As we were looking for homes in the late 90's, we had identified (kind of) the size we wanted, the features we wanted and the look we wanted. Of course that was subject to change from day to day (not quite that bad). One of the homes we toured whenever one was on the market was the Durango. It was 2000+ square feet and had the look we preffered but with the price tag we didn't. We still owned our home back in Minnesota and we were trying to stay on a budget. Even with the income we'd get with it as a rental, we didn't want to break the bank. As we were looking, we found another home similar in look to the Durango and started shopping that one as well; the Castillo. For neophytes to the Sun City market, there is lots of crossover in home design. Especially given some Realtors rattle off numbers (as designated by DEVCO) and others throw home names around. We found out there was 4 elevations (outside look) on most properties and while the outside looked different, the floor plans were near on identical. The Durango and the Castillo were ones people often get confused. And to make matters worse, the model we ended up buying was the Castille which some folks think of as the Castillo. Honestly i think it was all a plot by DEVCO to drive us nuts, but once you've lived here, it starts to kind of make sense. The reason i like this exercise is it can become a crash course for newbies to get their head around simplifying the home buying process. I'll post a picture of each home now and then i'll post in the next box the marketing materials and floor plan. Then tomorrow i'll do a thread on the Castille. Withour further ado: The Durango: The Castillo: By the way, the Durango is for sale and the Castillo is for rent. Stay tuned for the differences.
While at first blush the 2 homes look similar, there are clearly differences. The easiest way to describe them is to take each and break it down complete with pictures from the model home booklets DEVCO used in the 1970's. We'll start with the Durango: It premiered in the 1969/1070 home models that were showcased as the company moved across Grand Avenue for the first time. You'll find the homes in Phase 2 and often times on golf courses (though certainly not exclusively). There were 4 elevations to Plan 67 and they were The Iris, The Pinal, The Durango and The Danielle. The base prices in 1970 ranged from $30,890 to $32,590. The floor plan below is the same in all 4 models, but the outside look is quite different. Here is the Durango from the 1970 marketing booklet: The Castillo is wholly different: It first hit the market in 1976-77. It was a late bloomer but wildly popular in Phase 3 and when DEVCO moved to Sun City West, this model series went with them and can be found in SCW throughout the early construction there. If you drive anywhere around the Union Hills Country Club or above Union Hills Road, you'll see this often as it was a very poular model. The Heritage Collection (that 76/77 model home series) presented a shift from the past 16 years. They presented 9 different home models (no differing elevations) along with the Duplex Homes, the Garden Court Apartments and the "Foursomes." Unfortunately i don't have the price guide in hand but will find it at some point. Here is the floor plan for the Castillo and picture from the model home booklet. Like the Durango, it was a 3 bedroom/spilt floor plan but in this one they moved the master bedroom to the back of the house rather than having it in front like the Durango (much more logical in my mind). Click on to enlarge if you please: Preferences anyone? Curious how people feel about the Spanish influence in design?
Good stuff, as always BP. The Durango that you've pictured is one that caught my eye while reviewing listings. Do you know if the interior walls in this model would be non-loadbearing?
Just looking at the floor plan I would say they in all likelihood could be removed Mullet. Most folks are looking to enlarge the kitchen and the walls adjacent should not be an issue.
Love the Durango/Castillo design and brickwork. Wish they had a flat roof. I'm not a big fan of the red tile roofs but maybe I'm just tired of them. So many in my neighborhood. They will last 100 years though. Maybe a flat tile roof would be the best of both worlds...flat with longevity. What's with the designation of a leisure room? That's funny. I'd need to remove all those walls from living to leisure room, with maybe the exception of the kitchen/living room wall.
