After three years of planning, Traditions will break ground

Landmark Communities will break ground Monday on the first phase of its $2 billion Dayton master-planned community, called Traditions, which will feature homes, apartments and 120 acres of commercial space.

The 2,400-acre, self-sustained, mixed-use community features the latest principles in land-use planning, design and lifestyle amenities, said Tina Iftiger, vice president of master plan communities for Landmark Communities.

"Our project is very innovative for the market," she said Thursday. "We're creating a community where people will live, work, play and shop. We're also creating opportunities for people to gather and socialize so that it will be a more meaningful living environment."

One feature in the plans is an amphitheater located on a one-acre island inside a 101Ú2-acre lake. It took three years to develop Traditions' complicated, and expensive, plans, which is one reason commuters have driven past the Highway 50 site and seen little progress on the land.

Iftiger said homes in Traditions will have a wide range of prices to appeal to people of all economic levels.

"Executive homes, larger homes will come on line later in the community," she said. "Teachers and firefighters can live here as well as a doctor. Think of this as a new town."

Traditions is designed with the village concept, meaning the neighborhoods are connected by tree-lined streets, pathways and open space. It will also feature a "town center" for commercial and office space. The center will contain a mix of national chains and local business, she said. That includes a big-box store, an anchor grocer and store-front commercial. Iftiger declined to disclose tenants at this time. The town center will be a minimum of two stories with some residential located above the ground floor shops and offices.

The town center will connect to a plaza the size of two football fields, Iftiger said. Events such as the Dayton farmers markets could be held here.

"Residents of Traditions will have a great opportunity for interaction with their neighbors and should develop a real sense of community," said Donna Kristaponis, Lyon County manager. "This, in turn, builds a great lifestyle. Similar new communities across the country are in extremely high demand."

Landmark collaborated with community planning and design firm The Planning Center, of Costa Mesa, Calif., to determine how to best create a sustainable community.

"Growth typically results in a series of subdivisions that blend together and connect to various shopping centers," said Randy Jackson, president and principal in charge of design for The Planning Center. "But the unique essence of Traditions is first creating a great place to live as the focal point for the entire community."

The home developer also partnered with American Lives, a consumer research company based in Carmel, Calif., to determine what Northern Nevadans want most in their homes and neighborhood.

"We spent a lot of time doing research and the reason we did that is because we had a vision to create a great place that would stand the test of time," Iftiger said. "It takes a lot of commitment, money, time to make sure we can implement it. It also takes a long time to create the partnerships to make this happen."

Research indicated that residents want a variety of architectural home styles. Landmark Communities is the master developer. Traditions will have multiple national and local builders, she said. To build in Traditions Landmark will have to go through the same land purchase process as any other residential builder.

"We plan to provide an architectural mix that has much more variety and interest than developments in which every element looks the same," said architect Don Clark. "We will use similar materials and forms throughout the project to maintain consistency; however, our designs will be executed in new ways to keep the community interesting."

One different feature available to Traditions' residents: a community-wide intranet. It will organize community information on a private virtual bulletin board.

Paragon Construction of Reno will do all the grading, road development and improvements on the land, said Iftiger.

The West Central Lyon County master plan committee approved the revised land use growth plan for Traditions in 2002, Iftiger said. In 2004 Traditions' special use permit was approved by Lyon County followed by its tentative map in 2004.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.