Miami-based Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) is set to break ground on an active adult community in Surprise that will include 1,500 homes. 

The new community will be built within Asante, a 2,000-acre master-planned community near 163rd and Grand avenues that is jointly owned by Lennar and Highland Capital, an investment company. 

Lennar has several other projects in the works around the Phoenix region, and closed on more than 2,300 homes in the area during its fiscal year ended November 2018. Plans call for closing on nearly 2,100 homes this year. 

Alan Jones, division president of Lennar Homes, told the Business Journal the company will invest upward of $10 million in Surprise to develop a community center and surrounding amenities, including fitness center, pickelball and bocce courts, resort pool, dog park and a nine-hole putting course. 

The putting course will feature holes that will resemble holes at famous golf courses around the country, including TPC Scottsdale, Pebble Beach Golf Course in California and Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. 

"The courses are done by computers so we can build the putting holes to be identical to the holes over at the Phoenix Open, Pebble Beach and Augusta," Jones said. 

To be called Heritage at Asante, the community will include a variety of single-family detached homes ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 square feet as well as duplexes ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, Jones said. 

Prices will start in the low $200,000s. 

Heritage takes up about 20 percent of the Asante master-planned community, according to Jones. Asante — which will include a school, library and 50-acre park — is Lennar's largest investment and biggest property in metro Phoenix, he added. 

"We see that as an area that's going to experience significant growth with the 303 corridor," he said. "We are making a very significant commitment to the 303 corridor." 

Plans call for introducing several different housing products at Asante, including large garage RV/boat homes and its Next Gen housing product that promotes multi-generational living. 

Models are expected to open by January, Jones said. 

By Angela Gonzales  – Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal