Cadence Park – Adagio Collection Review

Adagio is the first collection I visited in the new Cadence Park neighborhood in the Great Park. Built by Lennar, Adagio consists of 53 detached homes with three different floorplans. The homes are on the southern side of Cadence Park, in the middle of the neighborhood. They are bordered by the new K-8 Cadence Park school on the east, the community park on the north, the Cantata collection on the west, and the Great Park itself on the south. Adagio homes range from 2,080 – 2,393 square feet with 3 – 4 bedrooms and 2.5 – 4 bathrooms. Each home has a private, 2-car garage accessed from a shared motor court.

Included Features
Adagio is built by Lennar, which is known for its “Everything’s Included” policy. What you see in the models is primarily what you get and there aren’t many options to upgrade or customize the home. However, you can make changes to things like flooring, backsplashes, and paint. The homes come standard with smart products controlled by Amazon Alexa, including Echo Dot and Echo Show; Baldwin® Evolved smart lock; Honeywell Lyric round™ wi-fi thermostat; Leviton® Z-wave plug-in module; Lutron Caseta® wireless in-wall dimmer, Smart Bridge Pro, lamp module, and Pico remote with double stand; Ring® video doorbell pro; Samsung SmartThings® hub; and Sonos® PLAY:1 wireless speaker. Efficiency features include energy-saving LED lights; radiant barrier roof sheathing; Sherwin-Williams® two-tone low-VOC interior paint; sealed heating and cooling ducts; dual-glazed windows with high performance low-E glass; full exterior door weather stripping; tankless water heater; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and pressure balanced valves in showers and tubs.

The kitchens have a GE stainless steel appliance package Monogram® Professional Series 6-burner gas range cooktop, hood, refrigerator, and freezer; and Profile® single wall convection oven, microwave oven, and built-in dishwasher. They have a large farm-style sink with designer Moen® faucet; quartz countertops with 6” backsplash and full-height splash at cooktop; Shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges; under and over cabinet task lighting; built-in tray rack; and roll-out shelf for trash and recycling.

The bathrooms include Piedrafina™ countertop with 6” backsplash; Moen® bath accessories in brushed nickel; frameless shower enclosure with ceramic tile surround; Fiber Care® soaking tub with surround and deck; and Shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges in pre-selected colors. The laundry rooms have Piedrafina™ countertops with 4” backsplash; sink with Moen® pull-out faucet; and a vacancy switch.

Additional features in the Adagio homes include  barbecue stub; Seagull® decorator-selected coach lights; Win-Dor stackable sliders with specialty casing for indoor/outdoor living; ThermaTru® insulated fiberglass 8’ entry door; Kwikset® satin nickel door levers; 5.5” baseboards; Daltile® glazed floor tile at entry, baths, and laundry; plush wall-to-wall Mohawk® carpeting; USB outlets in kitchen and bedrooms; flat-screen TV blocking with smurf tubing to hide cables; rocker light switches; telephone jack in kitchen and master bedroom; and cable outlets in all bedrooms, living room, and loft.

Schools
Adagio is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school is scheduled to open in August 2018 with grades K – 6. It will add 7th grade in 2019 and 8th grade in 2020. Until those grades are added, middle school students will attend Beacon Park School, which will serve grades K – 8 in the 2018-19. The neighborhood is served by Portola High School, which will have grades 9 – 11 in 2018-19 and will add 12th grade the following year. Seniors moving in this year will attend Northwood High School.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $215 per month at buildout for the Great Park Neighborhood Association
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.0785%
CFD Tax: $6,496 for residence 1, $7,087 for residences 2 and 3
Current prices start at $1,060,000 for Residence 1, $1,130,000 for Residence 2, and $1,199,000 for Residence 3

Residence 1
2,080 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Current pricing starts at $1,060,000

Residence 1 has a covered porch facing the shared walkway in front of the homes. Though Lennar boasts the “everything’s included” policy, there are still numerous upgrades in the model, including flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

Inside, the home lacks a foyer. When you enter, the great room is on the left and the dining room is on the right. The great room has recessed lighting, a large window facing the front, and two smaller ones on the side. The back wall has sliding doors leading to the covered courtyard.

The dining room is a good size and can comfortably seat 8 people, with room to expand a little more if needed. One wall offers space for a buffet or china hutch. There is a big window facing the front and a smaller one on the side.

The kitchen is behind the dining room. The center island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The longer wall has a cooktop in the middle with counter space on both sides, several upper cabinets, and numerous drawers underneath. The other wall has the built-in oven, microwave, and dishwasher. The kitchen is a good size and laid out well but isn’t situated well for good conversation with people in the great room.

The covered courtyard is a fairly small and can be accessed from both the kitchen and great room. There isn’t an option for a fireplace. The back patio is two steps higher than the courtyard and is shown with a built-in barbecue. There is plenty of space for a dining table on the patio as well.

There is a hallway behind the kitchen. The stairs are on the right and have a large closet beneath them. The first-floor bathroom is next to the stairs. It has a large vanity with a single sink, three cabinets, and four drawers. The shower has a shampoo niche but no seat. Access to the two-car garage is at the end of the hall.

Bedroom 3 is on the left side of the hall. It measures 12’ x 11’ and has a three-door closet that fills one wall. The bedroom won’t get much natural light, as it has just one small window facing the side of the home.

On the second floor, there are built-in linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. All the rooms come off one long hallway. The laundry room has another set of linen cabinets just outside it. Inside, there are side-by-side machines and a sink with plenty of counter space. There are both upper and lower cabinets.

Bedroom 2 is next to the laundry room. It has an entryway with a bathroom on one side. The vanity is small and has one sink, one set of cabinets, and a low drawer. There is a shower/tub combo. The bedroom is 11’ x 11’ and has one window facing the street and a smaller one on the side. The room includes a standard bypass closet.

 

The master suite runs along the entire left side of the house. The bedroom is 16’ x 15’ with recessed light and an upgraded fixture. Two small windows sit high on the side wall and sliding doors lead to a balcony overlooking the street. Elevation C does not have a balcony.

The master bathroom has a very long vanity with two sinks, three sets of cabinets, and eight drawers. There is ample counter space, too. The shower and bathtub sit across from the vanity. The tub deck forms a narrow ledge in the shower, which doesn’t have a separate seat. The shower is a good size and the tub has a large window above it. There is a large, walk-in closet at the back of the bathroom, shown with the standard shelves and poles.

Residence 1 is quite similar to Lennar’s other homes throughout Irvine. I like the spacious dining room and kitchen and was happy to see a large closet on the first floor. I wish there was a more formal entryway or drop zone, either by the front door or by the garage.

Residence 2
2,356 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Loft
Current pricing starts at $1,130,000

Residence 2 is modeled in elevation C and has a small covered entry but not a true porch like we saw in residence 1. All three elevations have a deck on the second story above the front door. Upgrades in the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

This home has a small but designated entryway. The stairs are on the right and there is space across from the door for a table or bench.

The great room is just left of entryway. It is a spacious room, measuring by 17’ x 13’ and has recessed lights, a large window facing the street, and a small window on the side.

The dining room is directly behind the great room. It measures 10’ x 10’ but could have a larger table that stretched into the great room if desired. There is a small window on the side and a wall of sliding doors leading to the California room at the back.

An alcove on the right leads to a large coat closet beneath the stairs and a powder room. The closet has a single shelf and pole on the left side. The bathroom has a small vanity with one set of cabinets.

The kitchen is behind the dining room but offset, so it wouldn’t be easy to have a conversation with someone in the great room or dining room. The kitchen is a good size and has a lot of cabinets. The island includes the sink and dishwasher on one side and seating on the other. The longer wall of the kitchen has a cooktop in the middle and ample counter space on each side. The shorter wall has the fridge, built-in oven, and built-in microwave. One wall of the kitchen has a set of sliding doors that lead to the California room. Access to the 2-car garage is right next to the oven and microwave.

Outside, the California room is long and narrow, stretching across the full length of the kitchen. It doesn’t have an option for a fireplace but could hold a wall-mounted TV. There is a small backyard beyond the California room, modeled with a patio and some landscaping.

On the second floor, the stairs open to a 16’ x 13 loft. It has three windows facing the side of the house and recessed lighting. The model shows an upgraded, built-in desk with two workstations. There are also upper and lower built-in linen cabinets on another wall.

A hallway at the back of the loft leads to the laundry room and secondary bedrooms. The laundry room is on the left, with side-by-side machines and cabinets above them. There is a sink with very little counter space but a shelf above it and linen cabinets across from it.

Bedroom 2 is on the right side of the hall. It is the smallest room at 10’ x 12’ and has a standard bypass closet. There is a single window on the side, so it doesn’t get a lot of natural light.

Bedroom 3 is at the end of the hall. This room is much bigger and brighter, measuring 14’ x 11’ and with two windows facing the back of the house. There is a walk-in closet in the back corner, with shelves and poles on two walls and a window on the third.

The bedrooms share a secondary bathroom in the hall. The vanity only has one sink even though it has enough space for two. There are three cabinets and four drawers.  A separate door leads to the shower/tub combo.

The master suite is accessed from the other end of the loft. The entry hall has a walk-in closet on one side and the bathroom on the other. The closet is a good size and has shelves and poles on three walls. The bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. It isn’t as large as in some master suites, but still has enough space for two people. The shower and tub sit across from the vanity. The tub deck forms a true seat in this shower, rather than a narrow ledge like we saw in residence 1. There is a second walk-in closet that is larger than the first.

The master bedroom is 17’ x 13’ and has a big window facing the front of the house and two smaller ones on the side. The front-facing window could have a built-in window seat or cabinets beneath it. The third wall has a single French door opening to the balcony, which is narrow but has space for a couple of chairs and a small table.

Though most new homes I’ve seen have a bedroom on the first floor, residence 2 does not. This may deter some buyers, but the model was sold out at the time of my visit, so it definitely still appeals to others. I was happy to see good storage throughout the home.

Residence 3
2,393 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Bonus room
Current pricing starts at $1,199,000

Residence 3 has more variation in the elevations than the others. In the modeled elevation A, there is a balcony above the front door, off of bedroom 2. In elevation B, the balcony is off the master bedroom. Elevation C doesn’t have a balcony at all. Throughout the model, upgrades include flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

When you enter residence 3, the dining room is directly in front of the front door. It measures 10’ x 15’ and has space for a table to expand into the great room or kitchen. There is one small window on the side of the house. There is space next to the front door for a narrow table or bench.

The great room is just left of the door. It is 17’ x 15’ and has windows at the front and side of the room. The third wall has sliding doors leading to the covered courtyard. The room includes recessed lights.

The kitchen is directly behind the dining room. It is similar to the other residences. The center island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The long wall has a cooktop in the middle with ample counter and cabinet space on both sides. The shorter wall has the fridge, oven, and microwave. The last wall has a set of sliding doors leading to the courtyard.

The courtyard is shorter and wider than in residence 2 and also has space for a wall-mounted TV. The yard beyond it is shown with a patio, pool, and landscaped area. Though not large, it is one of the bigger yards I’ve seen in the last few sets of models that I’ve visited.

There is a hallway off the back of the kitchen. The stairs are on the right and have a large coat closet beneath them. Access to the 2-car garage is at the end of the hall.

Bathroom 4 is just past the stairs. It has a large vanity with one sink, three cabinets, and four drawers. There is more counter space than in most first-floor baths. The bathroom also has a shower without a seat.

Bedroom 4 is at the end of the hall on the left. It is 12’ x 11’ with just one small window on the side. The closet has three drawers and stretches the full length of the room.

There are upper and lower linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. A hallway on the right leads to bedroom 3 and the bonus room.

Bedroom 3 is the smallest room in the house at 11’ x 11’ and has small windows on two walls. As in bedroom 4, the closet has three drawers and stretches the length of the room.

Bathroom 3 is across the hall from the bedroom. It has a single sink set into a vanity with good counter space, three cabinets, and four drawers. The shower/tub combo is through a separate door.

The bonus room is at the end of the hall. It is 15’ x 12’ and, though it’s alone at the back of the house, it has just two small windows in one corner.

A hall on the other side of the stairway leads to the laundry room and the other two bedrooms. The laundry room has a sink, side-by-side machines, a second counter with base cabinets, and three sets of upper cabinets. Another set of upper and lower linen cabinets sits just outside the room.

Bedroom 2 is next to the laundry room. When you enter, the bypass closet is on the left in an entry hall. The bedroom itself is 12’ x 12’ and has a small window on the side. In this elevation, sliding doors lead to a balcony overlooking the street. The other two elevations have a single, small window facing the front instead. The bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. It includes a large vanity with one sink and a shower/tub combo.

 

The master suite is next to bedroom 2. It is 15’ x 16’ and has a big window facing front and two smaller ones on the side. Elevation B has sliding doors leading to a balcony instead of the front-facing window.

The master bathroom is similar to the other two residences. The vanity is on the right and has two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and six drawers. The tub deck forms a narrow ledge in the adjacent shower as in residence 1. There is a set of upper and lower linen cabinets next to the vanity and a walk-in closet at the far end of the room.

    

Residence 3 is the only Adagio home to include four bedroom and a bonus room. It has a first-floor bedroom and good storage throughout the home.

I was happy to see that all Adagio models have large closets on the first floor and many linen cabinets on the second. The kitchens were all laid out well and it was good to see larger vanities in some of the secondary bathrooms.