MEDIA CENTER

Del Sur Hosts Jan.13 "Live the Lifestyle" Playoff Party
Game day event a win-win for home buyers and football fans alike

San Diego, Calif. (January 9, 2007) – Del Sur, San Diego’s newest master planned community celebrating regional heritage, old-world craftsmanship and environmentally-conscious design, is showing prospective home owners what it really feels like to live the Del Sur lifestyle.

On Saturday, January 13, beginning at 1pm, Del Sur is hosting a community-wide Playoff Party surrounding that day’s NFL Playoff games – complete with game day food, prizes, activities and more.

Home shoppers can tour models at the first seven neighborhoods at Del Sur, where TVs will be tuned to the game - giving prospective homeowners the feel of what it would be like to spend game day in their own Del Sur home.  Numerous raffles are also planned, featuring prizes such as 2007 season passes to the Chargers, sports gear, and more.

For those less sports-inclined, the neighborhood models will also be offering other sneak peeks into the Del Sur lifestyle.

“From caterers working within the homes showcasing the versatility of the kitchens to a chocolate party with spa gift certificates to football for the kids in the park, there’ll be something for everyone at Del Sur,” said Tamara Tatich, director of marketing for Black Mountain Ranch, the community’s developer. 

The event also showcases the home entertainment packages offered through Del Sur’s landmark community-wide alliance with Bose Corporation. As a Bose Community, all Del Sur homes include the option for Bose home entertainment system wiring plans customized to each individual floor plan for maximum performance and sound quality. Several of the neighborhood models demonstrate these state-of-the-art home entertainment packages.

Recognized as an award-winning community by local civic, planning and environmental groups for its environmentally conscious design and “smart growth” principles, Del Sur is now open for model home tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods in Del Sur, stop by The Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur and head north for approximately 4.5 miles and follow the signs to the Ranch House. The Ranch House is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Models are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Call 858-481-4200 or click onto www.DelSurLiving.com to learn more about Del Sur.

San Diego Community a Model for Green Building

January 26, 2007 – Del Sur, a new development of 2,500 homes, represents the next era of responsible community planning: an amenities-rich community built with environmental accountability.

Planned over nearly 20 years by Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Del Sur faced multiple obstacles and opposition, leading Fred Maas, BMR president, to forge innovative alliances with community and civic groups to pursue his vision for responsible, sustainable design. Del Sur is now heralded as an exemplary product of smart-growth planning.

The community meets or exceeds stringent local and state environmental requirements. Del Sur also has won important environmental awards, and the property's Ranch House -- open to all as an education and resource center -- is in line for Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), and recognition as one of the world's most environmentally progressive buildings.

Recycling and resource conservation are central to the Del Sur philosophy, but established programs were not readily available. Maas developed a landmark community-wide program to coordinate recycling efforts that has successfully diverted over 92 percent of construction waste since September 2005, and saved builder costs and truck trips. It is a new model for future communities.

BMR also mandated that at least 20 percent of the community's homes incorporate solar energy systems. Some neighborhoods exceed the minimum, installing photovoltaic technology in as many as 40 percent of homes or more. When completed, Del Sur will be one of the largest solar-powered communities in California. Homeowners annually will save more than $58,000 collectively, which also translates into saving 35,000 barrels of oil.

Significant water savings are achieved through mandatory tank-less water heaters and weather-based satellite irrigation systems in most homes. These water-saving systems can potentially save up to 40,000 gallons per home per year. The community also requires at least half of all landscaping be drought-resistant, and reclaimed water is used in community landscaping.

The Ranch House showcases ultra-progressive sustainable design technologies. Recycled and rapidly renewable materials include stones reused from the site; recycled beams from an old pier; reclaimed floorboards harvested from a barn; blue jeans cotton for insulation; cork flooring; countertops of compressed sunflower husks; and cabinets and ceilings made from wheatboard.

For more information, call 858-481-4200 or visit www.DelSurLiving.com.

Free Homebuying Seminar at Del Sur on Saturday, Feb. 24
Workshop features market analysis and forecast, plus "smart" tips on buying, selling, and living

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (February 14, 2007) – Del Sur, San Diego’s award-winning new master planned community located between the I-5 and I-15 freeways, just off SR56, is hosting a free home buying seminar on Saturday, February 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the neighborhood models and at the Ranch House community information center.

The seminar will offer up-to-the-minute real estate market information, tips on buying and selling in today’s market, energy- and water- efficient options for today’s homes, and more. To RSVP for the free event, call (858) 481-4200.

“This seminar is designed to help educate home buyers about how to make a smart home buying decision,” said Tamara Tatich, director of marketing for Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of Del Sur. “Our buyers are savvy, and they’re asking the right questions – we’re simply responding to their interests in one seminar series.”

“On the one hand, making a smart choice means understanding the market, learning how to interpret the value of a community, and knowing what your financing options are,” explained Tatich. “On another, it’s knowing how to sell your own home, what the pros do to make a home as marketable as possible. On yet another front, it’s learning about ways you can maximize efficiency in your new home with green practices that save energy, water and money – we call it ‘smart living.’”

From 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the Ranch House, respected financial journalist George Chamberlin, Executive Editor for The Daily Transcript, Money Advisor for NBC 7/39 and host of "Money in the Morning" on KOGO radio, will moderate a session on the economics of today’s market featuring noted analysts Russ Valone and Al Nevin of MarketPointe Realty Advisors. 

Beginning at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., attendees may visit the models for various targeted hour-long workshops.

• Demystify Mortgages and Loan Products
  Lenders from the Del Sur neighborhood builders will be conducting a Q&A following the market update, and will be available for individual consultations in the models

• Design to Sell
  For those planning to sell an existing home in today’s market, Design Line Interiors will offer tips on staging your home for maximum marketability. Topics include de-personalizing your home for the sale, fundamental buying psychology and “balancing” ideas from room to room

• Energy Savings that Make Cents
  Today’s latest energy technology – how it saves our precious resources and saves homeowners money every month, presented by Addison Marks from PowerLight. Topics include the PowerLight Solar SunTile roof-integrated solar energy system – included as standard in a minimum of 20% of homes at Del Sur, and available to nearly all homes as an option.
  
  
• Away with Clutter
  Away with Clutter’s organization guru will present helpful strategies to clear the clutter. Topics include how getting organized helps to sell your home, alleviates stress and makes moving into your new home easier; how to sort, decide, containerize, label, and create zones; plus time for individual questions about clearing the clutter.
  
  
• Landscape Walk at the Ranch House
  Senior landscape architect Paige Martin will walk through the different design elements that create a special living space incorporating both native and drought tolerant plant materials.
  
  
• Trends in Today’s Homes
  Options and upgrades that add true value to a home – and the benefits of purchasing them during construction rather than after-market, by Scot Thomas of Bose Corporation and an options manager for William Lyon Homes
  
  
• How to Find the Right Realtor for You
  The professional real estate team at Santaluz Realty will review the philosophy behind the business and provide you with a check list on finding the right representative for your type of home and personality.

A special drawing for those attendees who complete the event survey offers the chance for many exciting giveaways such as home consultations, restaurant and spa certificates and more. Seating is limited. To reserve your space, click on www.delsurliving.com or contact the Ranch House at (858) 481-4200.

Minutes from Interstate 5 and 56, over 1,800 acres of historic ranchlands are being transformed into a vibrant way of life embracing time-honored charm.  Tree-lined streets, a quaint town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience to appeal to a diverse range of residents, including active singles as well as young, growing and mature families.

Recognized as an award-winning community by local civic, planning and environmental groups for its environmentally conscious design and “smart growth” principles, Del Sur is now open for model home tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods in Del Sur, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur and head north for approximately 4.5 miles and follow the signs to the Ranch House. The Ranch House is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Models are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Call 858-481-4200 or click onto www.DelSurLiving.com to learn more about Del Sur.

DEL SUR GARNERS NATIONAL GOLD AWARDS FOR RANCH HOUSE, MADEIRA NEIGHBORHOOD HOME PLAN

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (February 23, 2007) – The sales and marketing council of the National Association of Home Builders has announced the 2007 Gold Award winners for its annual new home sales and marketing awards. The Nationals are the nation’s largest competition for new-home sales and marketing professionals and communities,

The master planned community of Del Sur, located in the northern reaches of the city of San Diego, garnered a Gold Award for Best Sales Information Center for the Ranch House at Del Sur. Serving as an information center and showcase for sustainable design, construction and living practices, the Ranch House features many recycled and rapidly-renewable materials, including recycled beams in the flooring and ceiling trusses; blue jean cotton insulation, countertops made from sunflower husks and cabinets and ceilings made from wheatboard. Design Line Interiors was recognized as the interior design firm for the Ranch House, which is modeled after the hearty rancheros of early California, yet updated to the most modern standards.

Del Sur’s Madeira neighborhood, by Shea Homes and Woodley Architectural Group, also took home a Gold award for best single family detached home, for the Plan Four residence. Madeira’s Plan Four homes feature 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths in 2,131 square feet of living space.  Standout features are the covered courtyard entry, great room with volume ceiling and private first floor guest suite.

Now in its 26th year, The Nationals pays tribute to superior new-home sales and marketing achievements by individual sales and marketing professionals, homebuilders and associates, and sales and marketing councils. Regional and Silver Awards were announced in late December; the Del Sur Ranch House earned a Regional Award, and Shea Homes’ Madeira neighborhood at Del Sur received a Silver Award. Regional and silver award winners went on to compete for the Gold Award, presented at the International Builders’ Show on February 7.

“The Nationals are the most prestigious awards of their kind, setting the benchmark for innovations in new home design, marketing and sales,” said Dan Levitan, chairperson of The Nationals. “NAHB’s commitment to recognizing originality, imagination and success has been exemplified by its award winners since the competition’s inception.”

Started in 1982 as the Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) Awards, The Nationals award program continues to recognize superior new home sales and marketing achievements. With 57 categories across various disciplines of the new home industry, the awards honor excellence in product and community design, advertising, marketing and sales achievements by individuals and sales teams.

During a three-day judging process, a panel of eight industry professionals from across the country selected Regional, Silver and Gold award winners from a field of nearly 1,400 entries. For more information, visit www.thenationals.com.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, the new community of Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities.  The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage.  Tree-lined streets, a quaint town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space are  planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com learn more about Del Sur.

New neighborhoods launch at Del Sur
Gables Crossing by McCullough-Ames, The Sentinels by Laing Luxury add to community's appealing mix

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March 5, 2007) – Del Sur, San Diego’s award-winning master planned community honoring heritage, craftsmanship and the environment, has added two new neighborhoods to its collection of heritage-inspired homes now selling north of the 56, tucked amid the communities of Santaluz, Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe.

Gables Crossing at Del Sur by McCullough-Ames and The Sentinels at Del Sur by Laing Luxury are the eighth and ninth neighborhoods, respectively, to launch in the community. For more information, visit www.delsurliving.com or call (858) 481-4200.

Homes at Gables Crossing by McCullough-Ames feature stone exteriors with tiled rooftops and wood roll-up 4-car garages. Ranging from 4,400 to 5,600 square feet, each floor plan includes 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths plus a bonus game/media room. The richly appointed homes come highly upgraded, with front and backyard landscaping included. The model home is now open Wed-Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm.

The Sentinels at Del Sur by Laing Luxury offers both one and two-story elegant, Tuscan style living experiences. Nearly all rooms open to a generous interior courtyard, and some offer a home office, guest residence or retreat option. An abundance of windows capture gentle ocean breezes, and two of the plans feature a ground-level master bedroom suite. Homes at The Sentinels are each priced from the low $1 millions. A grand opening is planned for later this spring.

The 1,800-acre master plan community will eventually comprise approximately 2,500 single family and multifamily residences. Parks, trails, Poway Unified schools, and a town square with retail and service shops are also planned.

Del Sur hits highest buyer demand to date
More than 86% homes released have been reserved or sold

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March 19, 2007) – Del Sur is reporting its highest buyer demand rates since the community’s first neighborhoods launched sales in late 2005.  According to the most recent sales report in early March, 249 of the 287 homes released to date (86.7%) have been reserved or sold. The nine neighborhoods currently selling at Del Sur are Kensington by Davidson; Madeira by Shea Homes; Avaron, Bridgewalk, Cabrillo, and Cassero by Standard Pacific Homes; Alcala by William Lyon Homes; Gable’s Crossing at Del Sur by McCullough-Ames and The Sentinels by Laing Luxury. For more information, visit www.delsurliving.com.

San Diego Master Planned Community a Model For Green Building

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 9, 2007) - Del Sur, a newly opened development of 2,500 homes in north San Diego, represents the next era of responsible community planning for California and the nation: an ultra-progressive, eco-friendly community that blends environmental accountability with architectural heritage.

Planned over nearly 20 years, Del Sur faced ballot-box propositions, multiple lawsuits, a slew of environmental roadblocks, and four different city administrations. Working diligently with community and civic groups at all levels, developer Fred Maas of Black Mountain Ranch LLC pursued his vision for the next generation of community building. Today, Del Sur is now heralded by most of its original opponents as an exemplary product of smart-growth planning and sustainable development, establishing a benchmark for green-building practices.

The community meets and in most cases exceeds stringent local and state environmental requirements. Del Sur also has won several important regional environmental awards, and a facility on the property – open to all San Diegans as an environmental education and resource center--is in line for Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design). It may become San Diego’s first Platinum-rated building and one of the most environmentally progressive buildings in the world.

Del Sur’s success did not come easily. Recycling and conservation of resources are central to the philosophy at Del Sur, but established programs were not always readily available, or time-tested. Maas formed strategic alliances and created innovative partnerships to help make his strict design and construction requirements economically feasible for his builders.

RECYCLING
Maas worked with Allied Waste to develop a landmark, community-wide program to coordinate the community’s recycling efforts and consolidate truck trips. With an initial goal of 50% construction waste diverted from local landfills, the Del Sur builders - Standard Pacific Homes, Davidson, Shea Homes, William Lyon Homes McCullough-Ames and Laing Luxury - have consistently executed Del Sur’s mandatory recycling program, successfully diverting over 92% of construction waste. So far, according to the latest totals thru December 2006, 987 tons of lumber, 4,118 tons of concrete, 228 tons of drywall, 13 tons of asphalt and 29 tons of miscellaneous “commingle” (cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, glass and plastic containers) have been diverted from landfills, which also reduces truck trips and other related costs. 

Drywall, lumber, and concrete are collected daily at Del Sur’s four-acre on-site recycling facility for processing. Where appropriate, these materials are actually re-used on-site. Lumber is ground up and used as mulch for landscaping, excess concrete is crushed and used as road base, and excess drywall is used as soil additive.

While the community-wide program created initial tension among the builders, its benefits became evident as time passed and the system evolved. The program has ended up actually reducing the builders’ recycling and construction waste removal costs in the long run, demonstrating its success and ensuring its future application  - not only into the next phase of construction at Del Sur, but as an attainable goal for responsible building practices in the communities of tomorrow.

ENERGY CONSERVATION
Black Mountain Ranch LLC, has also mandated that at least 20 percent of the community’s 2,500 homes incorporate solar energy systems. Some neighborhoods are exceeding the minimum, installing photovoltaic technology as standard in as many as 40 percent of homes or more, and nearly all Del Sur residences have the option to incorporate solar power to generate electricity.

When completed, Del Sur will be one of the largest solar-powered communities in California, said Howard Wenger, executive vice president of PowerLight, the community’s solar energy strategic alliance partner.

According to PowerLight, Del Sur homeowners using solar power will annually save more than $58,000 collectively in utility bills, which also translates into saving 35,000 barrels of oil and results in a reduction of 820,000 pounds of greenhouse gases. This is about the same effect as planting nearly 40,000 trees or not driving 21.5 million miles.

“By deploying solar, Del Sur is demonstrating its commitment to homebuyers in an era of rising energy costs,” Wenger said. “By providing solar electric systems in homes, the builders are showing genuine vision and leadership in sustainable development.”

WATER SAVINGS
Throughout Del Sur, significant water savings are achieved through the incorporation of  mandatory tank-less water heaters and weather-based satellite irrigation systems in most homes.  The community also requires that at least 50 percent of all landscaping is drought-resistant.

According to Del Sur, the use of these mandatory water-saving systems alone can potentially save up to 40,000 gallons per home per year – reducing homeowner costs and demand upon our natural resources.

THE RANCH HOUSE AT DEL SUR
The community’s Ranch House, which is planned as a community center and showcase for sustainable design for all San Diegans, is currently in line for one of the highest  certifications for LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,) a program of the U.S. Green Building Council. It may become the first Platinum-rated LEED building in San Diego, and one of only a handful of its kind in the world.

The Ranch House at Del Sur features recycled and rapidly-renewable materials such as stones reused from the site, incorporated in the fireplace and stone walls that wind throughout the community; recycled beams from an old pier in Portland used as the ceiling trusses and supports; reclaimed floorboards harvested from a barn in Pennsylvania; blue jeans cotton used as insulation; cork used in flooring; countertops made from compressed sunflower husks and cabinets made from wheatboard.

The Ranch House demonstrates the practical and aesthetic application of eco-friendly materials, which one day will hopefully be incorporated into the homebuilding industry’s mainstream designs. The Ranch House also demonstrates a few of the eco-saving amenities incorporated in most homes at Del Sur, such as the tank-less water heaters and weather-based satellite irrigation technology.

LOCAL RECOGNITION
Del Sur has been recognized as ‘Sustainable Community of the Year’ by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California, and the Ranch House recently received ‘best sales center’ honors from both the BIA of Southern California and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Del Sur was named 2006 Smart Growth Project by the Urban Land Institute, San Diego/Tijuana Chapter. Developer Black Mountain Ranch, LLC also received the 2006 Recycler of the Year award from the city of San Diego, and an Earth award from San Diego EarthWorks, a local environmental conservation group. Del Sur was a featured stop along three region-wide environmental and energy tours this past fall, hosted by the San Diego Regional Energy Office and other organizations.

Del Sur is now open for model and community tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods now under construction in Del Sur, stop by The Ranch House, Del Sur’s sales and information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur and head north for approximately 4.5 miles and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Del Sur is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or click onto www.DelSurLiving.com for more information.

Del Sur in full swing with new roads, bridges, parks, schools and neighborhoods

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 19, 2007) - Connecting roads to ease traffic and commute times are a major focus of infrastructure projects under way at Del Sur, a new master-planned community of 2,500 homes just north of the 56 freeway in the city of San Diego. Open-space preserves and neighborhood parks also are prominent features underway in the development, which emphasizes its eco-friendly design and sustainability in addition to architecture reminiscent of historic San Diego neighborhoods.

Roads & Bridges
Del Sur, located four miles north of SR 56 between interstates 5 and 15, encompasses 1,800 acres of rolling hillsides and former ranch lands. It is the last residential component of the long-planned Black Mountain Ranch development, a 4,677-acre project that also includes Santaluz. More than 60 percent of Black Mountain Ranch is dedicated open space, and Del Sur shares 18 miles of hiking, biking and rough terrain trails with sister community Santaluz, that links to the San Dieguito River Regional Park and Black Mountain Regional Park.

A recently completed road is an extension of Camino del Sur, which runs north through the community along its western edge. It connects to Camino del Norte on the northern side of the development, allowing Del Sur residents to enter the community from the north and south.

Residents of the new community also will benefit from the upcoming opening of a new road extension linking Bernardo Center Drive to Carmel Valley Road. The connection, planned to open in June, will cross through the southeastern portion of Del Sur and lead to SR 56.

In addition to road extensions, Del Sur has built two bridges in the community, each of which crosses deep ravines and environmentally sensitive areas.

Haaland Glen Bridge is a stone-clad span designed in an 18th century, old-world style. It links the seven neighborhoods in the first phase of Del Sur with a second phase of development to the south.

The second bridge, on Camino del Sur leading into Del Sur from the southwest corner, crosses Lusardi Creek and the County Water Authority’s aqueduct. A distinctive design with a main span of 660 feet, it is the longest concrete box girder bridge in the county. (The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, at 11,179 feet, is a steel box girder bridge.) The dual-span bridge includes critter-friendly features such as bat boxes on its underside, and has received regional acclaim for its innovative design.

Parks and Open Space
Significant measures have been taken by Black Mountain Ranch LLC, the developer of Del Sur, to lessen environmental impacts of development. Included is the establishment of extensive wildlife corridors that allow such resident critters as deer, coyotes and birds to move among different open-space areas, an important consideration in maintaining the health and diversity of animal populations. 

A 400-foot corridor along Lusardi Creek has been restored as a wetlands preserve, with removal of invasive plant species and large-scale plantings of native vegetation. More than 150 years of farming and cattle grazing near the creek had depleted natural resources from the land, and the preservation measures taken by Del Sur planners ultimately will contribute to improving the overall quality of water in the area. 

Del Sur has begun construction on Spreckles Park, located at the end of Haaland Glen Bridge, with an anticipated opening this summer. Many of Del Sur’s neighborhoods feature an individual park with a swimming pool and a unique element, such as a small amphitheater or a garden maze.  A large village green also is planned as a focal point for recreation and communitywide activities. It will be located next to a proposed Town Center with retail and professional services space as well as a planned transit center with shuttles linked to express-lane buses for freeways.

Schools
Grading has begun for Camino Del Norte High School and Del Sur Elementary, two schools located on or near Del Sur.

Del Sur Elementary is an 81,000 square feet facility on 10 acres that will accommodate 800 students. Like Del Sur, the elementary school is designed to celebrate the history of San Diego through landscape and architectural design, preserve and renew existing landscape where possible, support walkable areas and common spaces for connectivity, and include sustainable design components to reduce demand on natural and public resources. The elementary school is currently projected to open in 2008.

Del Norte High School, a truly 21st century educational facility, is planned to eventually accommodate 2,250 students in grades 9 through 12 adjacent to Del Sur in the 4S Ranch community. Grading has begun, and the school is currently slated to open in September 2009. Stretching across 62 acres, the 210,093 square foot campus plan is comprised of 45 standard classrooms, 12 science labs, 5 art labs, 2 music classrooms, 5 special education classrooms, 11 vocational classrooms and more. A two-story building fronting the campus consists of Administrative and Staff Support areas and Food Service Facilities.

Del Norte High students will extend learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom by participating in on-site real world conditions. Flexible space planning in the Research and Development Labs allows outreach to the business community, and the Research Center features spaces for individual and collaborative research and presentation as well as casual reading. A Fine Arts village will blend traditional mediums of visual arts, drama and music with emerging electronic trends. The Physical Education village includes a competition size gymnasium, weight and training rooms, shower and locker facilities, aerobics and dance rooms, an outdoor stadium and sports fields, a swimming pool and more. A school-wide data and video-capable multi-media network will allow any work station on campus to access a central database of information to share relevant software or access the internet/world wide web. Grading is underway, and Del Norte High School is currently scheduled to open in 2009.

New Neighborhoods
Recently-opened, Gables Crossing by McCullough-Ames at Del Sur presents a privately gated community with all single-story, individually designed homes on lots averaging more than one acre.   Featuring stone exteriors with tiled rooftops and wood roll-up 4-car garages, homes range from 4,400 to 5,600 square feet. These highly upgraded homes include a minimum of 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, plus a bonus game/media room and front and back yard landscaping.  The Model home is open Wed-Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm.  

Opening this summer at Del Sur is The Sentinels by Laing Luxury, offering both one and two-story elegant, Tuscan style living experiences. Nearly all rooms open to a generous interior courtyard, and some offer a home office, guest residence or retreat option. An abundance of windows capture gentle ocean breezes, and two of the plans feature a ground-level master bedroom suite. Homes at The Sentinels are each priced from the low $1 millions.

The Ranch House at Del Sur
A landmark feature of Del Sur is the community’s Ranch House, an information center that incorporates myriad examples of environmentally sustainable design, construction and living practices.  The 3,000-square-foot facility, which is open to the public, demonstrates how reclaimed materials and rapidly renewable resources can be used in tandem with energy efficiencies to promote environmental stewardship. 

The building’s stone façade comes from rocks removed from the Del Sur construction site. A demolished wood pier in Oregon provided the Douglas fir for the Ranch House’s open beams, and reclaimed oak from an old barn is used for flooring. Cabinets are made of wheat waste, and countertops are fashioned from ground sunflower husks. Recycled jeans cotton is used as formaldehyde-free insulation.

The Ranch House is powered by solar-generated electricity, which the developer has mandated for at least 20 percent of homes in Del Sur; some builders are offering 40 percent of homes with solar-power technology and more. Other significant energy savers at the Ranch House and in Del Sur homes include tankless water heaters and drought-resistant landscaping.

The Ranch House is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, demonstrating compliance with a national standard for high-performance, sustainable buildings. The structure is in line to achieve a Platinum rating in the coming months - the highest possible, making it one of only a handful of such highly rated buildings in the world.

About Del Sur
In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, the new community of Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage.  Tree-lined streets, a quaint town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space are  planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com learn more about Del Sur.

Del Sur named "Sustainable Community of the Year" by Southern California's building industry
MAME Awards recognize eco-friendly innovations and the Ranch House welcome center

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 19, 2007) – Del Sur, San Diego’s new master planned community celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and the environment, took home two awards last month at the 2006 Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence (MAME) awards, the annual sales and design competition produced by the Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Del Sur developer Black Mountain Ranch LLC was awarded honors for Sustainable Community of the Year, and Best Sales or Information Pavilion for the Ranch House.

Del Sur’s many environmental design, construction and living practices are setting a new standard for eco-responsibility in the construction industry, and the Ranch House is a model for the future of homebuilding for industry leaders and the general public alike.

“We’re honored to receive this recognition from our building industry peers,” said Fred Maas, president of Black Mountain Ranch LLC. “I’d like to acknowledge the incredible work of our builders in helping bring the Del Sur vision to life. Special thanks to our consultants Design Line Interiors, Fullerton Architects, William Hezmalhalch Architects, Vita Planning & Landscape Architecture, Wimmer Yamada & Caughey, and Dewayne Freebie for your continued dedication to sustainability, to San Diego’s architectural heritage and to the needs of today’s homebuyers.”

A minimum of 20% of homes at Del Sur will have solar electric systems, and some neighborhoods are installing upwards of 40% solar or more. Weather-based, satellite irrigation systems and tank-less water heaters save up to 40,000 gallons of water per home per year, and community landscaping is irrigated with reclaimed city water. Over 92% of construction waste has been recycled, and where possible, reused on-site.

The Ranch House, designed according to the US Green Building Council’s stringent environmental design protocols, is slated to become San Diego’s first Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building, and one of the most environmentally progressive buildings in the world. It serves as a showcase for sustainable design and construction, using recycled, reclaimed and rapidly-renewable materials in an aesthetic and functional design that honors the ranchero style prevalent to the area during San Diego’s agricultural heyday. The Ranch House also includes many educational components, such as a real-time energy savings monitor that tracks the facility’s energy consumption and solar energy savings, as well as an air quality monitor. The Ranch House’s signature olive orchard was adopted from a farm in northern California slated for demolition, and a demonstration sage garden off the back terrace showcases the beautiful varieties of this low-water plant.

The MAME Awards annually attracts over 500 entries involving new-home communities in all six Southern California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego.  Encompassing all facets of new-home marketing and merchandising, this competition provides for entry opportunities in product design, model complex landscaping, interior merchandising, sales office design, logo design, graphics, brochures, signage, advertisements, overall advertising campaigns, special promotions, and website presentations.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, the new community of Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities.  The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage.  Tree-lined streets, a quaint town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com learn more about Del Sur.

Del Sur Treats Mom and Family to a Special Mother"s Day Party
Community event features refreshments, games and super surprises

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 26, 2007) – Del Sur, San Diego’s newest master-planned community, will host a Mother’s Day party May 13 that’s certain to appeal to the entire family  – and especially the “lady of the house.”

The first 200 children who bring in a hand-drawn and colored picture of mom will receive a gift box of Chuao artisan chocolates to give to her.

Festivities include music at Haaland Glen Park, face painting, balloons, children’s games, and more.  Raffle drawings throughout the day will include such prizes as spa treatments and retail gift cards. The party will be held from 12noon to 4pm on Sunday, May 13th.

Acclaimed for its celebration of regional heritage, old-world craftsmanship and eco-friendly design, Del Sur in its initial phase is planning a diverse collection of neighborhoods, parks, schools in the Poway Unified School District and a town center with upscale retail and professional services. It is surrounded by large expanses of dedicated open space, including 18 miles of trails for hiking and recreation shared with sister community Santaluz.

“Our Mother’s Day party is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to get a taste of the Del Sur lifestyle,” said Tamara Tatich, director of marketing for Black Mountain Ranch LLC, the community’s developer.  “Del Sur offers a small-town charm and neighborliness, but it’s very convenient to the city and beaches.”

An award-winning community for its environmentally conscious design, “smart growth” building principles and outstanding homes, Del Sur is conveniently located just north of the 56, between the 5 and 15 freeways. Model tour hours vary. For more information call 858-481-4200 or visit www.DelSurLiving.com.

Del Sur a Finalist For Gold Nugget Best Site Plan Honor
Master-planned Community Receives Award of Merit from PCBC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 4, 2007) – The first phase of Del Sur, a newly opened master-planned community in the northeastern part of the city, has received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit, making the development a finalist for the 2007 best community site plan honor.

Now in its 44th year, the Gold Nuggets are awarded by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, one of the nation's leading building industry events. Final award winners in a variety of categories will be announced May 31 during PCBC’s annual convention in San Francisco.

Gold Nuggets honor creative achievements in architectural design and land- use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Key judging criteria include aesthetic merit, innovation and effectiveness in design and planning. This year, more than 500 entries came from 14 Western states and countries bordering the Pacific Ocean.

The first phase of Del Sur encompasses 1,150 homes in what will eventually be a 2,500-home community that emphasizes its eco-friendly design and sustainability in addition to elegant and diverse architecture reminiscent of historic San Diego neighborhoods. The developer is Black Mountain Ranch LLC, and the site planner is William Hezmalhalch Architects Inc., of Santa Ana.

“It’s a distinct honor for Del Sur to be a Gold Nugget finalist for best community site plan,” said Fred Maas, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch and founder of Del Sur.  “William Hezmalhalch Architects has done an outstanding job in translating our vision for a unique community into reality, as have other team members, which include Vita Inc. Planning, Landscape Architecture and Wimmer Yamada and Caughey.”

Included in the Phase One site plan are the first seven neighborhoods of Del Sur, each of which includes its own distinct park and a swimming pool, and the community’s Ranch House, a welcoming center that is a prototype for green building practices and environmentally responsible design.  When completed, the master-planned community – surrounded by expansive tracts of dedicated open space – also is planned to include a quaint town center, a large village green for community events, new schools in the Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails shared with sister community Santaluz.

In announcing the Award of Merit honors, the Gold Nuggets also selected Kensington at Del Sur by Davidson as a finalist in the category of best detached home of 2,601 to 3,000 square feet.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, the new community of Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities.  The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage.  Tree-lined streets, a quaint town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com learn more about Del Sur.

The Ranch House at Del Sur: Sustainable Design, Construction and Living

General site features supporting sustainable development
The facility has a 5.7 kilowatt DC roof integrated solar electric system and uses high efficiency solar cells. The solar arrays are located on the south and west facing roofs and help reduce peak energy loads for the building. The system will produce 8,541 kilowatt-hours of clean renewable electricity every year. At a rate of 15 cents per kilowatt hour, savings would exceed $1,281 per year.

Since July 2006 through January 2007, the solar system produced more than 6915 kilowatt-hours of clean renewable electricity. According to the EPA, the environmental benefits of using solar electricity versus the burning of non-renewable conventional fuels has reduced harmful air emissions the equivalent of planting of 49 mature trees, or not driving 5,472 miles.

Nearly 54 percent of the facility's site was restored with drought-tolerant and native landscaping. The site was previously used as farmland without any hardscape surfaces. The project added hardscape features but compensated for their increased storm-water runoff by using pervious concrete pavement and diverting much of the runoff to a filtration system located on site. This system removes more than 80 percent of suspended solids from storm water before it starts infiltrating into the ground. Irrigation water will be reduced by more than 70 percent based on a typical landscape design with about 15 percent of the planting as turf grasses. Water used for irrigation will be from municipally supplied reclaimed water. Weather-based, satellite irrigation technology matches watering times to the needs of individual plant types and local weather conditions.

The building was oriented so all regularly occupied rooms allow use of natural daylight for lighting and to capture cooling ocean breezes. Overall, more than 80 percent of the facility's spaces have enough daylight available to allow them to be used as regular work areas. The facility generates electricity from a rooftop-integrated, photovoltaic solar electric system.

An indoor air sensor monitors carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity and volatile organics in real time for information to be viewed over the Internet; trends are cited and any necessary actions are then taken.

Recycling procedures
Over 90 percent of waste materials generated during construction were diverted from landfills. The majority – concrete, lumber, paper, plastic, glass and cardboard – were handled at a nearby waste management facility built by the developer. Concrete and lumber were ground up on the nominated building’s site and used for a variety of purposes, such as mulch, soil additive. Stones reclaimed from the site were used as building materials for the facility.

Energy efficiency
An energy-efficient heating and cooling system is installed in the building and only energy-saving appliances are used. Energy loss is greatly reduced through the use of air-tight ductwork, low-emission windows, fluorescent lighting and deep eaves.

Based on LEED energy cost calculations, which exclude office equipment energy use, the facility’s energy use will be reduced by 45 percent. Additionally, the integrated rooftop photovoltaic system supplies more than one-third of the energy used by the building. Including the solar system, the overall energy cost savings for the facility are nearly 65 percent.

Water conservation
All plumbing fixtures – lavatories, sinks, toilets and showers – were selected to reduce water use by more than 40 percent compared to a standard design. Water waste is significantly curtailed by use of dual-flush toilets, a tankless water heater, the previously mentioned 54 percent drought-resistant landscaping and the facility’s weather-based irrigation system.

Special materials used in construction
Reused Building Materials: Nearly 30 percent of LEED-based building materials were reused timbers. Nearly 50 percent of these materials were large timbers reclaimed from a public dock built in the early 1900s. Nearly 20 percent of these materials were planks reclaimed from a barn built in the 1880s. The remaining 30 percent of these materials were stones reclaimed from the development site that were used as stonework, with minimal processing, for an entry wall, a fireplace and site landscape walls.

Recycled Content Building Materials: Nearly 12 percent of LEED-based building materials were made from recycled products, such as sunflower boards, wheat boards, cotton insulation, terra cotta ceramic tile and cork. The 12 percent is based on all of the LEED-based building materials, including the 30 percent of reused building materials that are not counted by LEED as recycled content.

Local Building Materials: More than 72 percent of LEED-based building materials were manufactured by local suppliers and nearly 23 percent of LEED-based building materials had their raw materials obtained within 500 air miles of the facility.

Rapidly Renewable Building Materials: More than 6 percent of LEED-based building materials were made from such rapidly renewable materials as cotton, sunflower seed husks, wheat straw and cork. These materials have less than a 10-year re-growth cycle, as required by LEED.

Low-Emitting Building Materials: Low-toxic materials were used in construction of the building. These included adhesives, sealants, paints, primers and carpeting. Composite boards, such as plywood, were selected to not use urea-formaldehyde based resins when manufactured.

Education & Awards
A comprehensive education program has been instituted by the developer to educate visitors to the facility on its many environment-friendly building practices and sustainability features. Targeted audiences include prospective home buyers, industry groups and environmental advocacy organizations, civic leaders and influence-shapers, students and the general public. The facility is actively promoted as a resource showcase open to the public to encourage them to learn about – and commit to – environmental stewardship.

Notable awards for the developer and the project include the city’s Recycler of the Year Award; 2006 Smart Growth Project of the Year from the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute, 2006 Earth Award from a local environmental organization; the state landscaping association’s [State]-Friendly Construction Award and the Sustainable Community of the Year from the regional building industry association.

Construction Ongoing for Two Schools to Serve Del Sur Community
Del Sur Elementary slated to open in 2008; Del Norte High in 2009/2010

SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 1, 2007 -- Construction is under way at two new schools that will serve the newly opened master-planned community of Del Sur, where 2,500 homes are being built in the north end of the city of San Diego. Del Sur Elementary and Del Norte High School will emphasize high-tech, Earth-friendly building and design practices and will be part of the highly acclaimed Poway Unified School District.

Del Sur Elementary, which is projected to open in 2008, will be an 81,000- square-foot facility on 10 acres that can accommodate 800 students. Plans call for the school to include a large multipurpose room with a stage that will be available for joint-use with the community, along with the school’s athletic field.

All school functions will be housed under one roof, and it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of the school’s energy requirements will come from solar-powered roof panels. Renewable energy sources are a key component of the entire Del Sur community, where the developer has mandated that at least 20 percent of all homes incorporate solar energy. In some neighborhoods, builders are using photovoltaic energy systems in as many as 40 percent of homes.

As with all construction in the 1,800-acre Del Sur, the elementary school is being designed to preserve and renew existing landscape whenever possible. The school will use a highly efficient irrigation system that, through satellite technology, will only water when needed. This weather-based system is used throughout all common areas in Del Sur and is standard in nearly every home. Systems like these are estimated to save up to 40,000 gallons of water per home per year.

Grading has also begun on Del Norte High School, a truly 21st century educational facility located along the eastern edge of Del Sur, on property shared with 4S Ranch. It is planned to open in 2009 or 2010, and will eventually accommodate 2,250 students in grades 9 through 12.

Stretching across 62 acres, the 210,093-square-foot campus plan includes 45 standard classrooms, 12 science labs, five art labs, two music classrooms, five special education classrooms, 11 vocational classrooms and more. A two-story building fronting the campus consists of administrative and staff support areas and food service facilities.

Del Norte High students will extend learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom by participating in on-site, real-world conditions. Flexible space planning in the research and development labs will allow outreach to the business community, and the research center features spaces for individual and collaborative research and presentation, as well as casual reading.

A “fine arts village” will blend the traditional media of visual arts, drama and music with emerging electronic trends. The “physical education village” includes a competition-size gymnasium, weight and training rooms, shower and locker facilities, aerobics and dance rooms, an outdoor stadium and sports fields, a swimming pool and more.

A school-wide data and video-capable multimedia network will allow any work station on campus to access a central database of information to share relevant software or to access the Internet.

With respect for the natural environment and innovative conservation programs emphasized in all aspects of the new community, Del Sur has received a number of awards, including the City of San Diego’s Recycler of the Year for 2006 and 2006 Smart Growth Project from the San Diego chapter of the Urban Land Institute. The latter recognizes the Del Sur Ranch House, the community’s welcome center, which is an educational showcase for environmentally responsible construction design and living practices.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. Neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com to learn more.

Taking home the gold
Area builders win top design awards

June 3, 2007
San Diego County housing projects won three Gold Nugget and 19 merit awards last week at the annual PCBC-The Premier Building Show in San Francisco, where the latest products were on display and various industry issues were discussed.

PCBC, which previously stood for Pacific Coast Builders Conference, attracts home builders, mostly from the 14 Western states, who this year submitted 577 entries in 51 categories for review by a panel of architects and industry veterans.

Top honors for local projects went to:

Arabella: Pardee Homes' 140-unit project in Pacific Highlands Ranch in the State Route 56 Corridor won gold for its 2,056-square-foot Plan 2 design, currently selling for $768,900, in the category for houses with less than 2,300 square feet on a small lot of 3,200 to 4,500 square feet. There are 17 unsold homes in the development, according to the sales office. Arabella's Plan 3 won a merit award in last year's competition. The project architect was JZMK Partners of Irvine.

“With references to historic California architecture, the warm colors and natural stone materials are at home in this coastal ranch setting,” the judges said.

Atrium at Eastlake Vistas: Plan 3 in Davidson's 68-home project in eastern Chula Vista was honored as the best single-family detached home of 4,001 to 4,500 square feet. The 4,258-square-foot model currently sells for more than $1,050,000. So far, 29 homes have sold in the project designed by R. Douglas Mansfield Architect Inc. of Laguna Beach.

“Strong craftsmanship at a reasonable price makes the home a winner,” the judges said.

Portico: Pardee's 185-unit home project also in Pacific Highlands Ranch was tops in the California Green Builder Residential Project competition. The homes, ranging from 2,165 to 2,413 square feet, currently sell for up to $726,000; so far, 113 of 120 homes released have been sold, a sales agent said. The project last year won merit awards for sustainable neighborhood design and one of the models.

The judges said the project's designers, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects of Newport Beach, produced “stylish, thoughtfully designed homes,” which include optional solar-power cells, energy-efficient appliances and features, upgrades of sustainable materials and other “green” features.

“These are 'green' homes that are marketable and set a good example for the home-building industry to follow,” the judges said.

John Coons, an architect with San Francisco-based Sasaki Associates and a judge on the Gold Nuggets panel, noted that the entries were down from last year's 700 competitors, a sign of the slumping new-home market in California and most of the rest of the country.

But he said the winners displayed a greater sense than ever of the importance of sustainable design.

“There were some striking contemporary designs this year,” he added, a contrast to the “Tuscan vernacular” that so many builders chose in the past decade. One trend common to the San Diego winners and to many others was the prevalence of first-floor bedrooms, when previously bedrooms were routinely located upstairs. “That bears testimony to the aging population,” he said. “We boomers – our knees are giving out.”

But Coons said luxurious bathrooms and spacious master-bedroom suites were still in evidence: “They are very potent selling tools.”

Traditional designs that cleverly link indoor and outdoor spaces remain popular, he said, and more and more builders are successfully downplaying garages by locating them at the back of the lot.

Looking to the future, he called the housing industry's health “promising” going into 2008.

“The outlook, in spite of the turndown in the marketplace, is very optimistic,” he said, “and there are a lot of very good, creative examples to address affordability, sustainability and denser urban living.”

Del Sur Named a San Diego "Recycler of the Year" Again in 2007

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 14, 2007) – Del Sur, the new master-planned community celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and the environment, has received another local award for outstanding accomplishments in environment-friendly building practices.

On June 7, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of Del Sur, was recognized as a 2007 Recycler of the Year during the Waste Reduction and Diversion Awards program sponsored by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department. Del Sur also earned a Recycler of the Year award in 2006.

“We’re honored to be acknowledged for the ongoing recycling efforts at Del Sur,” said Fred Maas, president of Black Mountain Ranch LLC and a founder of Del Sur. “Last year’s award recognized the innovation of our program, but I think this year we’re being honored for its long-term success. The builders at Del Sur and their specialty contractors have done an incredible job implementing the program. I applaud their achievement, and I’m proud to share this award with the entire team.”

The first of its kind in San Diego, Del Sur’s comprehensive recycling program has successfully diverted over 92 percent of construction waste away from area landfills from September 2005 through the end of 2006. It far exceeds the city’s goal of diverting at least 50% of waste, and has surpassed even Black Mountain Ranch LLC’s original goal of diverting 75%.

Drywall, lumber, concrete and miscellaneous “commingle” (cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, glass and plastic containers) are collected daily at Del Sur’s four-acre on-site recycling facility for processing. Where appropriate, these materials are actually re-used on-site. Lumber is ground up and used as mulch for landscaping, excess concrete is crushed and used as road base, and excess drywall is used as soil additive. So far, according to the latest totals thru December 2006, 987 tons of lumber, 4,118 tons of concrete, 228 tons of drywall, 13 tons of asphalt and 29 tons of commingle have been diverted from landfills, which also reduces truck trips and other related costs.

Del Sur’s recycling program is only one component of the environmentally-sustainable design, construction and living practices that are a core component of the Del Sur vision. In addition, at least 20% of homes must include photovoltaic (solar) energy systems, and nearly every home at Del Sur will have a tankless water heater and weather-based satellite irrigation system. Community-wide, at least 50% of the landscaping is native or drought-tolerant, and reclaimed water is used for irrigation. Over 60% of Black Mountain Ranch has been set-aside as permanent open space, and Del Sur residents share over 20 miles of hiking trails with sister community, Santaluz. And, the community’s Ranch House welcome and information center is in queue to be San Diego’s first Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Building, a designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Made with many recycled or rapidly-renewable materials, The Ranch House is open to the public as a showcase for sustainability.

Del Sur has also been recognized as 2007 ‘Sustainable Community of the Year’ by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California, 2007 ‘Sustainable Communities Champion’ by San Diego Gas & Electric, and 2006 Smart Growth Project by the Urban Land Institute, San Diego/Tijuana Chapter. Developer Black Mountain Ranch, LLC also received an Earth award from San Diego EarthWorks, a local environmental conservation group, and the community has been a featured stop along several region-wide environmental and energy tours hosted by the San Diego Regional Energy Office and other organizations.

Del Sur is now open for model and community tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods now under construction in Del Sur, stop by The Ranch House, Del Sur’s sales and information center.  Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur and head north for approximately 4.5 miles and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Del Sur is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or click onto www.DelSurLiving.com for more information.

Construction Ongoing for Two Schools to Serve Del Sur Community
Del Sur Elementary slated to open in 2008; Del Norte High in 2009/2010

SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 21, 2007 -- Construction is under way at two new schools that will serve the newly opened master-planned community of Del Sur, where 2,500 homes are being built in the north end of the city of San Diego. Del Sur Elementary and Del Norte High School will emphasize high-tech, Earth-friendly building and design practices and will be part of the highly acclaimed Poway Unified School District.

Del Sur Elementary, which is projected to open in 2008, will be an 81,000- square-foot facility on 10 acres that can accommodate 800 students. Plans call for the school to include a large multipurpose room with a stage that will be available for joint-use with the community, along with the school’s athletic field.

All school functions will be housed under one roof, and it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of the school’s energy requirements will come from solar-powered roof panels. Renewable energy sources are a key component of the entire Del Sur community, where the developer has mandated that at least 20 percent of all homes incorporate solar energy. In some neighborhoods, builders are using photovoltaic energy systems in as many as 40 percent of homes.

As with all construction in the 1,800-acre Del Sur, the elementary school is being designed to preserve and renew existing landscape whenever possible. The school will use a highly efficient irrigation system that, through centrally-controlled technology, will only water when needed. This weather-based system is used throughout all common areas in Del Sur and is standard in nearly every home. Systems like these are estimated to save up to 40,000 gallons of water per home per year.

Grading has also begun on Del Norte High School, a truly 21st century educational facility located along the eastern edge of Del Sur, on property shared with 4S Ranch. It is planned to open in 2009 or 2010, and will eventually accommodate 2,250 students in grades 9 through 12.

Stretching across 62 acres, the 210,093-square-foot campus plan includes 45 standard classrooms, 12 science labs, five art labs, two music classrooms, five special education classrooms, 11 vocational classrooms and more. A two-story building fronting the campus consists of administrative and staff support areas and food service facilities.

Students will extend learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom by participating in on-site real world conditions. The Research Center is designed to provide for complex information and communications needs. Spaces allow for individual and collaborative research and presentation as well as casual reading.

At the core of the campus is a common area ringed by a pedestrian boulevard designed to foster a sense of interaction and communication as well as address the needs of the individuals. Academic core areas are designed with flexibility to serve either student grade level or academic village methodology. Flexible space planning allows those areas to adapt to future educational trends as they unfold.

A “fine arts village” will blend the traditional media of visual arts, drama and music with emerging electronic trends. The “physical education village” includes a competition-size gymnasium, weight and training rooms, shower and locker facilities, aerobics and dance rooms, an outdoor stadium and sports fields, a swimming pool and more.

A school-wide data and video-capable multimedia network will allow any work station on campus to access a central database of information to share relevant software or to access the Internet.

With respect for the natural environment and innovative conservation programs emphasized in all aspects of the new community, Del Sur has received a number of awards, including the City of San Diego’s Recycler of the Year for 2006 and 2006 Smart Growth Project from the San Diego chapter of the Urban Land Institute. The latter recognizes the Del Sur Ranch House, the community’s welcome center, which is an educational showcase for environmentally responsible construction design and living practices.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. Neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com to learn more.

Models now open at The Sentinels at Del Sur by Laing Luxury

SAN DIEGO, CA (June 25, 2007) – Laing Luxury recently celebrated the grand opening of four exquisitely appointed model homes at The Sentinels at Del Sur, its new collection of residences situated along a Tuscan-like hilltop within San Diego’s newest master planned community celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and the environment.

The Sentinels residences range from approximately 2,795 to 3,540 square feet with up to four bedrooms and four and one-half baths, and prices start in the high $900,000s. Interested buyers are encouraged to visit the community and tour the new models at The Sentinels, located approximately 5 miles north of SR-56 between the I-5 and I-15 freeways, and just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Contact Del Sur at (858) 481-4200 or visit www.delsurliving.com.

Reflecting the rustic European villages that inspired them, the models of The Sentinels at Del Sur showcase the unique character of the Tuscan style with private interior courtyards and inviting rear patios that combine to set the scene for elegant indoor/outdoor living and entertaining. Three of the four plans also showcase first-floor master suites that reward residents with the convenience of single-level living.

Among the numerous features of The Sentinels are expansive great rooms or family rooms and gourmet kitchens, and select plans are enhanced by such popular options as a home office. The models also reveal numerous touches of architectural flair. Among the most dramatic are large numbers of windows that bathe interiors in warm sunlight and frame sweeping views of the La Jolla Valley, the surrounding natural beauty of the Del Sur Glen canyon below and the north slopes of Black Mountain.

The Sentinels at Del Sur is being developed by Laing Luxury in collaboration with Baywood Development, builders of the highly acclaimed Sentinels at Santaluz. Laing Luxury is a division of John Laing Homes. With a tradition of quality dating back more than 150 years, John Laing Homes is one of the largest privately held homebuilders in the United States. For the last two years in a row, the company was rated highest in customer satisfaction with home builders in Orange County in J. D. Power & Associates’ 2006 and 2007 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction StudySM and finished as the top-rated home builder in overall experience in the consumer survey administered by independent research firm Eliant. In addition, John Laing Homes enjoys the financial backing of its award-winning partner, Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties. The homebuilder has earned numerous industry awards itself, including “America’s Best Builder” for 2006 from Builder magazine, “2005 Most Admired Builder of the Year” from Big Builder magazine, “2004 Builder of the Year” from Professional Builder magazine, and “Builder of the Decade” in 2000 from Eliant. Based in Newport Beach, California, John Laing Homes concentrates its homebuilding efforts in California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. For more information, visit www.laingluxury.com.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. Neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools and 18 miles of trails, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for model home tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com to learn more.

San Diego Building Named One of the World's 'Greenest'
Ranch House at Del Sur Scores Platinum LEED Rating from U.S. Green Building Council

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 9, 2007) – The Ranch House at Del Sur, the information center for the newly opened master-planned community by Black Mountain Ranch LLC in north San Diego, last week was awarded a Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a program of the U.S. Green Building Council and the most widely recognized standard worldwide for sustainable, high-performance, low-energy-use buildings.

With a point score of 59 out of a total 69 points possible, the 3,000-square-foot Ranch House is the first private-enterprise, new construction building to achieve Platinum rating in California, and San Diego’s first Platinum-rated structure.

"The Ranch House is to be commended for its LEED Platinum Certification," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "As a visitor information and resource center, the Ranch House will serve as an example to the community as well as raise awareness among consumers and new home builders. The Ranch House will be a model for master planned community development."

Of the approximately 680 LEED-NC (new construction) certified buildings in the world, only 28 have achieved Platinum certification. Many Ranch House features are available as standard or options to the 2,500 homes under construction at Del Sur. In addition, the Ranch House is actively promoted as a showcase and resource to all San Diegans to encourage learning about – and committing to – environmental stewardship.

“We’re honored that the Ranch House has been recognized by the Green Building Council with its highest rating,” said Fred Maas, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of the 1,800-acre Del Sur. “The Ranch House is the focal point of the Del Sur vision: celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability. Everything from the land planning to the recycling of construction waste to the use of Earth-friendly materials and techniques is part of the Del Sur green building strategy.”

Fullerton Architects P.C., of Kalispell, MT provided architectural design services, in consultation with LEED consultant Hernando Miranda of Soltierra, Inc. in San Diego. Landscape architecture was provided by Vita Planning & Landscape Architecture and Wimmer Yamada and Caughey, and interior design was provided by San Diego-based Design Line Interiors. Standard Pacific Homes constructed the Ranch House at Del Sur, and Benchmark Landscape provided landscape installation services.

Resource Conservation, Recycling and Reuse

Through the incorporation of efficient appliances, weather-based irrigation and low-water plant palettes, combined annual estimated water savings are 70 percent, or more than one million gallons saved per year. A photovoltaic (solar) energy system provides about half the building’s power, while natural lighting, EnergyStar appliances, efficient ductwork save approximately 57 percent of energy annually. Wind credits offset the remainder of the energy use, making the Ranch House a net-zero consumption facility.

Approximately 89% of construction waste at the Ranch House was recycled, and materials were re-used on-site where possible. Cork in the flooring, sunflower husks in countertops, wheat waste in cabinets and ceilings, and salvaged timbers used in flooring and ceiling trusses are among the reclaimed or rapidly-renewable resources on display at the Ranch House.

The porous concrete driveway leading to the Ranch House aids with groundwater filtration and mitigates storm-water runoff. Electric vehicles, dedicated carpool parking spaces and bike racks offer and demonstrate a variety of resources for alternative transportation.

About the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED Certification
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit composed of leaders from across the building industry working to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Driving its mission to transform the built environment is the Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™, which is accessible on-line and supported by a robust LEED Workshop program and the LEED Professional Accreditation program. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About Del Sur

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, the new community of Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District and 18 miles of trails shared with sister community Santaluz, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Among Del Sur’s many acknowledgments are the 2006 Smart Growth Project Award from ULI San Diego, 2007 Sustainable Community of the Year from BIA of Southern California, Recycler of the Year 2006 and 2007 from the city of San Diego, and 2007 Sustainable Communities Champion from San Diego Gas & Electric.

For more information on new home neighborhoods at Del Sur, visit the Ranch House. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, head north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House, which is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about Del Sur call 858-481-4200 or visit www.DelSurLiving.com.

Del Sur Marks Early Opening of Two Roads that Complete Regional Plan
New bridges are additional infrastructure improvements for north San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 12, 2007 – The award-winning Del Sur master-planned community, located north of SR 56 between interstates 5 and 15, today celebrates the opening of two new roads that complete a long-awaited regional transportation network in the northeastern part of the city -- nearly five years ahead of schedule.

Recently opened is a $35 million, approximately 4-mile extension of Camino Del Sur, which runs north from San Dieguito Road and now continues along the western edge of the 1,800-acre community under development across the new Lusardi Creek Bridge. The new road connects to Camino del Norte, which runs east-west along a new route at Del Sur’s northern border and intersects the I-15 freeway and Rancho Bernardo Road. The road features bike lanes and sidewalks, and includes two trailheads for access to the regional trail system.

Also open is a $21 million, 1.2-mile road extension linking Bernardo Center Drive at the I-15 corridor, crossing through the southeastern portion of Del Sur, to Carmel Valley Road and leading to SR 56. Together, these two roads represent the final connectors for the north City transportation network, providing commuters with new linkage routes between the I-5 and I-15 freeways via State Route 56. The roads were originally scheduled for completion closer to 2012.

Funding for Camino Del Sur was provided primarily by Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of Del Sur, and funding for the Carmel Valley Road extension provided primarily by 4S Ranch. In addition, Black Mountain Ranch provided the land for the two roads and a $150,000 traffic signal at the entry to Black Mountain Community Park. Both roads include substantial bridge structures that are part of the natural wildlife corridor system, linking Black Mountain Regional Park to the San Dieguito River.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders joined City Council President Scott Peters at today’s dedication ceremony with Fred Maas, president of Black Mountain Ranch and founder of Del Sur, and local civic and business leaders.

“These new roads are a vital piece of the area’s transportation network, and we’re extremely pleased to make them available so much earlier than we anticipated,” said Peters. “This success is a testament to the smart-growth thinking that the planners of Del Sur and 4S Ranch have employed throughout the development of these communities – serving the residents of today while planning for the needs of tomorrow.”

The occasion also marks the dedication of an award-winning new bridge on Camino Del Sur that crosses Lusardi Creek and the County Water Authority’s aqueduct, which was built by Black Mountain Ranch. The four-lane, three-span Lusardi Bridge is 728 feet in length, and its main span—at 316 feet—is the longest of its type ever built in the county. Its stylish, slender design complements the area’s rolling terrain, and its design and construction entailed special considerations to minimize impact on the environmental habitat, including the installation of bat houses, filtration boxes at the base of each bridge pier to treat drainage before it enters the creek, and more.

The bridge recently was named 2006 Outstanding Project by the San Diego section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In tandem with its construction, Black Mountain Ranch restored a 400-foot corridor along Lusardi Creek as a wetlands preserve, with removal of invasive plant species and large-scale plantings of native vegetation. These and other preservation measures taken by Del Sur planners ultimately will contribute to the overall quality of water in the area.

Another visually striking infrastructure addition at Del Sur is Haaland Glen Bridge, a stone-clad span designed in an 18th century traditional style that links neighborhoods in the first phase of Del Sur with its second phase of development to the south.

“The new roads and bridges are key elements in helping Del Sur take shape,” said Maas. “They also symbolize the heart of the Del Sur philosophy: high technology coupled with environmental sensitivity and historical architecture that lends old-world charm.”

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. The neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, expansive parks with swimming pools, new schools in Poway Unified School District, a town center, and 18 miles of trails shared with sister community Santaluz, all surrounded by acres of natural open space are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for public tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur’s community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 858-481-4200 or simply click onto www.DelSurLiving.com learn more about Del Sur.

Del Sur Featured in Upcoming Green Building Tours
Local events showcase energy-efficient, conservation features at new home master planned community

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (September 19, 2007) - Del Sur, San Diego's most eco-friendly new master-planned community, has been tapped to play a prominent role in three major environmental events this fall: San Diego Green 2007, an annual industry conference co-sponsored by the San Diego chapters of the Green Building Council and the American Institute of Architects, Sept. 26-28; the public GreenBuilt Tour 2007 by San Diego EARTHWorks, Sept. 29-30; and Solar Energy Week, a public event organized by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, October 21-27.

The Del Sur Ranch House community information center, designed to be one of the most sustainable buildings in the country, will be a featured tour stop during all three events. It recently received a Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) - the nation's highest environmental recognition. The Ranch House is California's first private-enterprise, new construction building to earn the Platinum designation.

In addition, nearly every new home at Del Sur is outfitted with a core set of standard 'green' features - including tank-less water heaters, weather-based satellite irrigation, 50% minimum low-water landscaping, and more. Water-saving measures alone can save more than 40,000 gallons of water per home, per year. Community-wide, at least 20% of the homes in each neighborhood must incorporate photovoltaic (solar) energy systems, reclaimed water is used throughout the community for landscaping, and the ongoing construction recycling program successfully diverted over 90% of construction waste in 2006.

About the conferences
The San Diego Green conference is a three-day educational workshop put on by the San Diego chapters of the U.S.  Green Building Council and American Institute of Architects to explore green design, green building strategies and green decision making. During the post-conference green building tour, participants will ‘take it on the road,’ visiting sustainably-built examples around San Diego County including the Ranch House at Del Sur.  For more information on the San Diego Green 2007 conference, visit http://www.sandiegogreen.org.

GreenBuilt Tour 2007 is a self-guided tour of homes and businesses showcasing sustainable building practices on Sept. 28-30. Presented by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the annual GreenBuilt Tour is organized by San Diego EARTHWorks, a committed network of volunteers in service for a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for all living things. The Del Sur Ranch House will be among the stops on the GreenBuilt Tour. Last year, San Diego EARTHWorks presented Del Sur and developer Black Mountain Ranch LLC with an Earth Award for its Ranch House community and information center. The GreenBuilt Tour cost is $15. For more information visit http://www.earthdayweb.org

Del Sur will be a featured tour stop on the California Center for Sustainable Energy’s Solar Homes Tour on the final day of its Solar Energy Week. Running from October 21-17, the series of events is designed to raise the general awareness of solar energy and increase community support for solar.  For more information on Solar Energy Week, visit http://www.energycenter.org

Two New Neighborhoods To Launch Soon at Del Sur
San Diego new home community adds to eclectic mix

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2007) - Models are under way at two new home neighborhoods at Del Sur, the heritage-inspired community celebrated for sustainable design, construction and living, located north of the 56 freeway off Camino Del Sur. Prospective buyers and visitors are encouraged to check out what's new at http://www.delsurliving.com.

Builders William Lyon Homes and Shea Homes are each working on models for their second new home neighborhoods at Del Sur - Pasado and Mandolin, respectively. Both are anticipated to celebrate model openings in early 2008. Located across the picturesque Haaland Glen Bridge overlooking Del Sur Glen Canyon, these two new neighborhoods enjoy close proximity to the new Spreckels Park, with its expansive lawn perfect for impromptu Frisbee games and future homeowner events, flanked by a signature sundial on one end and a curving, covered trellis on the other.

Del Sur's first condominium neighborhood, Mandolin at Del Sur by Shea Homes will offer 55 homes in three, four and five-unit motorcourt condominium configurations. Five floor plans will be available ranging from approximately 1,643 to 2,333 square feet. With exterior elevations featuring Tuscan-style architecture, the two- and three-story homes at Mandolin at Del Sur have 2-4 bedrooms, and 2.5 to 3.5 baths. All five floor plans feature gourmet kitchen islands, a fireplace, a balcony or patio, and master bathrooms with separate tub and shower. Interest lists will begin forming soon.

Also coming soon to Del Sur, William Lyon Homes' Pasado offers two-story, single-family homes ranging from 2,047 to 2,360 square feet, featuring three to four bedrooms, 2.5 to three baths and two-car garages. Three unique plans feature the distinct architectural details of Monterey, Cottage, Spanish and Bungalow vernaculars, with charming, homespun touches like picturesque courtyards and wrap-around porches. interest lists will begin forming soon.

As one of San Diego's most progressive 'green living' communities, the homes of Del Sur incorporate a core set of water and energy-saving features, including tankless water heaters, weather-based irrigation systems and more. Community-wide sustainable features include solar power initiatives, drought-tolerant landscaping requirements and stringent construction recycling programs, among others. The Ranch House community information center, recently named San Diego's first building to be Platinum-certified for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a showcase and public resource for environmentally sensitive design, construction and living practices, and is slated to be turned over to the Homeowners Association for resident use once Del Sur is completed.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region's top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities. Neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego's architectural heritage. Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools and 18 miles of trails shared with sister community Santaluz, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

Del Sur is now open for model home tours seven days a week. For more information on new home neighborhoods, stop by the Ranch House, Del Sur's community information center. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Del Sur, SDG&E join forces Oct. 27 for Solar Fest 2007
Community event features solar tours, entertainment and refreshments, energy-related contests, prizes and more

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2007) - Del Sur, San Diego’s newest master-planned community celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and the environment, is partnering with San Diego Gas & Electric for a fun and educational festival to help inform San Diegans about the benefits of conserving energy. To learn more, visit http://www.delsurliving.com.

Solar Fest 2007 will take place Oct. 27 at Del Sur from 10am to 2pm. The event starts at the Del Sur Ranch House, California’s first private-enterprise, new construction building to achieve Platinum certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the US Green Building Council. Here, visitors can exchange their regular incandescent light bulbs for new energy-saving fluorescent bulbs courtesy of SDG&E, up to five per person, plus learn about solar energy technologies and other progressive features and sustainable materials used at the Ranch House.

SDG&E’s Louie the Lightning Bug will be on hand to sign autographs, take pictures with kids, and hand out maps to the models in the neighborhoods of Madeira and Alcala, which will be demonstrating the solar technology available at Del Sur, plus some of the energy-efficient components incorporated into nearly every home in the community – such as tankless water heaters, weather-based irrigation systems and more.

Solar Fest 2007 is taking place in tandem with the Solar Homes Tour, the final day of Solar Energy Week sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy.  To reach Del Sur, take the 56 to Camino Del Sur and head north approximately 5 miles and follow the signs to the Ranch House.

In addition to the award-winning homes by some of the region’s top builders, Del Sur provides a distinct lifestyle and abundance of amenities.  Neighborhoods offer a wide variety of residential styles that borrow their grace from San Diego’s architectural heritage.  Tree-lined streets, a town center, expansive parks with swimming pools and 18 miles of trails shared with sister community Santaluz, all surrounded by acres of natural open space, are planned to create a rich living experience for beginning, growing and mature families.

San Diego's Del Sur Community Earns State's Highest Award for Leadership in Sustainable, Smart Planning

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2007) - Governor Schwarzenegger has bestowed one of his most prestigious awards, the Governor's Environmental & Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), to Del Sur, a new master-planned community in north San Diego that exemplifies sustainable development practices and smart-growth planning. In a ceremony today at CalEPA headquarters in Sacramento, Fred Maas, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC and developer of Del Sur, accepted the award honoring the new home community in the category of Comprehensive Land Use Planning. Earlier this year, the Ranch House information center at Del Sur earned California's first Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for a private-enterprise, new construction building from the U.S. Green Building Council.

"This honor recognizes Del Sur's commitment to developing socially responsible and environmentally friendly practices that promote environmental protection and economic growth," said Linda Adams, California Secretary for Environmental Protection. "We applaud Black Mountain Ranch LLC for demonstrating an exemplary dedication to our families and community to protect our natural resources and environment for generations to come."

Del Sur was recognized in the category of comprehensive land use planning, which honors projects demonstrating "social equity and adequate housing; cost-effective infrastructure and transportation; water and energy efficiencies; and open space conservation to protect forests, agriculture, watersheds and other ecosystem values," according to judging criteria.

Designed over nearly 20 years in consultation with a variety of environmental and civic groups, the 1,800-acre community of Del Sur is planned to eventually include 2,500 market-rate homes, 469 low-income homes, business and commercial space, a transit center, fire station, two schools and more than 2,000 acres of dedicated open space shared with sister community Santaluz. The community's Platinum LEED-certified Ranch House is open as a public resource for environmental stewardship and sustainable building practices. Del Sur opened in June 2006 and is approximately 20 percent complete.

"We're thrilled that Governor Schwarzenegger has recognized Del Sur and the incredible design team of regional and city planners, environmental consultants, and community groups that are helping make this vision a reality," said Maas.

"Del Sur proves that planning for the needs of our present and future residents can successfully be accomplished in tandem with forward-thinking, resource-conserving practices that make economic sense," he added. "It's our hope that the next generation of community builders look to Del Sur as a model for development."

Two New Home Neighborhoods Opening January 19 at Del Sur

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (January 4, 2008) – Two new neighborhoods are opening this month at Del Sur, the heritage-inspired community celebrated for sustainable design, construction and recreational living, located north of the 56 freeway off Camino Del Sur. Prospective buyers and visitors are encouraged to come visit models at the condominium neighborhood of Mandolin by Shea Homes, and the single family homes at Pasado by William Lyon Homes, which will be unveiled on January 19. Both neighborhoods are across from the newly completed Spreckels Park, a central plaza with a sundial and artistic gnomon that punctuates a magnolia lined promenade. Spreckels Park will become the perfect stage for art exhibits and community gatherings.

Del Sur's first condominium neighborhood, Mandolin at Del Sur by Shea Homes will offer 55 homes in three, four and five-unit configurations. The two- and three-story Tuscan-style homes at Mandolin range from approximately 1,643 to 2,333 square feet and offer 2-4 bedrooms and 2.5 to 3.5 baths. All five floor plans feature gourmet kitchen islands, a fireplace, a balcony or patio, and master bathrooms with separate tub and shower. Prices are anticipated from the low $500,000s.

Designed in Monterey, Cottage, Spanish and Bungalow architectural styles, Pasado at Del Sur by William Lyon Homes offers three two-story floor plans ranging in size from 2,047 to 2,360 square feet, offering 3-4 bedrooms, 2-car garages, and open courtyards for outdoor entertaining. Prices are anticipated to begin in the high $500,000s.

To learn more, stop by the Ranch House for community information. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2,000 trees planted so far at Del Sur and neighboring communities
Over 20,000 trees anticipated for Black Mountain Ranch when complete

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (January 22, 2008) – Del Sur is literally going green. Formerly a treeless, cattle-ravaged landscape, the new master planned community north of SR-56 off Camino Del Sur is being transformed by sustainable developer Black Mountain Ranch LLC into a picturesque collection of neighborhoods dotted with trees and surrounded by acres upon acres of open space. Through the end of 2007, BMR estimates it has planted 12,000 trees throughout Black Mountain Ranch, its namesake 4,660-acre property that includes the communities of Santaluz and Verrazzano and the latest to be developed, Del Sur.

Bill Dumka, senior vice president of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, anticipates adding another 8,000 trees, or more, before they're finished.

"This area looks nothing like it did when we started," said Dumka. "I remember looking at this property 20 years ago, it had been overrun by cattle and agriculture, and we counted -- I think there were a dozen trees on the entire site. Today it's a beautiful example of how man and nature can coexist - in both aesthetic and environmentally-sound ways."

The planting of trees is an integral part of the sustainable design, construction and living practices embraced by Black Mountain Ranch and incorporated into the community of Del Sur. In addition to the aesthetic enhancement of their community, trees play a significant role in many eco-friendly building efforts, due to their success in helping conserve energy, reduce air pollution and mitigate the heat island effect common to developed areas.

"Developers today are much more enlightened than 20 years ago," said Fred Maas, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC. "It used to be they were criticized for cutting down trees. At Del Sur, we started with nothing, and we can’t add the trees fast enough. It’s exciting to see the results of what we started planning so many years ago, and to see the rest of the development community begin to embrace sustainability the way we have."

Within the tidy, picturesque community of Del Sur, Black Mountain Ranch LLC provides street trees in front of most homes, and typically requires its builders to provide two trees for each front yard. Homeowners are also encouraged to plant additional trees in the backyard where space is available.

'Taste of Del Sur' to showcase local restaurants and services
Feb. 16 festival features food, giveaways and fun for the whole family

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (February 1, 2008) – The restaurant and merchants surrounding the new home neighborhoods of Del Sur are coming together over Presidents' Day weekend for the first Taste of Del Sur, a culinary celebration of the many flavors and conveniences located within five minutes or five miles of the new community. Del Sur is San Diego's newest master planned community nestled between Rancho Santa Fe and Santaluz, north of SR-56 off Camino Del Sur. The event takes place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 16. For more information and directions to Del Sur, visit www.delsurliving.com.

Visitors are invited to 'bring their taste buds' for a sampling from over a dozen local restaurants offering delicacies both savory and sweet. Participating in the inaugural Taste of Del Sur are Bernardo Winery, Bread Bites & Moore, Café Merlot, Café Verrazzano, Cavaillon Restaurant, ChileCo Catering, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Grille Room at Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club, Leucadia Pizzeria, Los Primos Mexican Food, Luna Grill, Mario's New York Pizzeria, St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro, Villa Capri 2 and Viva Pomodoro. For a complete list of all participants, look for the Del Sur ad inside today’s Change of Address section.

Also featured in the celebration are several local businesses offering a variety of services convenient to residents of Del Sur and the surrounding area. Participating businesses include Ace Hardware, Costco, Hifai Chiropractic, Kids' Care Club, United Physicians Group and Wells Fargo Bank. Information about these businesses will be available and some are offering exciting giveaways to a limited number of visitors.

Taste of Del Sur begins at the Ranch House, where visitors can pick up tour maps, coloring books and crayons for kids and a new apron for the chef of the house, plus spin a prize wheel hosted by San Diego County Library. Many of the giveaways and food selections are limited to the first 150 attendees; visitors are encouraged to arrive promptly for the best chance to taste and take home some of the many treasures available from Taste of Del Sur.

An award-winning community for its environmentally conscious design, "smart growth" building principles and outstanding homes, Del Sur showcases seven heritage-inspired neighborhoods offering new homes featuring a diverse array of single- and multifamily living arrangements ranging from approximately 1,643 to 5,600 square feet. Current prices range from the high $400,000s to the low millions. Take SR-56 to Camino Del Sur, turn north for approximately four miles, and follow the signs to the Ranch House. For more information call 858-481-4200 or visit www.DelSurLiving.com.

Leading U.S. Green Residential Development Recognized as One of America's "Greenest" by National Building Industry

WASHINGTON, DC (May 11, 2008) – The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today awarded its prestigious "National Green Building" award to Del Sur, naming it "Mixed Use Development of the Year." Nationally recognized as a model for sustainability and environmental preservation, the Del Sur "gr