The notable names behind Del Sur’s project team created and defined a first-class, master plan
community with not only its expansive sizing and amenity offerings but its decades-worth of viable endeavors.
By Lauren Felechner
Photography By Standard Pacific Homes, Scott Montgomery and Eric Figge
Located in the northern portion of
San Diego County lies Del Sur,
a master-planned community of
20 years in the making that is
arranged of eight neighborhoods
created by five different builders.
Del Sur will continue its massive expansion in the
year 2012 by welcoming two more communities
and completing the grading for 585 additional
homes. Despite a struggling housing market, Del
Sur remains stabilized as its decades-worth of
unraveling continues. “We are well-positioned in
the market in location within the county, variety
of product type and for an area with strong
employment growth – making Del Sur a highlycoveted
location,” said Bill Ostrem, president and
CEO of Black Mountain Ranch, developer of Del
Sur. That is also why Del Sur has been awarded our
“Community of the Year.”
Currently, the state of this community engulfs
3,050 homes; 515,000 square feet of office and
employment establishments; 225,000 square feet of
commercial and retail space; and three school sites
that include an open elementary and high school,
as well as a middle school appointed to open in
2014, according to Ostrem. With an estimated
completion set for 2018, approximately 21 more
residential communities are set to be built between
now and then, adding onto the timeline of when
Del Sur’s backbone infrastructure was initiated in
2003 and the first homes opened in June 2006.
Within Black Mountain Ranch’s umbrella lie Del
Sur’s builders. Four originals and one newer builder,
these companies have helped fashion a perpetual
masterpiece. Davidson Communities, Standard
Pacific Homes, Shea Homes and William Lyon
Homes take place as the original four, with California
West Communities entering as the newest builder
to add their pieces to the puzzle. What originally
began as a design competition for the forerunners,
turned into a multitude of neighborhoods. “Del
Sur is one of the best kept secrets in the San
Diego marketplace…it became a lynch-pin for San
Diego transportation,” Bill Davidson, president
of Davidson Communities, explained. Davidson’s
most recent completed contribution to the project
is their Kensington neighborhood that consists of
70 single-family homes, measuring from 2,900 to
3,200 square feet with construction finalized about
two months ago taking two and one-half years to
complete. The company is currently managing their
work-in-progress, The Sentinels, which they started
building one and one-half years ago. Twenty-one
homes have been completed so far with eight more
to go that are arranged in a cluster-combo of singlefamily,
detached. These less-than-traditional-styles
of homes measure at 2,800 to 3,200 square feet
and offer three to four bedroom layouts. Davidson
described Del Sur as the “…Hole of the donut of
the county,” and that once completed, “It’ll have a
unique sense that other communities won’t have.”
However, Davidson can’t help but credit Del Sur’s
success so-far to Ostrem, who he said has brought
“soul” to the community.
Some of the companies were so impressed with
their contributions to Del Sur that they actually
reside within the community themselves – such
as 8 percent of Shea Homes’ employees. Paul
Barnes, president, Shea Homes, explained that
his company has built two product lines amongst
four different neighborhoods within Del Sur. The
model complexes consist of two groups of houses
numbering at 56 and 50 each in Madeira I and
Madeira II. Barnes also explained that the company
plans to continue with their Mandolin I and II
neighborhoods in the upcoming year that includes
single-family, attached residences measuring 1,400
to 2,100 square feet. Although Del Sur is long-before
its completion date, the builders and companies
standing behind it marvel at its current state and
the attention it receives. In regards to its title as this
years “Community of the Year,” Barnes explained
that this title is, “…Well-deserved and fantastic.
The land plan [of Del Sur] is exceptional but the
aesthetic and the topography of the location is
amazing,” Barnes continued, “The palette of the
design, intricate color use and stonework radiates
golden, California color during sunset.” Del Sur’s
arduous design plans work in its favor, as according
to Barnes, the master-planned community is on top
for not only the region, but the West Coast as well.
Standard Pacific Homes’ newest addition to
Del Sur is its Presidio neighborhood. Having
built five previous communities within Del
Sur, the company began the Presidio models
in December 2010, had their grand opening in
March 2011 and celebrated their first closing in
June 2011, according to Danielle Tuoco, director
of communications, Standard Pacific Homes.
“From the choice of the name to the architectural
styles, Presidio’s design is historically rooted and
plays tribute to San Diego’s cultural heritage,”
Tuoco said. For this project,
there were 52 homes built in
nine phases, and it opened
with over 750 prospects on
the grand opening weekend
alone. The three floor plans range from 3,461 to
3,748 square feet, up to five bedrooms and four
and one-half baths. Each floor plan offers a
covered, Del Sur, outdoor room which is a first
in San Diego. Presidio also offered a unique
opportunity to build homes on a wide variety of
sites, Tuoco explained. She continued, “The land
plan offers a variety of premier locations as well
as top-quality home designs. Many master-plans
may claim parks and trails, but a major difference
for Del Sur is the quality of the amenities, as well
as the exceptional pools and design. The seamless
integration of product types with a keen attention
to the landscaping palette within all neighborhoods
creates a rich experience.” The 18 miles of
trails, parks and pools that were thoughtfully
incorporated into the community design present
an outdoor experience for residents and visitors.
“It’s our commitment to have amenities and parks
done when our residents are ready to move in,”
Ostrem stated, “We are delivering a package.”
Although it may seems that Del Sur’s layout
fell together precisely and effortlessly, this
everlasting community definitely experienced
its ups and downs before reaching the top. With
extensive land permits, hundreds of millions of
dollars involved, city approval for land plans,
ballot measures, voters’ approval, infrastructure
developments and costs, as well as meeting
strict standards for eco-conscious construction
techniques, Del Sur has grown from its initial days
as merely a ‘plan,’ to what has grown to be known
as a rich and successful ‘master plan.’
Lauren Felechner is an assistant editor at
Builder and Developer. She may be contacted
at lfelechner@penpubinc.com.
