Summerlin residents find stardom

Summerlin developer The Howard Hughes Corp. has launched a new print advertising campaign designed to capture the essence of living within the master-planned community as seen through the eyes of its residents.

The resident-stars are depicted in their favorite hangout within the community and share their definition of "home in Summerlin."

Marketing director Kristi Overgaard said the ads allow the residents to "tell" their own stories.

"Because our residents make Summerlin what it is today, the campaign focuses on those who live the Summerlin experience," Overgaard said, adding that nearly two dozen different print ads, as well as a television spot, are planned.

Among the campaign's first stars are Tami Barrow and her 16-month-old daughter, Ainsley. Mother and daughter spend time in the community's parks and stroll along its trails. Barrow's definition of home is "room to play."

"We are members of a play group that meets at a Summerlin park each week," Barrow said. "There are so many parks that offer a variety of play equipment, we can go to a different place each week, which is fun for the kids. ... We have already taken a kindermusik class offered at the Willows Community Center, and I play tennis at Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin. Summerlin really is a great place to play."

Ben and Rodina Barrett are also featured in the campaign, and define home as "tree-lined streets." The Chicago natives moved to Las Vegas in 1995.

"We were referred to Summerlin by a stranger ... while having coffee in southeast Las Vegas on one of our monthly research trips," Ben Barrett said, adding that he was impressed by the community's "small-town" atmosphere.

"We have friends everywhere we go. Even our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren take notice of the community's friendliness when they visit."

The couple's home is situated in a location that allows them to walk, rather than drive, while conducting many of their errands.

"We live close to the Trails Village Center," Barrett said. "We can walk to the grocery store, the bank, the post office, the library, restaurants, and soon we'll be able to walk to (a fitness center) under construction near our home."

Tom Warden, vice president of marketing and community relations for Hughes Corp., said Summerlin is home to more than 60,000 residents, each of whom has a story to tell.

"While the meaning of home has universal values that underscore comfort, security and peace of mind, it means something slightly different to everyone," he said.

Summerlin aligns the western edge of the Las Vegas Valley, and is comprised of villages. It contains two Tournament Players Club golf courses, a Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear's Best course and five others. There are nearly 100 neighborhood and village parks, nearly 100 completed miles of trails, 16 schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks, and nearly 100 model homes.

Single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums are priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $700,000. Custom lots from one-quarter acre to three-quarters of an acre are priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $1 million, and predesigned custom homes are priced from $500,000 to more than $1 million. Apartments offer monthly rents starting from the high $700s.

To visit the home finding center, take Sahara Avenue west, past Hualapai Way, to Town Center Drive. Or, take Interstate 215 to the Sahara exit.

The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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