Inspired Neighbors

Another hurdle for the builder was a design requirement from the city of Alameda that dictated the use of high-quality windows that would match the architectural quality found in many of the city's character-rich neighborhoods. The Warmington Group approached Andersen Windows to develop a custom-tailored, competitively priced solution that could be used in each of the homes. The Andersen windows and patio doors on the Bayport project feature an exterior grille that meets the city of Alameda's requirements; natural wood interior; low-maintenance exterior cladding, and high-performance low-E glass.

Bayport Alameda has a lot going for it—great planning, great architecture, and a great builder—but just about everyone associated with the project will tell you that its No. 1 draw is its location. “The architecture and the concept have been very well received by buyers who love the alley-loaded, pedestrian-friendly plan,” says the Warmington Group's vice president of sales and marketing, Cheryl O'Connor. “But its success is primarily due to its location. Because Alameda is so close to all the major San Francisco work centers, and there hasn't been any new housing here in quite a few years, there's a lot of demand for single-family homes in a close-in location.”

DIGNIFIED DESIGN: Rich details and great architecture mark The Cove Collection. The Italian elevation of Plan 7 (above) is approximately 2,606 square feet and features a kitchen off an even larger great room and a sumptuous master suite upstairs.

Managing that demand has become one of Warmington's primary concerns. Because the lot sizes are so tight and the product offering is so diverse—12 unique floor plans with 32 different elevations from four architectural firms—the builder had to set up a construction schedule that called for 65 separate releases. Each release offers three to 15 homes from one of the three single-family collections. Homes are sold to pre-qualified buyers by lottery. “We usually have about 50 families show up for every release,” O'Connor says. “It's been tough, though. Some people have shown up for multiple lotteries and still haven't gotten a home yet.”

By the end of last year, Warmington had released 17 phases and 47 homes were occupied. “It's a challenge,” Marshall admits. “You want to mete out your product as the market desires it, at a pace where you can build some appreciation as you go. At the same time, you don't want to cut off the momentum, which is hard to do when you've got different product types and different concentrations. The real challenge is to market your way around those restraints. Warmington seems to be making it work.”

Homes from the Pointe, Cove, and Harbor collections were first offered in a range of prices from the mid-$600,000s to the $800,000s; currently, they're priced from $730,000 to $900,000. According to O'Connor, they're still value-priced relative to resale properties, which are still higher in the area.

HISTORICAL DETAILS: The Santa Barbara elevation of The Cove Collection's Plan 8 (right) boasts tile roofs, exposed chimneys, wrought-iron railings, and arched openings, all signatures of the Santa Barbara style.

“The project has definitely been a success,” says Marshall. “We raised prices because we kind of had to keep civil order there. But to get price increases and sustain the project, you couldn't get away with putting up just anything. That's not really our M.O., that's not Warmington's M.O, and that's not what the city of Alameda wanted.”

Kathleen Stanley is a freelance writer based in Washington.

Project: Bayport Alameda, Alameda, Calif.; Size:87 acres; Total units: 485; Price: $730,000 to $990,000 (single-family detached); $273,000 (moderate-income attached); Developers: Catellus Residential Group, Newport Beach, Calif., and Warmington Homes California, Costa Mesa, Calif.; Builder: Warmington Group of Northern California, San Ramon, Calif.; Architects: William Hezmalhalch Architects, Santa Ana, Calif. (The Cove); Robert Hidey Architects, Irvine, Calif. (The Pointe); HOVE Design Alliance, Newport Beach, Calif. (The Harbor); RNM Architects, Newport Beach (The Landing); Landscape architect: EDAW, San Francisco Each of th

GRAND ENTRANCE: Plan 10 from The Point Collection features a spacious entry that leads directly into an outdoor courtyard. Beyond the courtyard are rooms that families really use: the kitchen, nook, and great room.

EASY LIVING: The Traditional elevation of The Cove Collection's 2,925-square-foot Plan 8 would look at home just about anywhere.

FULLY LOADED: The Cove Collection's Traditional plan features four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, an optional tech alcove, and, for the cook who wants everything, a wok kitchen.