Space Explorers
By AnnaMaria Stephens May 3, 2016
OPEN AIR
Tim O’Grady at his latest coup, The Oaks, with Cardinal
TIM O’GRADY
Tim O’Grady is all about living the brand. As vice president of land development for Davidson Communities, a planner of exclusive enclaves from San Diego to Orange County, he could have his pick of places to call home. But he’s on his second Davidson. “And that’s before I even worked for them,” says the resident of The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe.
“Bill Davidson is a master of architecture,” adds O’Grady, who co-founded the Villages of La Costa, which developed 3,600 units in Carlsbad, before joining the Del Mar-based Davidson. Typical models include standout touches, from soaring ceilings to stylish custom cabinetry and flooring. They also celebrate Southern California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle with usable side yards and bi-fold doors that open up expansive walls of glass.
At The Oaks Farms in San Juan Capistrano (units from $1.8 million), the homebuilding company’s latest coup, is an iconic on-side equestrian facility inspired by the communities’ pueblo-inflected design. “We took some contemporary license, obviously, but we really embraced the historic, local architecture,” says O’Grady, whose green thumb guided the landscaping. A plant enthusiast who favors drought-friendly native grasses and containers brimming with color and texture, he relocated mature oaks and created a nursery for succulents displaced by construction.
Closer to home, Davidson just sold the last of 63 units at the brand-new Arterro, a high-profile development next to the La Costa Town Square shopping center. “The biggest thing we talk about for this one is walkability,” explains O’Grady. “We create a sense of place that works within existing neighborhoods.” Also underway? A 19-house infill project with a farmhouse-modern vibe at the eucalyptus-dotted San Dieguito Tennis Club near Encinitas, and Top of the Hills in San Elijo, which features large lots and panoramic views.
From covetable locations to luxurious details, it’s no wonder Davidson has a long list of repeat buyers. “They just get it,” says O’Grady. Spoken like a true brand ambassador.