Many developers and builders throughout the country caught on to the trend of developing a master planned community in the late 1990's and early 2000's.  Research has shown that values within master planned communities actually held up better than vs. a standard residential development.  You can find this information in a 2007 report by the Robert Charles Lesser Company.

     The question that most people, including local builders and developers, don't fully understand, is what exactly is a master planned community?  One of the first master planned communities in the United States, was the McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This community was developed in the mid 1960's,  so the master planned community has been around for almost 50 years now.  The question again, is what is a master planned community?  What did the McCormick Ranch have in it that other developments did not? You might say to yourself, I will just go to Wikipedia, look up what the definition is.  Well, since Wikipedia is seldomly used by scholars as a reference source, any definition there just could not be validated.  

     McCormick Ranch was a large development, over 1000 acres, that incorporated many different styles of housing, infrastructure, and commercial aspects.  It was a city within a city.  The development had trails, housing, recreational parks, commercial and business centers, and even had a hotel.  Residents could easily walk to numerous different amenities within the development. 

     By looking at this development, you can see that a master planned community should have many different traits to it.  Here are just a few that I feel are notable.  First, the MPC should be large in square footage and acreage, at least 500 acres or close to it.  Secondly, the MPC should have many different styles of housing within it.  Types of this housing include, rentals, first time buyer housing, single family neighborhoods, executive type housing, retirement housing, etc.  This should be a given.  Other aspects include a central them or central recreational activity.  This could be a lake, golf course, park, pond, man-made lake, central meeting area, etc.  There should be many trails, walking & biking paths throughout the development.  Also, a master planned community should have some sort of commercial aspect to it.  Maybe it has a business center where people go to work, or a small retail center where residents can pick up their drycleaning and grab a quick cup of coffee at a local restaurant. 

     The benefits of a master planned community are endless.  The area enjoys a robust housing market with energetic people who are out walking, biking, and communicating with neighbors.  It is more than just a housing development. 

     There are many developments within the Twin Cities area that call themselves master planned communities.  Buyer beware. By studying most of these communities, I have determined that most of them fall far short of a master planned development.  I would hold the litmus test to these developments and ask, what does the development actually have in it?  Am I just getting a pool and a clubhouse, or am I getting some sort of amenity that just can't be duplicated. 

     Flat out, the land within a master planned community is worth more.  Appraisers and purchasers should take note.  They also should take note of the definition of a master planned community, and realize that they are few and far in between.  It is proven fact that values hold up better within a master planned community. 

Travis Sabby- 612.600.6000

Here are the facts about the Lakes of Radisson in Blaine. 

1080 acres-the largest single family housing development in MN

153 acres of navigable lakes

14-15 miles of hiking and biking trails

multiple different housing styles and communities

Commercial district with retail and business center- (this is still coming)