Apartment community with a great room and a backyard
by RaeAnne Marsh

Massive activity began taking place last spring as Trillium Residential broke ground on its 30‑acre project on 7th Street alongside the Loop 101 freeway in North Phoenix. For some of the 17 buildings that will comprise Trillium Deer Valley’s apartment community, completion is close at hand: January 15 will see the grand opening of the first residential buildings, the clubhouse and the leasing office.

Fifteen three‑story buildings will, when all construction is completed, offer 360 apartment homes in 11 different floor plans. Forty‑seven percent will be one‑bedrooms; forty‑six percent, two‑bedrooms; and three percent, three‑bedrooms. The import of these numbers is in the parking–a lower percentage of three‑bedrooms in the mix frees up parking, according to Lesa LaRocca, vice president of property management.

Garden‑style parking puts spaces close to the units throughout the property. One awning‑covered space is provided per unit, and there is ample additional parking to accommodate visitors.

The units range in size from a 708‑square‑foot one‑bedroom, one‑bath, to a 1,501‑square‑foot three‑bedroom, two‑bath. Five floor plans are available in the one‑bedroom units, all with single bath. In addition to the 708‑square‑foot unit, one‑bedroom sizes are 808 square feet, 851 square feet, 912 square feet, and 929 square feet. Trillium apparently anticipates greatest interest for the smaller sizes, offering the 708‑square‑foot and 851‑square‑foot at two‑to‑one the number of the others. Two‑bedroom units are all two‑bath floor plans, from 966 square feet to 1113 square feet.

Most units offer either a patio or a balcony. Additional amenities include, in the kitchen, Corian‑look Formica countertops, black appliances, and cherry wood cabinets. Tile in the entry is matched in the kitchen and the bathroom(s), and stain‑resistant carpeting floors the other areas. 

The architectural design by Phoenix‑based Todd & Associates includes a dining area in each unit, but the lighting design allows for more versatile use. Instead of a single, centered chandelier marking where the dining table should be placed, there is a track‑lighting system for the space. Therefore, furniture may more easily be arranged to suit the resident’s lifestyle.

Arrangement of furniture is an interactive feature on Trillium’s Web site, trilliumresidential.com. Pictured to the side of an image of the apartment’s floor plan are all the furniture items with which the apartment will be furnished, and a click of the mouse lets you arrange them in that space.

A gated development, Trillium Deer Valley will also offer community amenities. There is a clubhouse, which Trillium has named “The Great Room” to underscore the inclusive rather than exclusive sense of community the company strives to provide. Intended to be the hub of the community, the Great Room will be staffed from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. with a concierge from whom residents may check out items such as towels for the pool, mountain bikes, or laptops. Wi‑Fi is available in both the pool area and inside the Great Room.

A striking feature of the Great Room’s design is the windowed corner near the swimming pool. All glass from floor to ceiling, both walls retract to open fully and extend the reach of the room.

The outdoor space to which the walls either open or look upon features a large free‑form swimming pool, an oversize hot tub, and a brick‑and‑stucco fireplace.

Custom‑designed furniture includes Barcelona day beds, which are shaded in a covered area, and lounge chairs. The Water Playground offers water play for the younger set, with water shooters and a rain forest umbrella (It rains water on those under  the umbrella rather than keeping the rain off the kids.) on an area covered with protective rubber matting.

On the opposite side of the Great Room from the swimming pool is pool of a different type. Two pool tables are part of the game opportunities offered. Others include game tables that invite a game of chess or checkers.

A bar with TV sets is de rigueur for such a facility, but Trillium adds a special TV viewing area where a television set is suspended by cables from the ceiling so viewing can be enjoyed from the brightly colored furniture on the floor surrounding it.

Theater viewing is in its own room–a dedicated theater with 32 black leather seats and 200 DVDs from which to choose.

The Great Room building also houses a conference room, which can be used for parties, but is also equipped with the technical equipment for power point presentations or other business meetings.

Upstairs, the Great Room offers a well‑equipped fitness room, and a spa room furnished for massage.

Trillium Deer Valley also offers residents an additional “backyard,” although the space is not actually owned by the developer. Trillium Residential negotiated an agreement with ADOT regarding a piece of land owned and operated by ADOT as a buffer between the freeway and other property, whereby Trillium Residential will beautify and maintain it. This land will be used as a park, with a security gate between it and the Trillium Deer Valley community. The park will feature basketball hoops, a walking path, and barbecue areas for use to Trillium residents. The area can also be accessed from the residential community opposite.

With the January 15 Grand Opening approaching, Trillium Deer Valley is in a pre‑leasing phase. Manager Amy Maldonado can be reached at (480) 294‑6300.