In continuation of our series on the Great Park’s Pavilion Park Neighborhood, I am going to introduce you to the Whistler Collection. Built by William Lyon Homes, Whistler has three models ranging from 2,336 – 2,896 square feet. With four collections smaller and five bigger, the Whistler homes are truly mid-size for the neighborhood. The homes have four or five bedrooms and 2.5 – 3.5 baths. All houses have a two-car garage and either a standard or optional main floor bedroom. Prices start at $879,990 for the smallest model and 979,990 for the biggest. There will be 83 homes in the collection, which is located on the western side of the neighborhood, about halfway between Irvine Boulevard and Portola Parkway. In a refreshing change from many of the other collections, the Whistler models are actually built on some of the smallest lots, helping to give potential buyers a true picture of what the backyard may look like. Many of the lots are even bigger than in the models. Shade structures are optional in all backyards.

Some of the standard amenities in all homes include KitchenAid® Architect II Stainless Steel Appliance Package, including a 36” gas cooktop with six burners, 30: stacked built-in convection microwave and convection oven combo, Energy Star® dishwasher, and a 36” stainless vent hood; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; granite slab countertop with square edge detail, 6” backsplash and full backsplash above cooktop; and a stainless steel double undermount sink with Moen® single handle pull-out faucet. The master bath offers spacious walk-in closets with wood shelf and pole and double mirrored wardrobe doors; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; solid surface countertops and 4” backsplash; 6 x 6” ceramic tile showers; deep fiberglass tubs; and clear glass shower enclosure with chrome frame and frameless door. The secondary bathrooms have similar features to the master bath, though either with a shower/tub combo or just a shower. The homes also have 8’ interior doors with polished chrome lever handles; structured wiring for phone, data and cable; 12” x 12” ceramic tile floor at entry, kitchen, dining, all bathrooms and laundry; Energy Star® bath fans and energy efficient dimmer switches in baths; programmable thermostats and central air; and laundry hookups including natural gas dryer connection. The external features include tankless water heaters; extra deep garages to allow for storage; Energy efficient weather stripping and insulation; and durable concrete tile and composition shingle roofs.

All Pavilion Park homes are currently slated to attend Canyon View Elementary, Jeffrey Trail Middle and Northwood High Schools, all part of IUSD. However, a new K-8 school is slated to open in the Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 and there are also plans for a new high school in the area.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Approximate HOA Dues: $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.16%

Approximate Mello Roos (aka Community Facilities District tax): Plan 1 from $5,400, Plan 2 from $5,900 and Plan 3 up to $6,500 per year, subject to an increase by 2% per year

Base Prices start at $879,990 for Plan 1, $899,990 for Plan 2, and $979,990 for Plan 3.

Residence One

2,336 – 2,390 square feet

4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Flex Room

Optional Bedroom 5 with Bath 3

Base Price: $879,990 ($377/sq ft if 2,336 square feet)

If you start touring the models from the office, Residence One is actually the last one you’ll see; however, I chose to go there first. It is the smallest of the three and is shown in the Farmhouse elevation; Cottage and Monterey are the other two elevations. Farmhouse and Monterey have a nice, covered front porch.

The entryway gives you a glimpse of the kitchen and great room at the back of the house, the flex room is open to the left, and the stairs are on the right. There is upgraded flooring throughout the home in lieu of the ceramic tile. Additional upgrades throughout include blinds and shutters, 7.25” baseboards, upgraded paint, ceiling fans and hanging light fixtures, and cased openings and window frames.

In the model, the flex room is set up as a casual dining room that is open to the great room. Buyers can choose to close off the wall between the two rooms. French sliders out to the front porch are another option. For those who want a downstairs bedroom, the flex room can be made into a bedroom with a standard closet and an en-suite bathroom with a single sink and a shower/tub combo.

To the right of the foyer, there is a large closet with extra storage under the stairs. The powder room is there as well, facing the street. It is basically shown with all of the standard features, including the pedestal sink, with only the pivot mirror as a decorator’s upgrade.

The great room and kitchen stretch across the back of the house. The great room is to the left, shown with the Western Multi-Slide Door to the backyard. The alternative is a standard sliding door and a fixed window. The room is a good size and having it open to the flex room makes it feel even bigger. It is shown with the optional built-in cabinets along one wall. None of the Whistler great rooms have fireplaces, not even as an option.

There is space for a dining area between the great room and the kitchen. The model doesn’t show one, so it was kind of hard to tell how well a large table would fit. The wall between the flex room and the opening to the foyer would be a fine spot for a china hutch.

The kitchen shows the standard appliance package (refrigerator not included) and the basic Thermofoil cabinetry with chrome knobs (glass cabinets flanking hood not included). The island, which houses the sink and dishwasher, is shown with upgraded cabinetry plus a wine chiller. The countertops and backsplash are upgraded throughout the kitchen. The island can comfortably seat three and probably has room for four stools. The warming drawer below the oven is also an upgrade. There are plenty of cabinets and drawers, plus a large pantry-height cupboard on one side. The garage entry is next to the pantry doors. I don’t really like having the garage right off the kitchen, though the model does show a small built-in drop zone in the garage.

The backyard is long and somewhat narrow, but not as small as in some of the other collections. This one is divided into three sections and is full hardscaped. The center houses a table and chairs. The left side is raised up and has a large fireplace with space for seating around it. To the right, there is a big outdoor kitchen beneath the optional shade structure. If you like to entertain, this would be a great set up, as it has additional seating at the bar area and inside the u-shaped counters. All of these features are listed as “decorator’s items.”

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms plus the laundry room. The laundry is right at the top of the stairs and is shown with the optional sink and optional upper cabinets. The linen base cabinet in the upstairs hall is included in the house.

The secondary bedrooms are similar in size and all have plenty of space for furniture. Some of them show upgraded features including can lights, ceiling fans, crown molding, and/or speakers. Bedroom 2 has a single window overlooking the backyard. It has a very large, sliding closet that takes up a full wall (mirrored doors are an upgrade). Bedroom 3 is slightly larger than the others and has a small entryway. It has a window overlooking the backyard and two looking to the side of the house. The closet is much smaller than in Bedroom 2 and has the standard doors. Bedroom 4 faces the street, with additional windows on the side wall. The closet is larger than in Bedroom 3 but smaller than Bedroom 2 and is shown with upgraded organizers.

The three bedrooms share a bathroom in the hallway. There are two sinks and, through a separate door, a shower/tub combo. It shows mostly standard features, with only the tile backsplash and tub surround as upgrades. The tub is deeper than most standard bathtubs.

The master bedroom is on the right side of the house. It has a small vestibule, shown with an optional curio (linen/display cabinets). The bedroom is big but not huge, and has space for a comfy chair in addition to standard bedroom furniture. Large windows overlook the backyard. As in the other bedrooms, the lighting, ceiling fan, speakers and crown molding are all upgrades.

The master bath has a stall shower with a seat that is part of the adjacent tub surround. As is the case in many new homes, I think the shower should be a little bigger, as it probably gets a lot more use than the tub. The counter is long, with linen storage on the left and two sinks on the right. The quartz countertop and tub surround are upgrades, as are the tile backsplash and shower tiles. The big walk-in closet has an upgraded

deluxe closet organizer.

Overall, I liked the house. There wasn’t anything particularly special about it, but I thought the rooms were all a good size and the layout works well. My only real complaint is having the garage directly off the kitchen.

The Melrose collection in Pavilion Park (the first of the Great Park Neighborhoods), has the community’s largest – and most expensive – homes. The three models feature rooms often not seen in new construction these days. They have formal dining rooms and two downstairs living spaces, rather than just a great room. Built by Ryland Homes, each house has the option for a downstairs living suite plus a three car garage. The models didn’t offer lists outlining the upgrades, but I will list some of the standard features and try to note upgrades when I can. Once you express serious interest in purchasing, the information about upgrades is available.

See the rest of The Melrose Collection Overview and Review of Residence 1 here.

See a Review of Residence 2 here.

Residence Three

4,223 Sq Ft

5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Bathrooms, 3 car garage, downstairs master suite

Base Price from $1,588,205 ($376/sq ft)

Residence Three is the La Jolla home, modeled in the Spanish style and also available in Monterey and Farmhouse elevations. The model is shown with a reversed floor plan. Like Residence One, there are a variety of alternative room arrangements. This model houses the main sales office, so I couldn’t see the real garage. In the printed floor plan, it appears to be a much larger garage then in Residence One, as it is the full width almost the entire way back.

In this home, the view from the entry is a long hallway toward the back of the house, with the staircase just a few feet back from the door. To the left of the entry, there is a small powder room (shown highly upgraded), linen storage, and the downstairs master suite.

The downstairs master is a nice room, but over 100 square feet smaller than the upstairs master. It is closer in size to the secondary bedrooms upstairs (one of which is actually much bigger). It has sliding doors that lead to an inner courtyard, plus two more windows on another wall. The carpet appears to be the standard, plush carpet that comes with the home. The master bath has split sinks, with the door to the walk-in closet between them. The built-in organizers are shown in an upgraded finish that matches the vanities. This room has a somewhat small shower and no bathtub. It also has a big window facing the street, which doesn’t give the bathroom a lot of privacy.

For those who prefer something other than a master suite, there are two alternatives. The first is a den and bedroom. In this scenario, the original master bedroom is converted to a den and made a little bit smaller. The extra square footage taken from the den, plus the former master bath, are converted to a bedroom with a sliding closet and an en suite bath with a shower/tub combo and single sink. Both the den and bedroom are accessible from the hallway just outside the powder room (which is unchanged). The linen cabinets are eliminated.

The other option is for a private living suite. Again, the powder room remains untouched and access to the suite is just outside of it. You enter the living room, which is smaller than the original bedroom, but bigger than the den in the other alternative plan. It does not appear to have an optional kitchenette. A doorway leads into the bedroom, which is also slightly bigger than the bedroom in the last plan but smaller than the original master. It has a mini hallway that leads to a sliding closet and a bathroom identical to the one in the den/bedroom plan. The suite seems to have a regular door (as opposed to sliders) that leads to the inner courtyard, but doesn’t seem to have private access directly from the street. This is definitely not as nice as the suites in the other residences.

Moving back down the main hallway of the home, I passed more sliding doors leading to the courtyard, which has a nice fountain and small patio area for seating. Just beyond it is the formal dining room. This room is very rectangular (those in Residences One and Two were more square-shaped). It has big windows facing the inner courtyard and a door to the kitchen.

Across the hall from the dining room, there is a coat closet under the stairs plus a built in bench, and linen storage with an option for additional upper cabinets. The garage access is here as well, making a nice spot for a drop zone. Though I mentioned earlier that the garage is almost like a four-car garage, there does seem to be an option to turn part of it into a den. If you do that, it looks like the drop zone area will be more of a regular hall and the garage will then be a true three-car garage with one half having tandem spaces. It is a little hard to tell on the brochure, but it looks like the den can

have a built-in unit that would be back-to-back with the family room’s built-in.

The hallway opens at the end to the “morning room,” which is a large dining area between the kitchen and family room.

The kitchen is on the left and includes a very wide island. Seating on two sides allows for six to sit comfortably. One side has several cabinets and an optional wine cooler. Unlike the other two models, the sink and dishwasher are actually located on the counter behind the island, rather than in it. The wall on the far side of the island has numerous cabinets, plenty of counter space, and the cooktop. This is the only residence that shows the actual 6-burner cooktop that comes standard with the Melrose homes. At the end of that wall, next to the dining room, are the two built-in ovens and the built-in microwave. The third wall has the fridge and several pantry-height cabinets. While the model does have upgraded cabinets, it is nice to see the standard appliances and tile flooring.

The family room is on the other side of the morning room. It has a small fireplace in the center of one wall and a built-in unit next to it. The side wall has two windows and the entire back wall (stretching into the morning room) has sliding doors to the yard. Three different California Rooms are available – two are the same size but appear to have slight differences in the thickness and decorative style of the walls. The third is about half as wide. The morning room can also have optional stackable doors.

When you walk into the backyard, you might think you have stepped into a tropical resort. A lawn area with palm trees at both ends stretches across the width of the yard and the elegant pool behind it is just as wide. At the back of the yard is a covered patio area lined with lounge chairs that face the pool. Sadly, this yard is nothing like the real yards in most Melrose homes.

Upstairs, numerous optional doors create a bit of a maze. I found myself confused until I stopped to look at the printed floor plan. The laundry room is just to the left of the stairs. It has a sink, side by side machines, numerous cabinets, and plenty of counter space. A door at the far side led to what seemed to be a very large, L-shaped extra closet. However, as I stepped through the closet and into an elegant bathroom, I realized I had actually entered the master suite through the laundry room (this door/access is optional).

The closet led me to the spacious master bath. Sinks on either side are shown with upgrades; one side has the standard, attached vanity area as well. The standard, built-in tub is replaced by a kidney-shaped, free-standing tub. Windows above the tub overlook the backyard. Across from the tub is a big, walk-in style shower with benches at both ends.

The master bedroom is big, but a little smaller than those in Residences One and Two. It still has plenty of room for standard bedroom furniture and a seating area. The entryway from the main hall (which happens to be at the top of the stairs) has a niche, multiple linen cabinets and an optional, small fridge. On the far side of the master though, is another door, continuing the maze of rooms upstairs.

Through the door, I entered what appears to be the optional Flex Room. This door could be sealed off instead. The flex room in this home contains a sauna and has a Zen-like atmosphere. I’m sure the flex room could be used for anything. The standard arrangement for this space is actually a bedroom (bedroom 4) with a sliding closet and en-suite bathroom (shower/tub combo). Bedroom 4 is the smallest in the house. Even with the bedroom, you can still have an optional door to the master, so this could be a great nursery space.

I left the flex room and finally found myself back in the main hall. Directly across from me was Bedroom 3. This one is medium sized and sandwiched in the middle of two other rooms, so it has windows only facing the side of the house. Like bedroom 4, it has a sliding closet and a bathroom with a single sink and shower/tub combo. The bathroom shows a variety of upgrades.

The hall wraps around the stairs to the front of the house, where there is another bedroom and a loft. Bedroom 2 is the biggest secondary room and is incredibly spacious (over 60 square feet bigger than the downstairs master). It has a walk in closet and a private bath similar to those in the other upstairs bedrooms. The bedroom has a private door to the outdoor, covered deck. In the Spanish and Farmhouse elevations, the room sticks out as far as the deck. In the Monterey elevation, the bedroom is recessed and the deck actually runs all the way across the loft and the bedroom.

The loft is the final room upstairs. It is big and bright, with access to the deck and is partially open to the hall. The room is big and offers plenty of flexibility.

I think Residence 2 (Pasadena) is my favorite of the bunch. I like the layout the best and think it has the nicest downstairs living suite. I don’t really like how bedrooms 2, 3, and 4 are all in a row in Residence 3 (though I do love the size of bedroom 2). The Melrose homes are all a little too big for me, but they are great for someone who needs or wants a lot of space. They also boast one of the best locations in Pavilion Park. Their base price is actually on the lower side per square foot than many areas of Irvine. With many options for indoor/outdoor entertaining and multi-generational living, those in search of a large home will appreciate the value of the Melrose Collection.

The Melrose collection in Pavilion Park (the first of the Great Park Neighborhoods), has the community’s largest – and most expensive – homes. The three models feature rooms often not seen in new construction these days. They have formal dining rooms and two downstairs living spaces, rather than just a great room. Built by Ryland Homes, each house has the option for a downstairs living suite plus a three car garage. The models didn’t offer lists outlining the upgrades, but I will list some of the standard features and try to note upgrades when I can. Once you express serious interest in purchasing, the information about upgrades is available.

See the rest of The Melrose Collection Overview and Review of Residence 1 here.

Residence Two

4,080 Sq Ft

5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Bathrooms, 3 car garage, downstairs living suite, bonus room

Base Price from $1,529,808 ($375/sq ft)

Residence Two, known as Pasadena, is modeled in the East Coast Traditional elevation; Santa Barbara and Craftsman elevations are also available. Like Residence One, I think this is a very attractive house from the outside. It has a nice front porch area, with access to both the main home and the private suite, and an L-shaped balcony on the second floor. This home has a two-car garage facing the street and a single car garage on a separate wall. The separation is really nice if you plan to use the garage as a workshop or extra room. The two-car garage has direct access to the home; the single car side must cross the porch to get in the house. The only variations to the floor plan that can be made to this home are a California Room and/or stackable doors leading outside from the Great Room.

This home has a large, square entry with the staircase immediately to the left. A hallway leads to the powder room and private living suite on the right and the formal dining room is visible directly in front of you. There is a large storage closet under the stairs. The powder room shows an upgraded vanity with a single sink.

The entry to the private living suite is just off the powder room. There are linen cabinets immediately inside the entry, shown in the standard white Thermofoil and with the optional upper cabinets included. You can see the private door from the outside porch and the entry to the single car garage directly across from it. In comparing this suite to the optional living suite from Residence One, the living room in the Pasadena home is the same width, but is 10’ longer than the other. The bedroom in Pasadena is bigger as well, but only by about a foot each in length and width. The living area has ample space for a sitting area and a separate dining space. The kitchenette, located on the back wall of the room, has a microwave, sink, small fridge, and several cabinets. A hallway leads back to the bathroom and bedroom.

The bathroom in the suite is highly upgraded, with nicer tiles and upgraded fixtures in the single sink vanity. It has a good size shower and no option for a tub. The bedroom is at the back of the suite. There is an option to put a door from the bedroom to the dining room in the main home. The bedroom has a two door sliding closet and a door leading outside to the suite’s small, private California Room and the rest of the backyard. All of its windows face the back of the house. This is a very nice living suite and is bigger than many of the others I have seen throughout Pavilion Park. However, this one does not have laundry hookups.

Back in the main house, I walked through the entry to the dining room. It is a large, square room with three windows looking out to the backyard and the optional California Room. One wall is completely open to the kitchen.

The kitchen is very big with an island shaped like a slice of pie. The sink and dishwasher are located in the island, which also has several cupboards and a bookshelf. There is seating for four or five around the curved side. The stove (again, shown upgraded) is directly across from the sink. The ovens, microwave and fridge are on the far side of the island. This home doesn’t seem to have quite as many cabinets as many of the other new kitchens I’ve seen lately and has only three that are pantry height. At the back of the kitchen, a short hallway (or “drop zone”) leads to the two-car garage.

The great room sits just beside the kitchen. One full wall is sliding doors and another has windows facing the backyard. A stone fireplace sits at an angle in the corner of the room. The room is big and bright and has one more window facing the side of the house.

The backyard is beautiful, but much bigger than the standard lots. This one has a large grassy area, a covered outdoor kitchen and a fire pit with plenty of seating around it. The outdoor kitchen even has a flat screen TV. It’s hard to know what a backyard would be like on most lots.

The bonus room is at the top of the stairs but is definitely more of a room than a loft. It has a half wall dividing it from the hallway and is bigger than most lofts. It is shown with the same upgraded flooring that they used downstairs. There are windows facing the back and side of the home. The hallway wraps around the upper floor, leading to all of the bedrooms, the laundry room, and the deck. Each bedroom sits at one corner of the house, offering a lot of privacy.

On the right side of the house, there are two bedrooms, each with a private bath. The one at the back of the house (bedroom 2) is a little bit smaller, but it has a walk-in closet in a small foyer area of the room. Its private bath shows what appears to be the standard vanity, but has upgraded tile in the shower/tub combo. With just one window facing both the back and side of the home, it doesn’t get as much light as the other rooms.

The one at the front of the house (bedroom 3) has the bathroom just off the hall and the bedroom beyond it. This bathroom is identical to the one the other bedroom. The room itself is a little bigger and a lot brighter. It has windows on three different walls, including a big one facing the street. You can have an optional door leading to the L-shaped, covered deck. There is also access to the deck from the hallway.

On the opposite side of the home, the laundry room and bedroom 4 are at the front of the house. The laundry room has a sink, side by side machines and lots of cabinets but no counter.

Bedroom 4 is a tiny bit bigger than bedroom 3. It has windows facing the street and side, plus a walk-in closet comparable to the one in bedroom 2. Its private bath is configured differently, but still has the same single sink and shower/tub combo. This one has different tile, but I don’t know if it is standard or upgraded.

The master suite sits alone at the back of the house and is completely private. A long hallway leads back to the room and includes linen cabinets, plus the options for upper cabinets and/or a small fridge. The model shows both. The bedroom is rectangular (20’ x 15’) and the shape makes it feel bigger than a square room. With windows on three sides and no houses blocking two of them (because of the huge backyard), the room can be quite bright. There is plenty of wall space for furniture plus an open area for seating.

The master bath has a nice set of linen cabinets just inside the door. The two vanities are located on opposite walls with the tub between them (similar to Residence One). Again, one vanity has both the sink and seating area. While most master bathtubs have the long side against the wall, this one has a short side against the wall, so it sticks out farther into the room. Fortunately, the bathroom is so large that it doesn’t feel imposing. The shower is directly across from the tub and has a seat, but isn’t particularly big. There is a nice set of built in cabinets in the water closet. Finally, the walk-in closet is at the back of the bathroom. It is L-shaped and comes standard with organizers.

I like the upstairs of this house more than the second floor in Residence One. I think it has a better layout and the deck is a nice touch. In comparing the first floors, I also like Residence Two more, but wish the kitchen had a pantry and tech center like the ones in Residence One.