 New Development makes a difference
and brings neighbors together
BY BONNY OSTERHAGE
When Cibolo Canyons resident Chuck Fehlis comes home in the evening, he can usually find more than a dozen children under the age of 7 playing happily in his cul-de-sac.
For this father of two, that’s a wonderful thing.
“Our community is great,” says Fehlis, who says he knows his neighbors by name.
Fehlis is one of the lucky ones: Several recent studies show that Americans today are less connected to one another than ever before. Sure we send e-mail and text messages and communicate via modern technology, but we rarely take time to form strong relationships. We work, come home and tune in to the television and Internet while tuning out each other. Think about it: When was the last time you went for a stroll through your neighborhood or stopped by your neighbor’s home for a friendly chat? Do you even know your neighbors’ names?
Cibolo Canyons, located just outside the city at Bulverde and Stone Oak Parkway, is a masterplanned community designed to change the way people live by offering a way of life that is conducive to bringing people together. With distinctly different neighborhoods designed for every stage of life, a luxurious community recreation center and plans under way for two Tournament Players Clubs (TPC) golf courses and the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, Cibolo Canyons is more than just a place to live; it is a way of life. Best of all, it has an award-winning commitment to environmentally friendly living.
First do no harm
Cibolo Canyons is a community set against the beautiful backdrop of the Texas Hill Country with its majestic trees and winding creeks. That is why it was only natural for the developers to commit to protecting and preserving the environment as much as possible.
“This project was high-profile because of the two TPC golf courses and the JW Marriott Resort and Spa [to open in 2010],” says Susan Wright, Cibolo Canyons’ community liaison. “It was a great opportunity to showcase something positive that would get attention.”
Through collaboration with San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS), the Cibolo Canyons developers were able to establish a water conservation program for builders and create the first ever WaterSaver designation for homes. The builders agreed to incorporate a list of features such as dual-flush toilets, highefficiency showerheads, hot water on demand, drought-tolerant landscaping and specialized irrigation controllers. SAWS estimates that these steps will result in 60,000 gallons of water saved per year, per home.
“This is the first time that water has been incorporated into building restrictions,” says Dana Nichols, manager of SAWS conservation department. “It was just a really good fit.”
 The success of the WaterSaver homes was the impetus for the three newest neighborhoods in Cibolo Canyons currently under construction, whose homes will likely soon have the designation of being certified by Build San Antonio Green. Palacios at Cibolo Canyons will be the site of the 2008 Greater San Antonio Builders Association Parade of Homes beginning Labor Day weekend. This will be the first Parade to feature all green-built homes.
“We believe that building green is the right way to develop,” explains John Pierret, executive vice president of Forestar Real Estate Group, the community developer. “It is the way of the future, and we wanted to be at the forefront,” he says.
If you build it, they will come
In addition to featuring energy-conscious homes, the neighborhoods of Cibolo Canyons feature homes for every stage of life, making it a community that is suitable for everyone, from families with young children to active adults and senior citizens.
“If you want it, we’ve got it,” laughs Wright.
The development currently comprises six distinct neighborhoods that include traditional, modern, classic and custom-built homes from some of the top names in the building industry. Many more communities are also being planned.
Homes range in price from the $200,000s to more than $1 million, offering a price range for every budget;
however, regardless of the size or cost of a residence, every individual resident of the Cibolo Canyons community is part of the whole.
“There is a common enjoyment that we want everyone to have,” explains Wright.
To facilitate that common enjoyment and sense of belonging, Cibolo Canyons boasts an amenity center that is unprecedented in a residential community.
A large, beautifully landscaped pool complete with water playscapes, fountains and a lazy river, tempts families to while away the day. More active types can enjoy the separate junior Olympic-sized pool for swimming or water exercise. Plans are under way for a summer recreation program for the children that will include swimming lessons and a neighborhood swim team. In addition to the water facilities, there is a large outdoor playscape for the little ones, as well as a soccer field for friendly neighborhood games. Nine hundred acres of protected open space are the future home of a trail system for walking, jogging, biking and more.
At the center of all the activities is the beautifully appointed community clubhouse, which is ideal for parties, meetings and other neighborhood gatherings. It features a kitchen and wireless Internet access, and plans are under way for a fitness center.
“We have created both a family and adult atmosphere,” says Wright. “The community is very engaged.”
 Resort lifestyle
Of course you can’t mention Cibolo Canyons without mentioning the two TPC golf courses and the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, which are planned for 2010.
A huge draw for residents of the community, amenities of this caliber within the development bring with them an element of resort-style living. The hotel will boast gourmet restaurants, a world-class spa and a luxurious pool complex with a winding river.
The TPC courses are known for having the most advanced eco-sensitive golf design, and custom home buyers will have the option to purchase a charter membership in the clubs.
Changing the face of development
Cibolo Canyons is paving the way for a new kind of community living. Forestar, the developer behind this unique project, is using it as a standard for the way it is developing other communities across the country. Wright expects the trend to continue and grow.
“People will start asking for the same standards in neighborhoods outside of Cibolo Canyons,” she predicts. “We are definitely making a difference.” |
