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By Rich Laden rich.laden@gazette.com

In-N-Out Burger has grabbed most of the headlines at Victory Ridge since announcing two years ago it would locate its Colorado regional headquarters and first restaurant at the mixed-use development in northern Colorado Springs. Now, office, retail, entertainment and housing proposals are making news at Victory Ridge, whose developers are moving beyond the project's troubled past under a previous owner.

The first signs of In-N-Out's construction are underway at Victory Ridge; the California-based fast-food favorite recently began moving dirt and grading land for its distribution center, patty production plant and first restaurant that are slated to open next year.  The site preparation work follows In-N-Out's November 2017 announcement that it would expand to Colorado and locate a regional headquarters in Colorado Springs at Victory Ridge. The sprawling mixed-use development covers 153 acres southeast of InterQuest and Voyager parkways, about a mile east of Interstate 25.  
"Late 2020 continues to be our target for completion of the distribution center and opening of our first stores in Colorado," Carl Arena, In-N-Out's real estate and development vice president, said via email.

 Where the growth is: InterQuest is one of Colorado Springs' hottest commercial areas
In-N-Out's 100,000-square-foot distribution and production facilities will be built on Victory Ridge's northeast side and will serve its Colorado restaurants — including a 4,772-square-foot location at InterQuest and Voyager that the chain says will be the first to open in the state. In-N-Out also plans a 150,000-square-foot office building at Victory Ridge in a future phase.

News media reports two years ago suggested In-N-Out could serve about 50 restaurants from its Colorado Springs facilities, whose north-side location close to I-25 would allow the chain to extend its reach north to Wyoming and south to New Mexico, commercial estate experts have said.

Still, Arena said in his email, "it would be premature to speculate" how many restaurants In-N-Out ultimately will open and operate in Colorado or adjoining states. He did acknowledge recent Denver news media reports that In-N-Out is considering a location near the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree.

Though In-N-Out's construction in Colorado Springs is in its early stages, the activity is generating interest in Victory Ridge, said Otis Moore, a principal at Westside Investment Partners of suburban Denver and the project's developer.

 Where the growth is: InterQuest is one of Colorado Springs' hottest commercial areas
"Once you get people moving dirt on the site, that stirs an uptick with retailers," Moore said. "They like to see something happening."

It wasn't that long ago that nothing was happening at Victory Ridge.

Launched more than a decade ago and originally called Colorado Crossing, the project was envisioned with 1.6 million square feet of stores, restaurants and offices, 1,600 residences and a 14-screen theater complex.

But Colorado Crossing's developer fell into financial trouble and couldn’t pay more than $30 million to dozens of contractors and subcontractors. Work stopped in 2008, a handful of Colorado Crossing buildings were left unfinished and the project's development company filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

After protracted legal proceedings and a takeover of the project by creditors, Westside Investment Partners paid $22.1 million for the property in October 2016 and renamed it Victory Ridge the next year.

 In-N-Out Burger completes land purchase in Colorado Springs for first Colorado restaurant, production and distribution facilities
Now that Colorado Springs' economy has picked up steam and its population is surging, especially on the city's north and northeast sides, Westside is seeing plenty of activity at Victory Ridge.

For its part, Westside plans to construct a 13,000-square-foot, multi-tenant building that's expected to accommodate five retailers and restaurants, just south of In-N-Out's eatery at InterQuest and Voyager, Moore said. The building will open about the same time as In-N-Out's restaurant.

Westside also is completing public improvements at Victory Ridge to prepare the site for In-N-Out and other users, including stormwater, sidewalk and paving upgrades, Moore said.

A key addition to the site will be the installation of a traffic signal at InterQuest Parkway and Creek Bed Place on Victory Ridge's north side.

The signal will allow vehicles driving north out of Victory Ridge to turn west onto InterQuest Parkway — a key for In-N-Out trucks seeking to reach I-25. The signal also will allow westbound traffic on InterQuest to turn south into Victory Ridge.

 264-unit apartment complex coming to Colorado Springs' far north side
But Victory Ridge won't just be home to In-N-Out. Among other projects now taking shape:

 A partnership formed by Carpathia, a Tulsa, Okla., real estate developer, and Mission Hill Capital of Colorado Springs has contracted with Westside to buy three partially finished commercial buildings at Victory Ridge.

The deal is expected to be completed in late October, said Brad Bird, a vice president with the Springs office of national real estate firm CBRE. Bird and CBRE's John Marold are representing Westside in the buildings' sale and marketing the properties. 

The Carpathia-Mission Hill partnership plans to complete a four-story office building and a pair of two-story office and retail buildings that flank the Icon Cinemas movie theater complex that opened in late 2017, Bird said.

The Offices at Victory Ridge, as the three buildings will be called, will have a total of nearly 130,000 square feet.

The buildings are expected to be completed in about a year, he said. Talks are underway with new and existing businesses that are looking to lease space at the four-story building, whose third and fourth floors will have west-facing balconies and patios with uninterrupted mountain views.

Victory Ridge and the larger InterQuest area stretching out from the Interquest-and-Voyager intersection are at the "epicenter of development" in Colorado Springs, Bird said.


The area includes thousands of apartments and homes with high-income households; shopping centers such as InterQuest Marketplace and InterQuest Commons; Bal Seal Engineering, Ford Motor Credit and other employers; several new hotels; and fast-casual and sit-down restaurants, stores and service-oriented businesses.

When they're developed, The Offices at Victory Ridge will stand on their own because of the pace of development taking place on the Springs' far north side, Bird said. But In-N-Out will help put a spotlight on the project, he said.

"You can't downplay the enormous impact that (In-N-Out) will have, both in terms of their retail store and the traffic," Bird said. "We're going to have people coming from Nebraska, for Pete's sake, to go to In-N-Out. Just because it's the newest store this far east. There's almost a cult-following for them.

"But to have a company of that size and stature make that investment in our market, in this development and with that confidence in our labor pool, that can't go understated," Bird said.

National Healthcare Realty, a health care brokerage and development firm based in Denver, has contracted to purchase three parcels in Victory Ridge, where it plans a pair of 40,000-square-foot medical buildings and a wellness-oriented hotel, said president and CEO Jecoah Byrnes. The sites are along Voyager Parkway, south of Westside's planned retail building. 

Completion of the purchase and groundbreaking on the first building are targeted for the first quarter of next year, with construction to be finished in late 2020, Byrnes said.

National Healthcare actually agreed to buy the land at Victory Ridge and developed a concept plan for the site in 2017, Byrnes said. Based on its analysis of the Colorado Springs market and the direction of the city's population and residential growth, "we realized that the demand for future health care services was going to be exceptionally strong and so we felt comfortable planning two, 40,000-square-foot buildings," he said.
The site has easy access and good visibility, Byrnes said. "You're part of a mixed-use project at Victory Ridge," he said. "It becomes very convenient. You've got restaurants and other things there that can be great amenities for the patients and the physicians that are going to be working in the medical buildings." An EVEN hotel, an InterContinental Hotels Group brand that focuses on wellness-minded travelers, would be a third component of National Healthcare's project at Victory Ridge, Byrnes said. The hotel isn't a done deal; National Healthcare continues to study the InterQuest market — how many hotels have opened or are planned and what room rates they can command, he said. Byrnes also said In-N-Out's presence at Victory Ridge will be a plus for all users. "It makes our project even that much more of a destination because people not only from that part of Colorado Springs, but really all of southern Colorado are going to know that location because of In-N-Out," he said. "It does help in terms of just branding.

"But we also love the fact that they're building their regional, corporate headquarters there and they're going to have over 1,000 employees. When medical providers are again looking for kind of that captive audience of patients, that's a great thing. All of that helps us."

Builder Lokal Homes of Englewood, which bought land this year at Victory Ridge, has started construction on a 221-unit townhome project. An initial building is targeted for completion by year's end, according to a Lokal spokeswoman. The two- and three-bedroom townhomes will start at $289,990 and run to $317,990, although the prices are subject to change.

 New Mexico-based Icon Cinemas, which opened its movie theater complex two years ago with 14 screens, plans to add a 15th theater whose 106-foot tall screen will be the largest in Colorado.
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​Looking to sell your house and move into your new home as soon as possible? Here are a few tricks and tips to getting your home off your hands quickly and easily.
 
Fix Up Your Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything when it comes to selling/buying a home, Tidy up your plants, flowerbeds and grass. Give the house a new set of numbers and a fresh coat of paint, to present the “New Home” appeal.
 
Indoor Appeal is Just as Important
Paint the walls neutral colors so buyers can imagine their own personal touches. Add greenery to the home to make it feel more airy. Consider investing in professional cleaners, to ensure that everything will be spotless when potential buyers come knocking.
 
Stage It
Declutter and decorate the spaces to accent the different and best aspects about the house. Clutter can make the home feel smaller and claustrophobic. When a house is staged and depersonalized, it is easier for buyers to envision their own living space, rather than yours.
 
Picture Perfect
Consider getting professional photographs taken of the house; professionals know how to accent the best features of the home.
 
The Price is Right!
Make sure that you and your realtor decide on an attractive, yet reasonable price. Most of the time, potential buyers will not even consider the house if it is priced too high.

The biggest advice that you could receive before starting your hunt would be to make sure you know these three things:

1. How much house you can afford
2. How to get pre-approved for a mortgage
3. How much you have saved for a down payment

If you are comfortable with these three, then from here it should be smooth sailing!
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If you are moving with a family, choosing an area with good schools is critical. Thankfully, there are many resources out there that will locate the best schools in an area. These sites will help you research all about a school’s ratings, test scores, reviews, and student populations, to guarantee you’ll find a perfect fit for your kids.

Scoping out the best neighborhood does not always mean just researching schools. It is important to find an area that will be safe. Make sure to check out crime rates in the cities that interest you before making the big move.
Lifestyle is a major key in finding the perfect home and community. Study up on the parks, community centers and events in the different neighborhoods, and if things are bikeable/walkable from your location.
 
After finding the perfect neighborhood, it is much easier to narrow down which houses you should invest your time looking into.
From here, that’s when it is time to consider the different attributes of a home that are a MUST. It is important to discuss and know things like:

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms are required?
• Is a tech center or study essential?
• How much square footage is needed?
• What does the ideal garage look like?

Once these logistics are settled, you are set to go searching websites for houses that have all of the characteristics of your future dream home!
 
Find your perfect neighborhood, home, and lifestyle at one of our communities!

Owning a home is personal, it is a space that is uniquely yours. That’s why here at Lokal, we give you all the options to personalize your new place!

Select your finishes:

One of the many perks to owning a home is that you can customize it to fit your personal taste and lifestyle, whereas, with rental homes, you are at the mercy of your landlord’s preferences and their restrictions, or resale homes where you may have to endure a complete renovation after closing to update the home to your liking.
When the home is fully yours, you are able to select your finishes- whether it be from professionally designed interior finish packages, or meeting with a design center, you have the ability to pick and choose the things that make a house YOUR home.
 
Post-Close Freedom

Picking and choosing colors and styles that fit your style is just the first part of customizing your home, the personalization is not over after you close on your home. Rental homes typically have quite a few limitations to what you can do with the space, for example, you most likely would not be able to paint the cabinets, change the carpets or replace fixtures. However, once you close on your new Lokal Home, you have all the freedom in the world to make it unique to you. One of the most exciting benefits of homeownership is customizing your home whenever you want; that means paint, fixtures, appliances, and more!
*Before you begin making changes to your home (especially on the exterior), remember to check with your HOA and Homeowners insurance agent to be sure your changes abide by any rules, restrictions, or regulations set by your HOA and don’t require prior approval. It may also be a good idea to check with your homeowner’s insurance agent about any extra coverage you may need or recommendations on adjustments to coverage limits.
 
Customized Mortgage Experience
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No two home buyers are the same, and their mortgage experience shouldn’t be either. Colten Mortgage will guide you through the financing process and find the loan program that suits you best. Learn about how working with Colten Mortgage to purchase your Lokal Home can save you money!

Flooring Inc stated that “(i)n 2019, you will see an emphasis on large wood-look planks, eye-catching patterns, shapes and designs, and lots of bright new looks.” If that is not convincing enough to make the switch, here’s five more reasons to invest:  
 
1. Tile is Sustainable 
Save the Earth, a few turtles and maybe yourself, by investing in tile. As a natural material, tile is eco-friendlier than some of the other options you could incorporate into your home.
 
2. Tile comes in different shapes, patterns and sizes. 
Tile can be placed on the floors or walls, which creates contrast. It can be purchased as squares, rectangles, hexagons, chevron-like, baroque patterns and many other shapes.
 
Some of the 2019 tile trends are wood-like tile, hexagon tiles, basket weave backsplashes and baroque bathrooms
 
3. It won’t break the bank 
Tile prices range from super affordable to more premium prices, so regardless your decorating budget, you can find something suiting for your style.
 
4. Easy to Clean 
Wood and carpet floors can require a lot of upkeep to make sure they stay clean, but tile is low-maintenance and easy to clean since it won’t soak up any unwanted substances.
 
​5. It won’t stain OR scratch 
Tile is durable as it wont stain like carpet or scratch like wood. It will allow you to stay carefree and unwound. 

Here at Lokal Homes, we know what it means to truly Live Lokal. Check out some of our favorite reasons!

Communities
Our communities are picked by the people, for the people. When we are looking for new areas to build in, we choose them based off the lifestyle of the area. We carefully look at the entertainment districts, variety of dining options, schools and their ratings, and accessibility to the highway. We strive to build in suburban locations, to aid our buyers in living the lives they have always dreamed of.

Team
From the start of your home buying process, Lokal works as a team to help guide you through the steps. From the start, working with our sales specialists, to your construction manager, and eventually your home care manager, we are a united front. Because we are a close-knit, local builder, we are not only a team, but also a family, that works together to provide you with a support as you enter the world of homeownership. Our seamless teamwork makes the entire process enjoyable and stress-free.

Colten Mortgage 
When you finance through Colten Mortgage, Lokal’s mortgage partner, you are saving money and time. Perks included are a portion of closing costs are taken off when you use Colten, first time home buyer loan options, FHA loans and even no cost loans! Colten Mortgage is an extension of the Lokal team, and they work together with you and your sales specialist to ensure a seamless mortgage experience.

Supports our Charities
Brent’s place is the only “Safe-Clean” housing facility in the Rocky Mountain region approved by Children’s Hospital Colorado for patients with compromised immune systems and The Challenge Foundation is a 501(c) 3 Non-profit organization that helps smart, ambitious, and hard-working students break the cycle of poverty through education opportunities. When you buy with Lokal Homes, you are participating in something bigger; you are supporting the families of both foundations. $150 from each closing is donated to Brent’s Place and The Challenge Foundation. 

Superior Standard of Homes
Each one of our floorplans are thoughtfully designed to maximize the functionality of your home. With open floorplans, plentiful, large storage spaces, and the quality of construction and finishes, Lokal Homes have a higher standard of homes. Each floorplan is named after a child of one of our employees to represent how close these floorplans are to home, because Living Lokal is superior to the standard. 

Studies show that the colors we see are in direct correlation with our moods. Therefore, you might want to study up on what colors make you feel certain types of ways before heading to pick out your house paint.
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 Red: Red is an intense color; it is associated with blood, war, strength and power. It stirs up excitement and is shown to raise blood pressure. However, red is also known to inspire appetite, so it is recommended in dining rooms.

Orange: Orange is a friendly and welcoming color. It promotes excitement and enthusiasm when in homes. It is a good color for workout rooms and playrooms.

Yellow: Yellow is bright and sunny; it communicates joy and happiness. It is energizing and uplifting but is shown to be overwhelming in large spaces. It is recommended for hallways or small spaces because it gives the illusion to open things up.

Green: Green is the easiest color on the eyes. It promotes relaxation and tranquility. The best space for green walls are bedrooms and living rooms.

Blue: Blue brings down blood pressure and heart rate because it is calming and relaxing. However, to some it can come across chilly and sad, but pairing it with warm hues prevents that. Blue is recommended for living rooms, family rooms and large kitchens.

Purple: Historically, purple was the most regal color. It is rich, elegant and dramatic which comes across as luxurious. It has the same restful quality as blue, but without the sad characteristics. Purple is best in bedrooms.

Neutrals: Neutrals are the most common colors in living spaces, mostly because homes come neutrally painted. However, they are easy to dress up or down with different pops of color. Black is not recommended for entire rooms, but is good as an accent color.

We have all heard of Spring Cleaning, but the Summer Spruce Up is just as important. Here are a few tips and tricks to getting your home ready for the warmer months.

1. ​Restore your Front Door
Curb appeal is everything when it comes to first impressions of a home. Get your home summer-ready by replacing any weather-stripped screws, new hinges and maybe even a fresh coat of paint.

​2. Tidy up your Flower Beds
April showers bring May, June and July flowers? Fix up your flower beds and gardens to have summer-blooming plants that will brighten up your outdoor appearance all summer long.

3. Check your hose and sprinklers
Winter damage is all too common when it comes to pipes and hoses. Check all your watering devices for leaks or damage that may have occurred during the colder months.

4. Freshen up your cushions
Most outdoor furniture accessories can be tossed in the wash and set on a warm setting. Give your patio setup a fresh look with clean seats.

5. Break out the Paint
Update the paint on your deck, doors, trim and other ‘paint-able’ pieces to reduce the post-winter-wear look.

​6. Summer Season? Grill Season? What’s the difference?
Get your grill ready for summer barbeques by unplugging it from the gas line and spraying it down, top to bottom. Don’t forget to scrub the inside too! It makes for easy grillin’.

https://meadowscastlerock.com/blog/cyan-park-at-the-meadows-by-lokal/

​The Meadows Grows Again: With a New Model from Lokal
As The Meadows continues to grow, we see quite the variety of home styles pop up. The newest style coming to The Meadows soon will be another from Lokal. They’re the builders that developed the townhomes across from Castle Rock Middle School. Lokal’s new addition will be in the latest neighborhood called Cyan Park.


Cyan Park
Cyan Park is conveniently located at the Southwest Corner of Meadows Blvd. and North Meadows Drive. When living in Cyan Park, you have quick access to just about everything. You’ll be minutes from I-25, The Outlets, Butterfield Park and schools in the area. The trails of Native Legend Open Space are steps from your door.


Lokal Cierra Model
The Cierra is an inviting townhome style condo that offers over 1700 square feet of space. You’ll get a one car garage, three bedrooms, three and a half bath, great room, open kitchen, large deck, walk-in closets, and loads of luxuries like granite countertops. Check out more details on Lokal’s Cierra Model.


Community Perks
​Along with a lovely model, you’ll get to take advantage of the many perks of The Meadows. Your HOA dues cover access to both The Taft House and The Grange pools. You and your family can enjoy the many events that happen throughout the year like Music in The Meadows, PumpkinFest, and more. Plus, as mentioned, you’re steps away from miles of trails and open space. Learn more about all things The Meadows and our Castle Rock neighborhoods.
If you’re thinking about a move to Castle Rock, take it from this longtime Meadows resident; this neighborhood is an easy, fun place to get comfortable and settle down.
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​Whether you are looking to relocate or just expand your home, you might want to consider buying a quick move-in home. But what exactly is a quick move-in home? Often, home builders start building a community before any purchases of homes have been made. They do this in order to give buyers a visual of what their future home could look like. The builder then will sell the already constructed house as a designer showcase home, or quick move-in.

Benefits of A Quick Move-In Home

Relocating is Made Easier
Moving into a quick move-in can make your move and transition into new change go a lot more smoothly. Rather than waiting for a new home to be customized and built, the keys to your new home are handed over in a shorter time frame, usually around 30 days. 

Many Quick Move-In Houses are Models
Sometimes, quick move-in homes were previously model homes, meaning, everything is already included. Model homes have all the upgraded features such as high-end cabinets, floors, designer trim work and other amenities. All the features being sold in the models are often a hefty up charge, but when buying a quick move-in, you are getting more for less.

Locked in Interest Rates
While building a home, interest rates could potentially rise, but when buying a quick move-in, you will not have to worry about prices fluctuating. Once you finalize with your lender after signing the contract, they are locked in for good. 


Intrigued? Check out our Quick Move-In Homes  ​