Realty World Tri-Shasta

There was an article in last weeks Valley Post regarding the highly anticipated Anderson Vineyards here in Shasta County. Some of the lots and homes in the new subdivision have been on the market for a few months now, but just last there was finally an article regarding this break through. Here is a brief overview of what the article contained:

Water key to getting subdivision sales back on track

Just days after the City of Anderson issued a conditional occupancy permit for two homes of The Vineyards at Anderson subdivision, prospective buyers had a chance for a walk-through.

Jordan Taylor, a local developer who represents U.S. Acquisitions Real Estate III, LLC, a private equity company based in Denver, Colo., said that company purchased the foreclosed home loans from the previous builder after problems with adequate supplies of potable water with pressure sufficient for fire safety were discovered in 2007.

Work on all houses in the subdivision had virtually stopped until the water issues were finally resolved late last fall with the installation of a nearly $1 million pumping station that connects to the City of Anderson’s municipal water system and treatment plant.

Originally designed and priced for the top end of the real estate bubble in 2007, the 12 houses that were originally intended as showcase model homes have all been finished with first-class amenities and details, Taylor says.

All of the homes built so far have tile roofs with radiant barrier roof sheeting and drop attics, low emission windows that feature vinyl-clad wood construction, high efficiency HVAC systems, security features, vinyl or wrought-iron fencing, built-in fire suppression systems and more.

Taylor committed to the project that later this spring, his own development company has plans to start construction on some of the 115 available lots in Unit 1 Phase 1.

The article was written by George L. Winship, an editor for the Valley Post. The Valley Post is the January 13, 2010 paper and the article can be found on the front page of the paper.

I am also proud to say that our office is also involved with a couple of the lots there in The Vineyards subdivision and we hope to do even more business up there.

The following information is some good news for those buyers who were looking to purchase a home in the Anderson Vineyards Subdivision here in Shasta County – this may still be possible.

STALLED DEVELOPMENT COULD FINALLY GET WATER

Record Searchlight Article, retrieved June 3, 2009

Article written by David Benda

Drinking water should start flowing at The Vineyards by the fall, Anderson City Manager Scott Morgan said Monday.

The city, a neighboring developer and builders who bought lots in the planned development each are paying a share of the $1.05 million for the water improvements.

Water will come from booster pumps off the Anderson Heights Reservoir.

“All this is potable water because it’s coming from the whole city’s well field system,” Morgan said. Anderson’s portion of the cost is $414,395.

Robert Loring, whose yet-to-be-built Pleasant Hills subdivision sits below The Vineyards, is paying $316,395 for the improvements.

Bergstrom Enterprises of Redding, which purchased 10 lots in The Vineyards, and Republic Finance of Colorado are splitting the other $316,395, Morgan said. Republic Finance holds the note on the 10 lots that Palmer Homes of Bend, Ore., bought in The Vineyards.

Lack of drinking water brought construction at The Vineyards, located off Pleasant Hills Drive overlooking the Wal-Mart Supercenter, to a halt nearly two years ago.

Today, The Vineyards has 12 homes in various stages of completion. Windows have been shattered by vandals; others are boarded up with plywood.

A chain-link fence on Pleasant Hills Drive blocks access to the development to all but construction vehicles.

It’s all in stark contrast from what the original developer of The Vineyards – Sandy Sanderson of Bend, Ore. – had in mind for Anderson, when in 2005 he envisioned a sprawling development that would feature some 5,500 homes, a town center, a restaurant and services, such as a beauty salon, dry cleaner or coffee shop.

Sanderson is no longer involved with the project, Henry Wilms, landowner of The Vineyards, has said. In July, Sanderson abandoned his option to purchase the property, Shasta County property records show.

Meanwhile, the water improvements will serve a combined 400 lots in The Vineyards and Pleasant Hills, Morgan said.

“We would have insisted this solution that’s under construction now be the one constructed right from the get-go, rather than have Sanderson Companies do its own well-fill system,” Morgan said when asked if the city would have done anything differently.

The original plan to pay for bringing water from Anderson Heights Reservoir had the city, Loring and Wilms splitting the cost.

Asked why he’s not paying for the improvements, Wilms said, “Well, that’s between myself and some others. I didn’t like what they were doing, so I pulled out.”

Morgan said the city had Wilms’ money in hand last summer, when the Anderson City Council approved a deal for the improvements.

“We didn’t have title to those funds and so he decided not to go forward, and that was his choice,” Morgan said.

In October, The Vineyards, or 222 lots, and 330 acres that have the potential for 722 additional lots, was listed for sale at $14.9 million.

Morgan said Monday that he understood the property’s still for sale.

Wilms, however, said Monday that it’s not on the market.

Scott Raymond of Sperry Van Ness, who originally listed The Vineyards, didn’t return a phone message left Monday.