MARINA >> Another facet of the Dunes On Monterey Bay development in Marina is taking shape as the Promenade at the Dunes’ Rooftops residences continue to be constructed, rising in what is envisioned as the heart of the community.

“It’s 20 years in the making with a lot of rendition and changes,” said Don Hofer, vice president of Shea Homes Northern California.

Hofer said that around the time of the pandemic it was decided that Shea — the developer of the Dunes On Monterey Bay project which includes residential neighborhoods, retail and dining centers, and a movie theater — would create “a special place that is the heart of our community, that’s going to be the heart of the Dunes’ Master Plan, and I think that’s why it’s so exciting in a sense that we see it all coming together, finally.”

The Rooftops at the Dunes is a new, 84-unit condominium community that is part of the Promenade at The Dunes, a mixed-use retail neighborhood.

Hofer said that the Shea team looked at some of the successful retail areas such as Alvarado Street in Monterey and Santana Row in San Jose, as inspiration.

“There’s a lot of areas that have successful mixed-use environments and we spent a lot of time studying them, trying to figure out what is it that gives it that mojo, the cool factor, the energy that people want to be there … we call it ‘place-making’ and for us at Shea that was a big part of this,” said Hofer. “We want this to be sort of the heart of the Dunes master plan and a place people want to come to.”

Rooftops at the Dunes is a big component of that factor, featuring seven floor plans, ranging from 1,751 to 2,740 square feet, with two to three bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half baths, and two-car garages.

“Rooftops is unique bringing mixed-use urban living to Monterey County,” said Michele Cervantez vice president of sales and marketing at Shea.

“The units are appointed with high-end finishes, professional appliances, hardwood floors … and all but the single-level living includes a rooftop deck.”

Those rooftop decks are the hallmark of the condominium development giving the residents a unique living experience and providing for some exceptional views including some with ocean views, peeks of mountain tops and the surrounding community.

The decks also combine sheltered and open space for entertaining, provide gas lines for barbecue hookups, come with poles for stringing up accent lighting and are built strong enough to accommodate a hot tub.

The models shown also showcased expansive living spaces, digital electric fireplace heaters, quartz countertops, large walk-in showers, laundry rooms, work-from-home spaces, and a lot of natural light.

Outside the Rooftops at the Dunes mixed use buildings will be landscaping complete with areas for people to sit among trees and sculptures, and accent lighting.

Hofer said a lot of these concepts were realized when people were in lockdown due to the pandemic and the Shea team tried to create places where people would feel comfortable, get outside in a sheltered space, not just in the Rooftops’ private patios, but also in the many patios. There are also number of murals on exterior walls.

Prices for the Rooftops at the Dunes condominiums range from $1.1 million to $1.48 million, said Cervantez, with buyers generally made up of pre-retirees, those in the phase between working full-time and retirement when they are beginning to plan for the future and considering downsizing to a smaller, more-efficient home, and professionals. She added that 50% are from the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas areas, 40% from the Bay Area, and 10% from other areas.

A homeowners association monthly assessment “hasn’t been confirmed yet, but will most likely be in the $450-$650 range,” she said. The Rooftops at the Dunes also has a “live-work” component where people can run their business in a first-floor space, then at the end of the day, can retire to their living quarters above.

Residents of the Rooftops at the Dunes will live close to many amenities including a Trader Joe’s, a Cinemark movie theater, the mixed-use retail component of the Promenade at the Dunes, the “village square” next to the Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar and the north end of a long linear park system that goes to the south end of The Dunes community that will eventually connect to a Dunes office park. The village square will have a pavilion, seating, landscaping, a sculpture and a stage, providing another opportunity for people to meet up at the Promenade at the Dunes. The linear park corridor is a 70-foot wide park strip that runs the entire length of the Promenade on the Dunes project.

Hofer said if one lives on the west side where the Sky House, Light House or Bay House communities will exist, one will be able to bike, jog or stroll anywhere between the already-built retail area where Target and REI are, the shops at the Dunes quick-serve restaurant area, the Promenade and Rooftops area along 10th Street up to 2nd Avenue, and connect to the neighborhoods on the east side.

Hofer said Shea has built 551 homes in the Dunes On Monterey Bay area since 2014 which will all be accessible through walkable and bikeable connections including the Dune’s boardwalk which basically goes from Target all the way through the Promenade then down along 8th Street through the roundabout and out across the 8th Street bridge, connecting people to the beach.