellence --Brookline Homes
Award of Excellence --Cline Design Group

This press release courtesy of The InterPro Group on behalf of the HBA 2008 Parade Of Homes - for permission to reproduce please contact Z. James Czupor or M. Marta Sipeki, The InterPro Group, 303.759.8989; pr@interprogroup.com.

ENGLEWOOD, CO - Carma, the developer of five master planned communities in the Denver metro area, has appointed veteran home sales executive Mike Copp to head up its custom and luxury homes sales program at Solterra, Carma's newest master planned community located in Lakewood, Colorado immediately adjacent to Green Mountain and Red Rocks Park.

Mike Copp spent 16 years with Richmond American Homes, most recently as vice president of sales before joining Carma. Mike brings a complete understanding of luxury home sales to Carma's team and is a past recipient of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver's "Most Professional Sales and Marketing Director MAME Award. Mike is a broker associate with RE/MAX Professionals, Inc. and holds an MBA in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago.

Solterra will host the 2008 Parade of Homes featuring eight custom homes ranging in price from $1.5 million to $2.8 million. The homes will be located within a gated portion of the overall Solterra Community. Solterra is a 340-acre master- planned community offering a variety of life style options for residents including luxury apartments, town homes, low- maintenance patio homes and custom homes and home sites.

Carma, a 50-year-old master plan development company with U.S. headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, has developed more than 80 master planned communities across North America. Carma previously hosted the 2000 Parade of Homes at its Tallyn's Reach community. To learn more about luxury home sales at Solterra contact Mike Copp at mikecopp@remax.net.

LAKEWOOD, CO - It was a scene more reminiscent of the mid-1990s when folks stood in lines to grab new homes in communities across the front range than a weekend in the midst of 2008's challenging real estate market.

Carma's new Solterra community saw more than 300 people turn out in two weekends in February for a chance to talk with builder partners and put down deposit checks to be one of the first to live in this unique neighborhood. Builders collected 52 deposit checks during this first release.

"We are pleased with this enthusiastic start to Solterra," says Tom Morton, Carma Senior Vice President in charge of U.S. operations. "There has been a pent up demand for new luxury housing in Lakewood and Jefferson County. We believe Solterra is a world-class solution to that demand."

Inspired by the hill town communities of Tuscany, Italy and Andalusia, Spain, Solterra is a master planned community by Carma, located along C-470 between I-70 and Morrison Rd. It is also the host of the 2008 Parade Homes, produced by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.

Solterra's builders include Cardel Homes, with homes priced from the $500s; Infinity Home Collection, priced from the low $600s and Wall Custom Homes estimated from $780,000 to the low 900s.

Cardel Homes and Infinity Home Collection are slated to convert deposits into contracts starting March 1, and Wall Custom Homes will follow by mid-March.

Views from the stunning "Retreat at Solterra" include world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheater and its towering outcroppings. The tower of The Retreat already beckons to commuters along C-470 and will be the focal point of the community as it unfolds over the next several years.

Carma is the 50-year-old, respected developer of more than 80 master-planned communities across North America, and has its U.S. headquarters in Englewood, CO.

More than 1,300 people already have shown interest in the community via the web site.

LAKEWOOD - This summer, the new maser-planned Solterra in Lakewood will serve as the host community of the 2008 Parade of Homes, showcasing the finest million-dollar-plus residences on the market today. While The Infinity Home Collection, a two-time Parade builder and six-time "Home of the Year" award winner from the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver will not participate in the Parade, the builder does plan to have its three brand new model showhomes on hand at Solterra ready in plenty of time for Parade visitors.

"The Infinity Home Collection's brand new series at Solterra will be priced from the mid $600's, providing an exquisite exhibit of exceptional homes within financial reach of mainstream buyers," said Dave Steinke, General Manager of The Infinity Home Collection. "We are very excited to be a part of Solterra, and we have worked diligently with our architects and designers to come up with a collection of single-story, main-floor master, and two-story designs that are sure to impress the most discriminating homebuyers' tastes."

Located in the Rooney Valley, on the lands west of Bear Creek Boulevard and south of Alameda, Solterra is a breath of fresh air, blending rich natural elements and a one-of-a-king setting with incredible amenities.

Surrounded by nearly 5,000-acres of parks and open space along Alameda near C-470, Solterra is a 280-acre residential sanctuary. The neighborhood offers convenience to the entire southwest metro area, including major employment hubs such as the Denver Federal Center, recreational opportunities such as parks and public and private golf courses, entertainment venues like Red Rocks, and short drives to Colorado's world-class mountain resorts.

Solterra will showcase approximately 1,400 residences from an exclusive list of builders including The Infinity Home Collection, plus a 40-acre park and a 22-acre wildlife corridor connecting the highly-cherished open space at Green Mountain, Coyote Gulch and Bear Creek Lake Park.

Sprinkled among the homes and neighborhoods at Solterra are numerous parks with interactive water features, carefully designed flora, and upscale amenities such as a pool with clubhouse built in the tradition of a European Spa that is guaranteed to be a favorite element for homeowners and visitors to Solterra.

For more information or to schedule a private showing contact Scott Smallwood at 720-219-7638 or scottsmallwood@infinityhomecollection.com.

WHEN: Monday, November 20, 2006 at 10:30-11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Alameda Parkway about one mile west of the intersection of Bear Creek Blvd; see map; ceremony will be conducted under a heated tent; heavy equipment will roll at 11:30

WHO: Lakewood Mayor Steve Burkholder, city council members, Jefferson County Commissioners, Morrison trustees, Jeffco Action Center, Alameda Gateway Community Association, civic and business leaders, area neighbors, civic and business leaders and Carma representatives.

WHAT: Solterra, by Carma, a 280-acre, $550 million community.

• 20 percent open space and wildlife and outdoor recreation corridors.
• 1,100 homes in variety of styles and price ranges
• Host of the 2008 Denver Parade of Homes

• Carma is 48 years old with offices in Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO and Austin, TX
• It has developed 80 master-planned communities across North America
• Its first Colorado community, Tallyn's Reach, was home to the 2000 Denver Parade of Homes and was named Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
• Carma is part of Brookfield Properties, Inc.

• Rooney Valley is a 2,000-acre area that is integral to the long-term vision of Lakewood, Morrison and Jefferson County
• Solterra is the first master-planned community in the Rooney Valley and has been developed in accordance with the Rooney Valley Joint Master Plan, which is available at the City of Lakewood web site
• The Rooney Valley is located along C-470; a new interchange at Alameda Parkway will be accessible in 2008 and is being funded and constructed by Jefferson County in partnership with the City of Lakewood and Carma.

WHAT: 1,000 Thanksgiving meals for the needy have been donated to Jeffco Action Center by Carma and its new Lakewood community - Solterra.
Each meal includes a King Soopers gift certificate for a frozen turkey; other meal items will be provided directly to needy families by Jeffco Action Center.

WHO: Jeffco Action Center provides services to about 130 needy families each day.
Carma is the respected North American residential development company known for playing a major role in the communities that it serves.

WHY: Local charitable giving is down and the Jeffco Action Center shelves were bare as Thanksgiving approached.
Carma decided to advance $27,000 immediately to Jeffco Action Center - it had previously announced that it would give a gift to Jeffco Action Center when each of its 1,100 homes at Solterra were sold - ultimately totaling $200,000.

WHEN: A truckload of food items has been ordered by Jeffco Action Center and will be shipped this week from Michigan to the non-profit agency. Carma volunteers will assist along with others in preparing the food.
On Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m., at the groundbreaking for Solterra, Carma will present the check for the gift and challenge area leaders to pitch in to fill Jeffco Action Center's shelves over the next year.

WHERE: Meal items will be distributed from Jeffco Action Center headquarters, 8755 W. 14th St., Lakewood.
The Jeffco Action Center check presentation at the Nov. 20 event will take place under a heated tent along Alameda Ave. about one mile west of the intersection of Jewell and Bear Creek, just west of Forsberg Park.

LAKEWOOD, CO - Carma, the respected North American residential community development company, has unveiled its plans for "The Retreat at Solterra", a graceful dual-wing $4.8 million, 6,000-square-foot community center, which will serve as the primary focal point of its finest master-planned community in Colorado - Solterra - located along Alameda Parkway near C-470.
"The Retreat at Solterra" will be an elegant, yet unassuming structure, designed to blend with its natural surroundings, yet serve as the opulently appointed central architectural focal point of the community and developing Rooney Valley. "The Retreat at Solterra" will be understated, yet still one of the most distinctive community amenities of its kind anywhere in metro Denver," says Tom Morton, senior vice president, Carma, who is in charge of operations for the company in the U.S.
A 50-foot four-sided tower of native Colorado stone will anchor "The Retreat at Solterra" and serve as subtle hillside beacon for the master-planned community, reminiscent of the central architectural features of European hill towns. "The vision expressed in the Rooney Valley Joint Master Plan was our guide," explains Don Brandes, president, Design Studios West, which has helped evolve the environmentally sensitive Solterra master plan. "The land and its history have been considered in every choice that we have made," he said.
"The Retreat at Solterra" will set a distinctive sensitive tone for the new community as well as the surrounding 2,000-acre Rooney Valley, as do memorable landmarks of other great Colorado places, explains Mike Woodley, principal, award-winning Woodley Architecture Group, Inc. "We have truly crafted a one-of-a-kind Colorado style for 'The Retreat at Solterra', a look that is all its own."
Woodley currently is drafting the architectural standards for Solterra, which will govern the design of its 1,100 homes and the upcoming custom home entries in the 2008 Parade of Homes.
Featured on the grounds of "The Retreat at Solterra" will be a tiered two-level outdoor pool, the upper level of which will be topped by a breathtaking view of Red Rocks Park. The deep upper pool will spill into a shallow lower pool via a 30-foot-wide waterfall. The grounds will be exquisitely landscaped with native drought-resistant flora. "The exterior stone and stucco finishes and architectural features of the 'The Retreat' will create the illusion of a finely-crafted structure created with care over a number of decades," explains Woodley. "We even considered how this stately structure would appear if had been weathered over the years."
The entire structure will be capped by a barrel tile roof.
About the exterior of the community center will be an outdoor fireplace and unique outdoor living environments set in three patios and courtyards, along with an intimate grass amphitheater that will accommodate about 100 people; the stage area will be framed by 10-foot-tall columns.
The inside of "The Retreat" marries well with its surroundings, providing grand views of the Dakota Ridge, Red Rocks Park and the foothills of the Rockies.
Divided into two wings, the interior spaces run the gamut from the great hall for formal and friendly gatherings to an exercise room for yoga and Pilates classes, along with an Italian-style fully-outfitted culinary center that will please the most discriminating of gourmet chefs.
Interior design selections are being finalized by Hillary Reed Interiors.
Carma is a 48-year-old company with offices in Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO and Austin, TX. It has developed 80 master-planned communities across North America; its first Colorado community, Tallyn's Reach was home to the 2000 Parade of Homes and was named Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver. Carma is part of Brookfield Properties, Inc.