INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS: Mon., June 26, 2006
Developer begins construction of new subdivision in Benson
Carving out a niche market for themselves with traditional Midwestern and Eastern style cottage homes, John and Kerryn House, owners of Catalina Development Corp. are looking to find 33 buyers for their nine-acre House Ridge Estates subdivision in Benson.
The development, at 629 E. Pearl St., is a first for the Tucson-based couple, who relocated to Southern Arizona from Sydney, Australia, where they previously built homes. Looking to offer an alternative to the Southwestern pueblo and territorial design, John House said, “We wanted to offer something different than what everyone else was building.”
Three floor plans will be offered, from 1,460 to 1,730 square feet. All the homes will be on quarter-acre lots, with prices will start at $233,000.
“People have a lot of choices, so we wanted to be distinctive. It's also a good match for Benson, too, which has a lot of traditional style homes, already,” John House said.
Kerryn House, a returning Tucson native, said work on subdividing the land began two years ago with Station Overlook LLC, which sold out last year to focus on other Tucson- area projects. “That opened up an opportunity for us,” she said.
Construction of the project's model homes is scheduled to begin in July with completion set for the third quarter of 2006. “Because we're closer to Tucson than Sierra Vista, the market here is still hot, so we expect to do well. Of course, all we have to do is find 33 families who like our homes, and that shouldn't be difficult.”