Introducing Esencia: Opening Fall 2015!
Good news! While our Gavilán and Sendero homeowners are enjoying life on The Ranch, we’ve been hard at work planning Rancho Mission Viejo’s newest hilltop village. We’re thrilled to introduce to you: Esencia!
The Big Picture
Slated to open for sales this fall, the first phase of Esencia will be a collection of twelve neighborhoods. Translated from Spanish to English, “Esencia” means “The Essence,” and that’s exactly what our team has captured in the 890 acres along some of the highest elevations of The Ranch. You can expect beautiful views from these neighborhoods as they will be terraced into the west-facing hillside, lending both coastal and backcountry panoramas. Slated to also be included at Esencia is a new K-8 school campus (part of the Capistrano Unified School District) and an adjacent community park.
The Builders
The homebuilders selected for Esencia’s first collection of twelve neighborhoods include Meritage Homes, Ryland Homes, Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, TRI Pointe Homes, Warmington Residential, and William Lyon Homes.
The Details
As mentioned, Esencia will be built in phases, and is expected to include approximately 2,700 attached and detached homes within 33 distinct neighborhoods, including ten single-level living Gavilán neighborhoods for residents age 55-plus. Between 250 and 500 apartment homes are also planned.
The Amenities
The Canyon House will be temporarily serving as the Esencia Visitors Center. After an invigorating morning hike, residents and guests will be able to stop by Canyon Coffee, inside The Canyon House, for a hot cup of joe and enjoy the view: an oak-filled canyon with hiking trails and scenic look-outs.
The Green
Now is also the time to start planning your farm-to-table dinners with friends – Esencia Farm is cultivating soon! Similar to Gavilán Farm and Sendero Farm, Esencia Farm will include a variety of in-ground row crops and fruit trees, raised planter beds, a harvest barn, and greenhouse. A simple summer salad never sounded so easy (or fresh, crisp, and delicious).
The Bothy – wait, what?
So what is a “bothy” exactly? When we started planning Esencia, we knew we wanted to surprise you with special areas all to yourselves. Bothies are open air rooms and retreats that will be located along the rim (views!) and throughout Esencia. Each bothy will offer its own specialized amenities, which could be anything from tent cabins to fireplaces and pits, to barbeque grills and outdoor dining areas, to bocce ball courts, and even intimate gathering spaces. Some bothies will be home to relaxing, sparkling pools for hot summer days.
The Park
Esencia is envisioned to feature a sports park with multiple athletic fields, a community plunge with community pool, children’s splash park, and multi-use courts for tennis and pickleball as well as a dog park with dog watering and washing stations.
The highlight of Esencia will be some of Rancho Mission Viejo’s newest signature amenities, including the view-oriented Hilltop Club. Here, you can sweat it out in the fitness center, knock out laps in the pool, relax at the spa, get competitive in the arcade, and socialize at the bar and lounge.
The Shopping
Approximately 50 acres of commercial space has been allocated at Esencia for such uses as retail shops and services, restaurants, professional and medical offices, and more.
The Trails
Winding throughout Esencia will be miles of Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) trails, as well as hiking/biking trails accessing the special spots of Esencia and linked to the adjoining regional hiking and biking trails network.
The Contact Info
To experience the essence of Esencia, give us a call at 949-768-1882, and sign up as a Pathfinder to receive insider info. Or, while we’re putting the finishing touches on the Esencia Visitors Center, visit us at the Sendero Guest House at 11 Brioso in Rancho Mission Viejo. We can’t wait to share the new essence of The Ranch with you!