Contributed by: Kathy Crawford
Desert Ridge Resident
Just north of Bell Road, Tatum Boulevard became a dirt road and single lanes each way. It was how I got to my little ranch on Dixileta. The year was 1995. As time went on it had become clear that it was time to give up that pipe dream and move to a bit more manageable a place to live. My real estate agent mentioned a new development that was going up just north of Bell on Tatum called Desert Ridge and a builder named Elliot Homes. I had never heard of them but I was happy to look.
We went to the models – the second one was called Wyoming and it was perfect. But, think about it. These models were all lovely but surrounded by dirt and as they said in the model room – going to be a big community. Sure, I said to myself. I was also “advised” about the Sumitomo plant opening the following year. I really didn’t know what a silicon wafer was but it was obvious that this was a concern to some. And I was told that there would be a big shopping center. So six months later, I moved. Houses were all around but no gated communities, just houses that being built by two builders and a newly paved Tatum. At the time, I don’t remember any discussion of the 101 coming in our direction. But that would come in time.
A year after I moved, I was transferred to Los Angeles. I rented my fabulous house and moved to LA. My kids were still here so I would come back from time to time. I came back to find more houses, more paved roads and the new plant just down the road. There didn’t seem to be any problems with the plant as so many had worried. In fact, the people at the plant sent all of the homeowners in Desert Ridge pamphlets from time to time notifying us of happenings in the plant and the neighborhood.
By 1998, The Mayo Clinic opened which I was quite happy to hear and in 2001 the mall opened. I had only read about it and was happy to have a supermarket right near my house instead of going down to Bell.
All this time the many different residential areas were being built and we were on our way to being a very large community. By 2003, I had moved to New York and my daughter and my two young grandsons had moved into my house. I knew that the COA was in full force because I got a notice at my house in New York that my daughter had left the garbage cans out too long so I had to pay a fine. I tried to fight the fine but to no avail – funny how some things never change!!!!
Growth to Desert Ridge forged onward and we saw the brand new JW Marriot Resort, the 101 was opened and in 2008 I returned to my wonderful house (having completely remodeled it) and to the opening of City North. I couldn’t believe how big what was once a little community, Desert Ridge had become. We were and are a full grown community.
I love walking my dogs in the clean washes; I love the parks in the neighborhoods; I like the order the COA has provided and now we have refined our community to include beautiful Christmas lights, a constant cleaning and pruning AAA Landscape continues to provide and the new subdivision to the north of Elliot Homes. I can’t wait for the new dog park and who knows what else the future of Desert Ridge brings to those of us lucky enough to call it home!!!
