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The near future will bring changes to Nevada’s master-planned communities. This year at Aliante, work will continue on Aliante Station for a late 2008 opening. General Growth Properties, the parent company of Summerlin’s developer, is building a 100-acre regional retail center called Summerlin Centre, scheduled to open in early 2009. It will contain 1.5 million square feet of retail space, office space, residential units, a non-gaming boutique hotel and four department store anchors, including Nordstrom.

In Northern Nevada, a new shopping plaza with a mix of shops, restaurants and services – the Town Center – is under construction at Somersett. Two city parks and the Somersett Fire Station are under construction, which will be donated to the city of Reno.

Master-planned communities, in general, will continue to evolve, experts say. “In a major metropolitan area, I think the tendency is going to be towards mixed use, density, verticality, much more green building, more outdoor recreation and gathering spaces,” . Conversely, communities in rural areas or on the outskirts of metropolitan areas likely won’t change much, he added. Future communities will feature more diversity. More socioeconomic groups, residential products and architecture will be represented within one community. Amenities will be tailored to different stages of life. Overall, master-planned developments are expected to grow in popularity. “I would say that you will see very strong, planned communities continue to capture more and more of the buying public,”.

Opportunities for recreation at master-planned communities are a major draw, as well. Aliante, a 1,700-acre golf community in North Las Vegas, for example, contains 428 acres for recreational and public use. Facilities include an 18-hole golf course, 24 miles of trails, community parks, a library, picnic areas, sports courts and fields, tot lots, horseshoe areas and a 20-acre nature park, where community events take place. Construction has begun on a 200-room, 2,000-slot hotel casino, Aliante Station, complete with a bowling alley and movie theater.

More and more master-planned communities are integrating green, or environment-friendly, features. Water and power conservation are at the forefront of that movement. “More people are coming to the conclusion we have to take care of the environment and we have to live our lives in a more resource-responsible fashion,” Coburn said.

Residents enjoy the sense of community that master-planned communities provide. “I think one of the things consumers are aching for is a return to communities that embrace neighborhoods and embrace social interaction as opposed to the post-World War II urban-sprawl neighborhoods that really were built more around the car

Residents enjoy access to several places for social gathering, such as parks, golf courses and a 22,000-square-foot recreation facility. The homeowners association holds numerous activities for all ages, from potlucks, dances and parties to gymnastics and pottery classes. Mountain’s Edge, a 3,500-acre master-planned community in Las Vegas, promotes philanthropy to involve residents. It partners with service organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, on projects and offers its facilities for charitable events.