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Regency Villas HOA

Published Date

A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR REGENCY VILLAS.

An active adult community for seniors over 62, Regency Villas Condominiums include 132 units,a clubhouse with recreation room for activities, a gym and a BBQ area. Nearby to premium restaurants and parks, these Southern Californian-style homes are also just a 10-minute drive to La Jolla beaches.

CHALLENGE: 

A three-year-long state drought has led to restrictions and spiraling costs associated with water usage (Governor Jerry Brown even asked all Californians to trim water use by 20 percent, and the San Diego County Water Authority called for voluntary conservation), so Regency Villas faced a choice of keeping their year-round greenery or saving budget on water bills by switching to drought-resistant landscaping.

Existing rules “can promote environmentally friendly practices, or in the case of older communities, may serve as an obstacle for greener living,” Andrew Fortin, Senior Vice President for Associa, wrote in a company newsletter. “The biggest challenge existing communities face is being burdened with rules that no longer fit the contemporary demands or modern residents’ needs.”

RESOLUTION: 

The association pulled out an old spa, some outdated irrigation equipment and a hodgepodge of thirsty plants, and replaced them with rock ground cover, drought-resistant shrubs and low-water flowering plants such as Spanish lavender and bougainvillea.

Residents praised the new drought-resistant (and budget-friendly) landscaping as “exceptional,” and community association manager, Pamela Walker, said, “It’s a unique process we’re going through, and it’s fun designing it.”