The community will feature 80 two-story homes ranging between 1,601 and 1,818 square feet
March 9, 2022
Private San Diego County builder Cornerstone Communities is entering the market of all-electric homes in its new upscale townhome community Laurel Heights. Cornerstone and its financial partner, Presidio Residential Capital, purchased a 5-acre parcel of land in Santee, California, to build 80 two-story townhomes. Model construction will begin this spring, and the first homes released for sale will start construction this summer.
Laurel Heights will provide families with a more sustainable lifestyle that embraces solar panels, smart home features, and pre-wiring for electric car charging. All townhomes in the community will feature efficient electrical appliances that save energy, improve indoor air quality, and leave a smaller carbon footprint. The heat pumps, air conditioners, dryers, induction ovens, and stove tops will run on electricity instead of natural gas.
“It’s good for the planet and our homeowners’ pocketbooks, and that is certain to appeal to our target demographic of millennials and young families,” Cornerstone Communities president and COO Michael Sabourin says. “Buyers not only receive a modern home with smart technology and lower utility bills, they’re also helping the environment.”
Cornerstone’s entrance into the all-electric home model comes as California lawmakers and activists are pushing for energy-efficient appliances and phasing out gas hookups for homes in the state. The California Energy Commission passed new energy codes last August that incentivize electric appliances and efficient heating and cooling systems that will go into effect in 2023.
“This is what the future holds for us in the home building industry. It’s only a matter of time before our state requires all electrical appliances and outlaws natural gas in new home construction,” Cornerstone CEO Ure Kretowicz says. “We asked ourselves, why wait to go electric because you’re forced to? We choose to get ahead of the curve to face tomorrow’s challenges today.”
Laurel Heights will offer three floor plans with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms ranging between 1,601 and 1,818 square feet. The two largest floor plans will also offer second-floor lofts or home offices. The townhomes will feature private, fenced-in rear yards and attached direct access two-car garages. Residents will have access to a community pool, a grass park, and nearby hiking access at the Mission Trails Regional Park.
In addition to Laurel Heights, Cornerstone Communities is planning multiple all-electric projects, including a 450-townhome development in the Otay Mesa/San Ysidro area.
Cornerstone Communities, in partnership with Presidio Residential Capital, has developed 16 joint-venture projects in Kern, Riverside, and San Diego counties.