Maracay, a unit of the TRI Pointe Group (NYSE: TPH), celebrated the start of construction on its newest community in Gilbert, The Lakes at Annecy, a partially developed master plan community that fell dormant during the recession.

Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels, Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson and other special guests joined Maracay President Andy Warren and company leaders at a ground breaking ceremony to commemorate the occasion. The event, coincidentally, followed the release of a new study revealing Gilbert as No. 1 among the nation’s 100 largest cities and towns for its ability to recover from the 2007-09 downturn.

“This is a big day, not only for Maracay, but for the entire town of Gilbert,” said Warren. “This ground breaking signifies so much more than the resurgence of a formerly distressed community. It represents the hard work and resilience of everyone in the community who has helped make Gilbert the nation’s town with the fewest signs of economic distress coming out of the recession.”

L-R: Maracay Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development Jason Weber, Maracay Vice President of Operations Jeff Eschliman, Maracay President Andy Warren, Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels; and Gilbert Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson.
L-R: Maracay Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development Jason Weber, Maracay Vice President of Operations Jeff Eschliman, Maracay President Andy Warren, Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels; and Gilbert Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson.

Mayor Daniels cited The Lakes at Annecy as an example of where the hundreds of new residents moving to Gilbert each month can find high-quality housing and convenience in one location. “You really can’t beat the access you have right here,” she said.

Located a mile north of the Loop 202, on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Parkview drives, the lush master-planned community was first developed in the mid-2000s with resort-style amenities, including tranquil lakes, three pool complexes, playgrounds, basketball courts and tree-lined streets. Maracay plans to open the first phase of 216 single-family homes and townhomes, ranging in size from approximately 1,020 to 2,269 square feet, in early 2019.

“The longstanding real estate adage ‘location, location, location’ absolutely rings true at The Lakes at Annecy, where the benefits of this unique setting are three-fold: nearby transportation corridors offer a quick and easy commute to jobs; dozens of restaurants and entertainment options are literally within walking distance, and the parks, lakes and mature landscaping here provide a place to relax after your short drive home from work,” said Warren.

Gilbert Vice Mayor Peterson noted how residents of the Lakes at Annecy will be able to access anything they want or need from the neighborhood’s convenient location near the SanTan Village retail district and praised Maracay for building new homes in Gilbert that are among the most energy efficient in the Valley.

All homes will be Energy Star® certified and registered with the certification goal of achieving the LEED Certified® designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Each home also will feature the latest Smart Home technology and Maracay’s LivingSmart® program for maximum performance and cost efficiency.