3,700 Homes to Be Erected on Corona Ranch : Planned Community to Include Schools, Commercial Center

More than 7,000 people are expected to live in a planned community of about 3,700 homes to be built on the sprawling, 712-acre Corona Ranch, which, until recently, was used for sheep grazing.

Ground has been broken on the $350-million development in northeast Corona, bounded on the north by Norco, on the east by Riverside, and on the west by the Interstate 15 extension. Its southern boundary is a quarter of a mile north of the Riverside (91) Freeway.

Blend of Homes, Apartments

The project is a joint venture of the Buie Corp. and Home Capital Development Group, a subsidiary of Home Federal Savings & Loan Assn.

The Corona Ranch will have a blend of single-family homes, duplexes and apartments, together with schools, parks and a commercial center.

The first homes are expected to be available in the second half of 1988.

When completed, the population of the Corona Ranch is expected to be between 7,000 to 8,000.

Planning for the project began about five years ago, and the entire project is expected to take 10 years to complete, according to Robert F. Buie, president of the Buie Corp.

The Corona Ranch will be similar in scope to the developer’s 600-acre Rancho Niguel community being built in Laguna Niguel.

Project manager Jack Schwellenbach said that “as with Rancho Niguel, the new community predominantly will have detached homes.”

About 50% of the land for home building will be sold in parcels to other builders, although the developers will hold control over architecture and master planning.

Open Space Planned

Apart from the estate homes on larger lots, prices will range from about $100,000 to $200,000. No prices have been set on the estate homes, which will be more expensive.

About 40% of the land will be estate lots and open space, Schwellenbach said.

Architectural styles will follow the Inland Empire ranch look by using mission tile roofs.

“This area is particular attractive to us because it has become one of the fastest growing regions in the country,” said Michael B. McCook, president of Home Capital.

Corona Ranch will be targeted to those employed in the expanding industrial area around Ontario International Airport and the industrial corridor developing along Interstate 15 extension, which is scheduled to open in November, 1988. Residents working near the airport will have only a 10-mile commute on the Riverside (91) Freeway and Interstate 15.

A team of local consultants is being assembled. Already retained are Psomas & Associates, of Riverside, for civil engineering and Leighton & Associates, also of Riverside, for soil engineering.