LVA Urban Land Design Studio carefully designed the community to maintain the natural integrity of the land, the planning of which Wickersham contributed his expertise to ensure integration of the buildings’ appearance into the site. While the architectural guidelines are not yet finalized, the Sereno Canyon aesthetic is evident in his design of the community’s central amenity, the Retreat.

Situated in the center of the property and incorporating an enormous rock outcropping, the Retreat will offer residents resort‑style luxuries that will include barbecues and fire pits, a workout facility with windows overlooking sweeping vistas, and massage rooms for private use (no on‑site masseuse).

An infinity‑edge, regulation‑sized swimming pool will stretch across the base of the rocks, with social areas at either end. And trails will meander through the boulder mountain, leading to secluded Jacuzzi settings and social areas tucked into the site.

“The Retreat’s design will be appropriate to the region, rather than a copy of a particular style,” explained Wickersham. He plans to incorporate boulders into the architecture, including surface boulders displaced by the construction of roads within the project.

The building will feature hand‑tooled stone, and Wickersham is considering the use of copper for the roof. Noting his intent to make the Retreat’s look very site‑specific, Wickersham explained his goal is to create timeless architecture that will evoke a sense of place.

Similarly, he describes his design for the community’s gate guardhouse as neither Tuscan nor Spanish, per se, but inspired by the geography of the site. “It will be engaged with the boulders and the landscaping.” And it, too, will make use of boulders from the site as well as hand‑tooled stone.

Homesites range from two to five acres, the average being two‑and‑a‑half acres. Sites slope gently, a factor that, according to Wickersham, imposes greater need for homes to be designed specifically for their sites. A home designed for a flat location, he pointed out, would not work well.

“Guidelines will probably call for a minimum of 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of air conditioned livable space, plus outdoor areas,” he shared. Among those he expects to be attracted to the community are current Arizona residents who are downsizing.

Home size notwithstanding, Sereno Canyon is designed to be an estate‑lot community. “There is a diminishing supply of estate‑sized custom lots in the Scottsdale market, but there is a continued emerging demand for that type of product,” said Jim Buckley, director of marketing and sales for Harvard Realty Services, which markets the community. “(Crown Development) bought the land three or four years ago in preparation for bringing it out for custom lots.”

Peppered with boulder out‑croppings and preserved natural washes, the area’s wildlife activity will be maintained. Residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of hiking trails and open space within the community as well as access the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The development also preserves 360‑degree views that encompass surrounding mountains–all the way to Rio Verde–and federally protected areas.

“Sereno Canyon offers prospective buyers a selection of custom homesites that are refreshingly different,” Buckley observed. “True to its name, the community is quite ‘serene,’ boasting views that stretch for miles, unlikely to be blocked by future development.”

Few roads will disturb the site, as arms are laid out economically to reach clusters of homesites.

January will see the beginning of construction on the road to the north portion of the property as well as of water and sewer lines.

Sereno Canyon will be developed in three phases. Construction on infrastructure specifically for Phase I will begin in mid‑February, with completion expected within eight to twelve months. Forty‑three lots will comprise Phase I; twenty will be released in the initial offering. “We’ll begin

taking lot reservations or conditional contracts in February,” said Buckley, explaining the public report for real estate sales is expected in March.

Sereno Canyon is located off Happy Valley Road, in the McDowell Mountains east of Pima Road. Director of sales is Jim Buckley, designated broker with Harvard Realty Services, who can be reached at (480) 348‑1118.