Anthem with a difference
by RaeAnne Marsh

The latest neighborhood in Anthem differs in some regards from the established ones. For one thing, Arroyo Grande at Anthem Parkside lies off New River Road well to the west of Interstate 17.

Its nine‑mile proximity to Lake Pleasant lies behind another difference: lots are, in general, larger than their counterparts closer in, a planning design incorporated to allow properties to accommodate eight‑foot RV gates. And the CC&Rs for Arroyo Grande have been amended to allow residents to keep RVs and boats onsite; as long as they are kept behind the gate, they can show above the top of the fence.

Arroyo Grande at Anthem Parkside will include one tot lot play area, situated in roughly the center of the neighborhood.

Residents will, of course, enjoy access to the full range of Anthem’s community amenities through their homeowner association fees: its community center with a three‑story rock‑climbing wall, fitness center, and basketball and tennis courts; its 63‑acre community park; and its Big Splash water park.

Three home series comprise the Arroyo Grande neighborhood, offering floor plans that range from 2,100 square feet to 4,800 square feet in a mix of one‑ and two‑story homes. A handful of oversize lots, up to one‑half acre, are available in all three series.

Models at Arroyo Grande opened in mid‑July. Eight models of the thirteen available are showcased.

The smallest model is the Imperial in the Aspire series. Its 2,136 square feet is a split plan, with the master suite and the two secondary bedrooms and bath in diagonally opposite sections of the house. Homebuyers may opt to replace the single‑bay garage with a single large bonus room for additional living space.

The front door opens to a welcoming view of the great room beyond a comfortably spacious foyer. A hallway to one side of the foyer leads to the secondary bedrooms. Affording symmetry, an opening on the opposite side gives onto a vestibule that serves as a convenient anteroom to the garage and the laundry room, each of which opens separately from it. Standard features in the laundry room (of all the models) include a sink, a broad Corian countertop and a bank of upper cabinets.

Another vestibule leads off the great room to the master suite, a transitional space that enhances the sense of privacy from an otherwise adjacent room.

The kitchen occupies corner position in the great room, with a bar‑height counter that helps shield the working space from view in the family and dining areas while still keeping the spaces open to each other. There is no island, but there is considerable countertop work space, and the bar‑height counter offers itself as a serving site for entertaining. And the lack of an island allows the efficient triangle workflow of sink, stove and refrigerator.

The largest single‑story is the Salute, in the Celebrate series. Its sprawling 3,889 square feet are arranged around a center courtyard reached from the front of the house through a covered breezeway. Alongside this open courtyard lies a covered patio with connecting doors to the formal dining room.

A noteworthy feature is the small butler’s pantry between the dining room and the kitchen. All five bedrooms lie along one side of the house, the two front bedrooms sharing a Jack‑and‑Jill bath and a second full bath off the hallway where it is convenient to all the secondary bedrooms. There is also a powder room, somewhat more centrally located, off the den. Balancing the formal and casual spaces, the Salute offers separate living and family rooms, and dining room and breakfast nook.