KB Home Obtains Approval to Continue Silvera Ranch Development
KB Home recently received approval from Dublin’s Planning Commission to construct 44 detached single family homes at the Silvera Ranch community in northeast Dublin. The new development, called “Bella Monte,” will feature 44 homes spread over 5.9 acres with another 52 acres maintained as open space managed by Dublin’s Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD). KB Home may have been inspired to name its new community “Bella Monte” by Dublin’s famous aerial diva, Bella the Golden Eagle. Bella’s mating schedule has played just as an important role as the economy has in determining the pace of construction in the Silvera Ranch area in the past few years.
KB Home will be picking up where the financially-strapped Pinn Brothers had left the project. The grading and some of the required street improvements have already been completed in the Bellla Monte project area.
The lot sizes at Bella Monte are consistent with the other homes in Silvera Ranch with the smallest at 4,202 square feet and the largest at 7,201 square feet. The larger sized lots in most of Dublin’s new home developments tend to have portions on steep embankments that are difficult to use without terracing. Backyards at Bella Monte will have a minimum depth of 10 feet.
The floor plans at Bella Monte will range from 2,200 square feet to just under 3,000 square feet. Home buyers will also be able to choose from KB Home’s Tuscan, Craftsman, and Spanish themed elevations. The model homes may open as early as Summer 2011.
Once KB Home completes construction on the 44 homes in the Bella Monte community, Silvera Ranch will have 58 condos remaining to be built just south of Fallon Road at Silvera Ranch by another developer.
JD Powers gave KB Home of the San Francisco Bay Area a 2010 home quality rating of 2 out of 5. For comparison, Standard Pacific received a perfect 5 out of 5 in the same customer satisfaction study. JD Powers provided slightly higher ratings for KB Home with other factors such as price, sales staff, and warranty/customer service staff.
9:43 AM on March 3rd, 2011
Curious to know who the other builder is for the 58 remaining condos.
7:30 PM on March 3rd, 2011
I see KB homes cuts on quality and material. I guess something is going to give.
2:53 PM on March 17th, 2011
Hi John Z or ADT
Is Positano continuing with their development? I noticed orange safety barriers have been erected along the hillsides the past few days further east of the existing home construction. Any info on what is going to be built?
Thanks
E Dublin Resident
5:19 AM on March 18th, 2011
Hi E_Dubby – construction is definitely going full steam ahead at Positano. The safety barriers you noticed may be related to the Castello community in Positano:
http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2010/10/dublin-ca-castello-at-positano-in-fallon-village/
Thx, John Z.
10:28 AM on April 5th, 2011
Why would Dublin approve KB??? That’s so sad. I thought I lived in city with decent standards. This is not good for Dublin. I worked in the construction business for 7+ years and KB homes were the worst out there. As a company they have more lawsuits against them than any other builder! Just sad sad news, sorry.
11:03 AM on August 7th, 2011
Who will build the 58 condos at Silvera Ranch? Will this complete the Phase 3 Villas development where construction has ceased? Any indicative timelines? Thanks.
12:50 PM on August 7th, 2011
Hi Anonymous,
We are not sure which phase Silvera Ranch is in currently; however, Bella Monte by KB Homes is part of Silvera Ranch. The developer of the 58 condos at Silvera Ranch is to be determined.
6:28 PM on November 21st, 2011
So the remaining 58 condos will be built for sure? They will not leave it unbuilt? I heard their HoA has 50% delinquency. Are you aware of that?
6:34 PM on November 21st, 2011
Hi Anonymous – we hadn’t heard about the 50% delinquency. If that is the case, the HOA’s reserve for repairs would probably be underfunded. That could spell trouble down the road for common area repairs.
Thx, John Z.
6:47 PM on November 21st, 2011
This property now becomes cash only because of the HoA issue. The bank will not loan. But do we know if there will be builder picking up the remaining 58 condos?
7:32 PM on November 21st, 2011
Hi Athania – the plans still give the property owner the ability to develop – or sell the rights to develop – 58 condos. However, given the challenge that you noted, there may not be an appetite to move forward with the project if the purchases need to be cash-only…unless the developer can use their own financing company to underwrite the loans. The other challenge right now is that there is not a lot of demand for condos. I heard that the homebuilder at the Terraces in the Dublin Ranch Villages is actually renting out their condos because they are having a challenge selling them.
Cheers, John Z.
8:50 PM on November 21st, 2011
Thanks John. Does it mean there is no way for Pinn Bros to come back and build the remaining condos?
9:26 PM on November 21st, 2011
Hi Athania – given PB’s financial challenges, I would be surprised if they had the means to build the remaining condos. However, another builder could acquire the land and complete the project once the demand for condos picks up. Alternatively, the land owner could try and rezone the land for a different use.
Thx, John Z.
10:57 AM on December 18th, 2011
There’s so many families that lost their homes, after so many years of taking care of a home. Which now they have to move into a rental home (which there’s none). And now I see so many homes being built for sale and not rentals. WHY???
We as recent home owners can’t find a rental home because – banks aren’t helping fix foreclosures as rentals or landlords are asking a hugh amount to rent their property.
Now KB and other companies are building homes for sale and not for rent, at a reasonable price. (that’s why family are losing their homes – lost of jobs, or unemployment and can’t afford big house payments or rent. Why can’t anyone understanding this issue, maybe you think you’ll never be in this situation, that’ what we though!!!
We lived in Dublin for 20 years, and Wells Fargo took our house within 5 days, after they said they would handle the paper work, which they never did. We couldn’t fight back, so we left the area.
8:19 PM on February 26th, 2012
I haven’t been too impressed with KB Home quality. If I were to buy a home in the area I’d go with Braddock and Logan.
6:48 AM on February 27th, 2012
Driving at Arroyo Vista Project and as a big supporter of this project, I am disappointed with the quality of work KB homes have done on this project. As a realtor, this project looks good in drawings and has looked so bad in actuality. I am referring to the material they used on the roof that is close to the Dougherty street that is being seen by thousands of people daily. They built one structure with good tile roof and made 2 or 3 structures with some real ugly composite roofing. I hope the city looks at this at the time when Dublin homes are losing contact with the home prices in San Ramon and Pleasanton. If I can influence the city on KB home developments, this will be their last development in Dublin unless they change the roofs of this structures. WAKE UP CITY OFFICIALS AND LOOK AT THIS UGLY STRUCTURES!!!!!
9:23 PM on February 27th, 2012
We currently live one of the new KB home at Cantara in Positano. I do know the history of KB. However in our experience the quality of our current home is excellent and comparable to B&L and much better than our previous Seeno home. Customer service also goes out of their way to help in any way possible.