Orchard Hills - Strada by Irvine Pacific

[ak]

We visited Strada yesterday around 5PM.  It really is lacking interest in comparison to Capella.  The two sales ladies at Strada were just standing there with no one talking to them at all.  Bad sign for a development that is in the opening weekend. 

Exterior looks good.  Floor plans really are just recycle from Mulberry/Laurel with the loft area being very small.  For those considering converting the loft into a bedroom I think it will be too small and would really close off the whole upstairs area. 

Plan 1 and 2 have decent size backyard, which should be typical of normal lots.  Plan 3 backyard appears less than 6' width.

I really believe the first phase has NO interest because it's all TUSD lots.  TIC/IP really should have made ALL of Strada and Terraza open to homeowners to attend either TUSD or IUSD.  Imagine how many more buyers there would be.  I for one didn't if look at this initial phase because it was all TUSD lots since my kids already attend IUSD schools. 

 

[OpenSky]

 

[ak]

We visited Strada yesterday around 5PM.  It really is lacking interest in comparison to Capella.  The two sales ladies at Strada were just standing there with no one talking to them at all.  Bad sign for a development that is in the opening weekend. 

Exterior looks good.  Floor plans really are just recycle from Mulberry/Laurel with the loft area being very small.  For those considering converting the loft into a bedroom I think it will be too small and would really close off the whole upstairs area. 

Plan 1 and 2 have decent size backyard, which should be typical of normal lots.  Plan 3 backyard appears less than 6' width.

I really believe the first phase has NO interest because it's all TUSD lots.  TIC/IP really should have made ALL of Strada and Terraza open to homeowners to attend either TUSD or IUSD.  Imagine how many more buyers there would be.  I for one didn't if look at this initial phase because it was all TUSD lots since my kids already attend IUSD schools.

Oddly, the gated side is pure TUSD and by all accounts is selling like gangbusters.

Exactly my point.  Don't split up the development.  Gated side goes to TUSD and non-gated goes to IUSD.  Even better that way.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[ak]

We visited Strada yesterday around 5PM.  It really is lacking interest in comparison to Capella.  The two sales ladies at Strada were just standing there with no one talking to them at all.  Bad sign for a development that is in the opening weekend. 

Exterior looks good.  Floor plans really are just recycle from Mulberry/Laurel with the loft area being very small.  For those considering converting the loft into a bedroom I think it will be too small and would really close off the whole upstairs area. 

Plan 1 and 2 have decent size backyard, which should be typical of normal lots.  Plan 3 backyard appears less than 6' width.

I really believe the first phase has NO interest because it's all TUSD lots.  TIC/IP really should have made ALL of Strada and Terraza open to homeowners to attend either TUSD or IUSD.  Imagine how many more buyers there would be.  I for one didn't if look at this initial phase because it was all TUSD lots since my kids already attend IUSD schools.

Oddly, the gated side is pure TUSD and by all accounts is selling like gangbusters.

Exactly my point.  Don't split up the development.  Gated side goes to TUSD and non-gated goes to IUSD.  Even better that way.

Ahh, your theory is split districts within the tract turns off buyers. Interesting.

Yes.  I am the prime example.  It is a huge turn off that within "tracts" kids will have to go to different school districts!!

 

[Meggie]

I really believe the first phase has NO interest because it's all TUSD lots.  TIC/IP really should have made ALL of Strada and Terraza open to homeowners to attend either TUSD or IUSD.  Imagine how many more buyers there would be.  I for one didn't if look at this initial phase because it was all TUSD lots since my kids already attend IUSD schools.

TIC was prepared for TUSD concern/questions from potential buyers.  They had prepared a very nice brochure describing Hicks Canyon/OH/Beckman schools complete with API score and OC Register ranking. 

 

[qwerty]

We visited Strada yesterday around 5PM.  It really is lacking interest in comparison to Capella.  The two sales ladies at Strada were just standing there with no one talking to them at all.  Bad sign for a development that is in the opening weekend. 

Exterior looks good.  Floor plans really are just recycle from Mulberry/Laurel with the loft area being very small.  For those considering converting the loft into a bedroom I think it will be too small and would really close off the whole upstairs area. 

Plan 1 and 2 have decent size backyard, which should be typical of normal lots.  Plan 3 backyard appears less than 6' width.

I really believe the first phase has NO interest because it's all TUSD lots.  TIC/IP really should have made ALL of Strada and Terraza open to homeowners to attend either TUSD or IUSD.  Imagine how many more buyers there would be.  I for one didn't if look at this initial phase because it was all TUSD lots since my kids already attend IUSD schools.

Oddly, the gated side is pure TUSD and by all accounts is selling like gangbusters.

Exactly my point.  Don't split up the development.  Gated side goes to TUSD and non-gated goes to IUSD.  Even better that way.

Ahh, your theory is split districts within the tract turns off buyers. Interesting.

Yes.  I am the prime example.  It is a huge turn off that within "tracts" kids will have to go to different school districts!!

i still dont understand why you care if timmy down the street goes to TUSD and chen goes to IUSD.

 

[ak]

It's the same reason why schools districts have enrollment boundaries.  School districts and parents want their children to attend the same elementary, then the same middle school and then the same high school.  It's important for the community/families and for the kid's to maintain and foster friendships and bonds.  Just look at the very heated debate that is going on with the boundary meetings for HS#5.  School boundaries mean a lot for families and kids. 

 

[Meggie]

Just look at all the stupid arguments on this board about which school (or village) is better.  The kids are going to be brainwashed by the parents and start a "my school is better" war. 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

It's the same reason why schools districts have enrollment boundaries.  School districts and parents want their children to attend the same elementary, then the same middle school and then the same high school.  It's important for the community/families and for the kid's to maintain and foster friendships and bonds.  Just look at the very heated debate that is going on with the boundary meetings for HS#5.  School boundaries mean a lot for families and kids. 

This.

Not to mention the convenience if you have neighbors with kids in the same school if you need help for pickup/dropoff.

I've been called by parents on occasion to take their kids to school (on a rainy day) or bring them home (if they are running late).

And if your kids do walk/bike to school, it's nice if they have company.

 

[qwerty]

School districts and parents want their children to attend the same elementary, then the same middle school and then the same high school.  It's important for the community/families and for the kid's to maintain and foster friendships and bonds.  Just look at the very heated debate that is going on with the boundary meetings for HS#5.  School boundaries mean a lot for families and kids. 

there will be plenty of other OH kids going to TUSD with timmy, in particular the groves kids with more money.  does Timmy not get to make friends with kids other than Strada tract kids? Timmy and all his new friends will go to school together from little kids to high school.

the debate over high school number five seems to more about being rezoned to an inferior school. im guessing if woodbury or CV was being rezoned to Uni you wouldnt be hearing this outcry from families.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

@qwerty:

Just remember that the rest of TUSD is behind the gate, so it's not exactly the same as the kids next door, across or down the street.

AA even said that if all of Strada was either TUSD or IUSD, that would be okay... it's the partial zoning that's the issue.

 

[qwerty]

@qwerty:

Just remember that the rest of TUSD is behind the gate, so it's not exactly the same as the kids next door, across or down the street.

AA even said that if all of Strada was either TUSD or IUSD, that would be okay... it's the partial zoning that's the issue.

I understand the point. I just think it's overblown. When I lived in irvine I only split with the neighbor to my left and right. All of the other kids may as well have been zoned to Harvard university

 

[teaser]

Regardless which school district, Phase I almost sold out.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

We walked the models this weekend and like the layout.  Yard was small but it's TIC.  Price is a little high but considering what else is sellling...low $1 million is pretty much par for the course.

As for the gate v. non-gated side, I think that the people who are buying at OH will want to go for the gated side regardless of district.  Since OH is being sold as a luxury item, the gate falls in line with that theme.  The non-gated side has to compete with other developments that are similar and at a lower price. 

Also, I wasn't all that enthused about the lack of parks in the area.  Depending on what community you end up in, you would have to pack the kid(s) into a car to get to the playground.

 

[lovingit]

Saw the homes, again recycled floorplans.  Don't feel like $1m homes at all.
They said the homes have 10" ceilings downstairs and 9" ceilings upstairs.  They look shorter for some reason.

 

[OC troll]

I completely agree. For $1M dollars I was expecting the space to feel bigger, instead it feels pretty tight. I know it's suppose to be the only SFR outside the gates but if they're planning to cram 200+ homes on the site I think even the streets will feel tight. IP is trying to maximize on profits big time.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

I completely agree. For $1M dollars I was expecting the space to feel bigger, instead it feels pretty tight. I know it's suppose to be the only SFR outside the gates but if they're planning to cram 200+ homes on the site I think even the streets will feel tight. IP is trying to maximize on profits big time.

It's where the market is...Mendocino was getting closed to $1 million by the time it was done and Strada is in an arguably better location. 

TBF, I wouldn't get the plan one but plan 2 is about 2,500 sq. feet. before the conservatory build out.

 

[MatchaMan]

Just went by the Strada model homes today.  Phase 1 has been sold out.  The last lot of this phase will be signing contracts this week. 

2nd phase release scheduled to be end of June.  I think the people who are getting in early will def. gain on the appreciation of OH in general.  Do you think by build out (estimated 2 yrs), the homes will have gone up ~150K?

I liked plan 2's kitchen layout (with a true walk-in pantry) as well as more cabinet space.  However, plan 3 feels so much more roomier and has the better overall layout with individual baths attached to each bedroom.  I asked the sales counselor and they said that majority of the interest list are leaning on the plan 3s.

 

[OpenSky]