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Thousands Attend Grand Opening of 2,380-Home Baker Ranch Community Presented by Shea Homes-Toll Brothers - February 9, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (PRWEB) February 09, 2014

Confirming the strength of the local new-home real estate market, an estimated 9 to 10 thousand homeshoppers toured the six new residential neighborhoods which debuted yesterday at Baker Ranch, a new 2,380-home community created in partnership by Shea Homes and Toll Brothers, in Lake Forest, CA.

Set within the scenic foothills of Lake Forest and on the Citys largest undeveloped site, Baker Ranch is also the first (and possibly the only) planned community to open in Orange County this year. At build-out, Baker is expected to offer a three villages encompassing neighborhoods of single-family detached homes, townhomes and other attached living residences as well as apartment homes. More than 30 acres of parks and recreational facilities are planned; and Baker Ranch residents will pay NO Mello-Roos taxes.

During the Saturday, February 8 Grand Opening celebration, Village One at Baker Ranch presented its diverse selection of homes within six neighborhoods and several recreational amenities. Homes are currently priced from the low $500,000s to over $1 million. Homes now selling at Baker Ranch include the following:

Yesterdays homeshopper turnout was incredible, said Seth Ring, President of Toll Brothers Southern California Division. Were delighted to see so many people interested in the first village of Baker Ranch and to experience the unique recreational-oriented lifestyle offered to future residents. And, since Baker Ranch residents will not have to pay any Mello-Roos taxes, theyll benefit from a lower cost of living as compared to other Orange County planned communities.

While enjoying light refreshments, live music and family-oriented childrens activities, the thousands of prospective homebuyers also toured several of Baker Ranchs impressive recreational amenities, starting with The Grove. Showcased by a large clubhouse complete with gourmet-style demonstration kitchen and dining area, The Grove also proves a spacious ballroom with tall glass doors opening to an outdoor courtyard for small- and large-group entertaining. Also featured are an open-air bar adjacent to a tall stone fireplace and a covered walkway leading from the clubhouse to a resort-caliber lagoon swimming pool with spa and childrens splash area, covered poolside cabanas, as well as a separate quiet pool with spa and lounging area.

In addition, Baker Ranch visitors were able to walk through the newly completed Baker Ranch Community Park with its lush ready for play athletic fields, a community green surrounded by picnic and grill pavilions, an elaborate play structure, and plenty of open space for a relaxing day. And, the pool, wading pool, spa and expansive play area at The Arbors as well as two additional neighborhood parks also welcomes guests to the grand opening.

From its location atop a broad mesa adjacent to 900 acres of open space, Baker Ranch affords wide panoramas of surrounding foothills, the Santa Ana Mountains, and even distant views of the Pacific Ocean. Baker Ranchs central location to key highways including the Foothill Transportation Corridor (241 tollroad), the I-5 and I-405 makes easy access for residents to major employment centers, shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Ultimately, Baker Ranch is planned to also include a Central Linear Park in the heart of the community and the Borrego Linear Park, highlighted by a multi-user trail system which connects with the County of Orange regional trails network, leading to thousands of acres of open space at nearby Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Even more neighborhood parks are expected to be created in the community so that residents are within just five minutes of places to play and socialize.

Baker Ranch is within the acclaimed Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which is ranked among Orange Countys Top 5 Best School Districts. The Saddleback Valley Unified School District features more California Distinguished Schools than any other in the state, including its award-winning El Toro High School which is ranked in the Top 10% in the nation.

Originally posted here:
Thousands Attend Grand Opening of 2,380-Home Baker Ranch Community Presented by Shea Homes-Toll Brothers

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Hand-washed and sun-dried - February 9, 2014 by Mr HomeBuilder

Every Sunday Satish S., a software testing engineer at a private firm in Ernakulam carries his weekly laundry to the Dhobi Khana at Veli, Fort Kochi. He gets into one of the 42 washing cubicles and does his laundry by the traditional method. He is one from the 50 families of the Vannar Sangham, a washerman society, who have been doing laundry here since the 1920s. On weekdays, at the same site, Mani, with a turban around his head, stands in ankle-deep water in a cement pit. He beats the clothes on a jutting stone as if mindlessly. As visitors click snapshots of this disappearing way of life Mani flashes a toothy smile. Kumaresan in the adjacent cubicle steps out of the water tub. I have worked on ships too, he says but now I am here. We pay Rs. 10 to the society for using the facilities here.

All the Rajani fans

The quaint Dhobi Khana is the only place in Kerala and one of the few places in the country where the traditional method of laundry continues. It is also one of the most photographed sites with droves of tourists clicking keepsake images of men and women who pursue an uncommon lifestyle. Now only 20 per cent of the youngsters from our community continue in this profession. Most of them are educated and find white collar jobs, says Satish, a young man who has struck a conscious balance between his ancestral livelihood and his urban lifestyle.

As secretary of the Dhobi Khana he has been instrumental in organising the work and lives of the people from his community.

It was in 1976 that the GCDA (Greater Cochin Development Authority) built the existing structure after the Veli Maidan, with its ponds, was taken over to build a stadium. The community proposed the design of the Dhobi Khana that now stands over three acres on one side of the ground. Inside the walled premises are barrack like rooms to store the laundry, a long, common shed for ironing and drying during the rainy season, two large wells, washing cubicles and sun-filled courtyards with symmetrical clotheslines. Inside, is also a tiny world of all the Rajani fans who have pasted posters of the legendary Tamil actor in declaration of their love for him. Satish says with a smile, It was his birthday last month and we put up the posters.

In the ironing shed the dhobis (washermen) are immersed silently in their work. The blue tin dryers rattle to life only during the rains. Eighty-six-year-old Shanmugham is ironing and folding starched white shirts. He has been working here since the age of 18. The eight-and-a-half kilogram iron box that he uses is 45 years old brought from Sri Lanka. His technique of ironing is watched keenly by a group of impressed visitors. They ask him about the old times. I dont remember a thing, he says and goes back to his work. Sixty-eight-year-old Pratti with a glittering nose pin and gold earrings is all smiles. Her son and husband work here. She remembers the old times and says that the rains upset their work earlier. After the sangham was formed and the Dhobi Khana came up we have regular and systematised work. She still uses coconut shells to heat the iron.

In the shed also lie heaps of bundled laundry. They are from hospitals, hotels and homestays. There is the old boiler system of heating water and there is electricity too for use. The dhobis have a choice and pay accordingly.

Modernising the laundry

If the Vannar Sangham has organised the work of the dhobis it has also helped the 180 families who stay in little row houses on Dhobi Street close by in their day-to-day living. A small park with colourful swing, slide and see-saw was thoughtfully put up inside the premises for the children of the dhobis engaged in work. There are rest rooms, a common room with indoor games and an outdoor badminton court too. A few from the community who have bought cars park them here. There is a delivery van whose services can be used. They get big orders from cruise ships, hotels and hospitals. The vehicle is good to fetch and carry the laundry, says Satish. He shows a new music system in his office that will soon be installed in the shed.

At Dhobi Street the community gathers at festivals in the two temples dedicated to Mariamman and Subramaniam. In August we have our main festival Mulakottu, says Satish.