Long Anticipated Par 28 Project Near Completion
By Kathy Fairbanks

San Diego Country Estates residents will soon see the completion of a project that has been in the works for more than 30 years.

Par 28, a development of 28 townhomes in San Diego Country Estates, will reach fruition once developer Joe Zenovic puts the final touches on this long anticipated project.

"Basically, they are finished," he said of the homes. "As people buy the units and choose whether they want wood floors or carpet, we're wrapping them up."

What started as part of the community's masterplan more than three decades ago, has taken three developers to finish, according to Zenovic.

Par 28, which boasts views of the San Vicente Golf Course and Cuyamaca Mountains, has four units left out of the 13 built by Zenovic. In 1980, nine units were built and in 1992-1993, six more were completed - both times by different builders.

In 2002, Zenovic purchased the property where the remaining 13 units were planned. Obtaining county permits, dealing with existing foundations and overcoming a couple SDCE residents' resistance to the project delayed construction, he explained.

Once those issues were resolved, actual construction took about 16 months Zenovic said.

However, now that the final touches are being made to the units, SDCE residents will see the last of the originally planned four condominium projects finally completed.

The steep hillside probably was one of the biggest obstacles in the projects, said Zenovic, who has built about 50 homes throughout SDCE, Ramona and Escondido.

He used the hillside to an advantage, designing the homes to allow for single-level living, a big perk to retirees and semi-retirees, he explained.

With the living room, dining room, family room, master bedroom, laundry room and garage access all on the main floor, the condos lend themselves to those seeking easy access in their homes.

Downstairs, buyers will find two bedrooms a bathroom and additional rooms, depending on the model, for a total of about 3,000 square feet. The townhomes run in the low-$600,000 range, he added.

"It's a great place for people to retire to and a great way to scale down without leaving California," he added.

Other amenities include designer kitchens with custom cabinets, two-car and two-golf cart garages, granite and travertine finishes, decks and direct golf course access, according to the Web site, www.par28.com. For more information, call 760-787-3210.