ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Thurs., July 2, 2009

Red Rock is growing up

By Shelley Shelton

            

Yep, it's a heckuva drive to Red Rock from Tucson.  And despite the distance, construction in Red Rock Village — the Pulte Homes master-planned community in Red Rock — has moved along steadily even as other builders closer to town have gone into bankruptcy and new neighborhood development has screeched to a halt elsewhere.

Red Rock is just over the Pima/Pinal county line from Marana, easily a good 20- to 30-minute drive up Interstate 10 from the Arizona Pavilions business district toward the southern end of Marana.  

Sales manager Lori Galbrecht said in 20 years of working for Pulte, she hasn't seen a group of neighbors become so close so quickly.   She was surprised to see Sunday block parties pop up, she said.  And consumers have gotten good at the "value equation," said Shawn Chlarson, Tucson division president for Pulte.

In other words, they calculate the extra cost for gas for their commutes and compare that to other savings — for example, having a lower house payment than people who live closer to or in town.  The distance situation is a matter of perception, he said. Once people visit, they realize it's manageable and they often decide to buy.

FULL STORY:   http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/299167