Coming Soon: The Lighthouse at Southshore!
February 2, 2021
If you’ve driven anywhere near the corner of E. Southshore Dr. and S. Titus Way in Aurora, you’ve noticed something remarkable happening across from Altitude Elementary School (go Moose!). A new rec center – The Lighthouse at Southshore – is taking shape and the latest scuttlebutt is that construction crews are beginning to hang drywall and work INSIDE.
It won’t be long now!
Grand Opening This Spring
While a date for the Grand Opening of The Lighthouse has yet to be set (sometime in the spring of 2021), the professionals involved in the planning, design, and construction of the new rec center (the second in Southshore!) are excited to see the finished fruit of their labors.
John Norris, President and Eva Mather, Principal of Norris Design, John Guilliams, AIA, Partner and Director of Design for KGA Studio Architects, Liz Hester, vice president of construction at Trio Design, and Jerry Richmond, Developer, at Raintree Investments all sat down to talk with us about how they came together to create the kind of space and place that Southshore residents wanted and will enjoy for years to come.
If you haven’t yet, check out the video to see more of their interviews, as well as the ideas and concepts that will be part of the finished rec center this spring! We’ll be adding more photos and videos to the website here so you can watch more of the progress.
Still Embracing the Original Vision
Jerry Richmond, developer of the 12-year-old master-planned community, has been around since the vision for “Life at the Lake” was just an idea on paper. From the first HOA meeting until today, Jerry has worked tirelessly to bring about a resort lifestyle, connecting neighborhoods with paths and trails, drawing people amenities like a salt-water pool, events and activities for getting acquainted, showcasing mountain views and Hamptons-inspired architecture
“I knew Southshore residents took a lot of pride in their community and I wanted to contribute to that by listening to their needs and concerns and cultivating features we could all be proud of,” said Richmond.
The Lighthouse at Southshore Planning and Design
For the second rec center, Norris Design principals John Norris and Eva Mather spent time surveying residents and studying the surrounding communities to find out what was wanted, needed or missing locally – so Southshore could fill those holes.
Says John Norris, “Many of the communities didn’t have full-size lap pools so we decided to lean into that and be the place to provide an eight-lane pool with lots of fabulous amenities.”
Norris noted that the two rec centers – the original Lakehouse on Lakeview Drive and The Lighthouse — are connected by a ridge line trail where residents can ride bikes or walk along the trail and view the lake and the plains to the east, or the mountains to the west. It’s unique in that regard.
Added partner Eva Mather, “There were a lot of families living in this community who felt there needed to be more for the kids. So, in addition to having a swim club for swim meets, this will also be a place for families to come and play, work out or sit and enjoy each other’s company.”
And to take advantage of great weather, she said, the tower of the new rec center has a deck right next to the yoga studio, so yoga or Pilates classes can be outside anytime and protected from the sun and elements.
Community Camaraderie
“Southshore has a nautical theme and having lived in the areas of Key West and south Florida, it always reminded me of happy, sunny good times,” said Architect John Guilliams. “I drew on that for the design of the new community center. The bright colors, the metal roofs, the veranda that goes around the building, features like that.”
Guilliams said the interior of the building was designed to provide the community with space for existing and desired activities and functions. In the new Lighthouse, there are places for adults, teens, and littles to congregate, whether for games and parties, movies and potlucks, or special events. The Lighthouse was designed to accommodate the kinds of programming appealing to families with children of every age.
Jerry Richmond is looking forward to the day when the men and women he’s known for years get together to celebrate the realization of a dream. “I had an obligation to the residents to continue the vision – an exclusive type of lifestyle with water activities, neighborhood events, outdoor spaces, and community involvement at its best.”
The Lighthouse at Southshore: Coming Soon!
The Lakehouse is a popular attraction for residents and soon, The Lighthouse will open to welcome neighbors and friends. Some of the most beautiful homes in Aurora are being built from the ground up in the master-planned community of Southshore. If you don’t live here yet, isn’t it time to explore the options in brand new homes from Taylor Morrison, Century Communities, Richmond American Homes or Toll Brothers? Life at the Lake looks like this – stunning ranch and two-story designs – priced between the $400s and the $700s.