New Lakes residents bring their sustainable-focused lifestyle to Centerra

Meet Ashlyn and Tanner Highfill. They set out to find not only the perfect house, but also the perfect community to raise a future family. Once they found The Lakes at Centerra, they finally felt at home and life began to fall into place. Read on to hear more about their journey to find a forever home.

Living in a small, older home in Loveland, Ashlyn and Tanner knew this wouldn’t be their forever home as they began the exciting discussions about someday starting a family. They knew they needed to make a change. A big change. Beyond just seeking additional space, the couple wanted to find a strong community to raise their future family. After driving through a handful of local neighborhoods and weighing their options they thought, what if we could just build our own dream home from scratch?

In searching online, they came across The Lakes at Centerra. After just one visit, it was impossible not to fall in love with the community. In fact, that’s their favorite part. No other neighborhood Ashlyn and Tanner were looking at could compare. Unlike other neighborhoods, which consisted of predictable streets and simple houses, The Lakes showcased a vibrant, people-centric community. With numerous lakes and trails to explore, a park where kids could play, restaurants and shops nearby,as well as fun year-round activities, it was exactly what they were seeking. It was time to pack up and settle at a new address.

To bring their dream to life, the couple chose to work with William Lyon Homes. For both Ashlyn and Tanner, the reason was simple. William Lyon’s floor plans didn’t just feel like a house, they felt like home. They loved being able to customize their place exactly to their specifications with details down to the finishing touches made just for them. Nestled between two large community parks, their house is within walking distance to High Plains School and adjacent to an expansive trail system. The couple loves exploring the trails with their dogs, Giada, an Italian Greyhound, and Bruce, a European Doberman.

As Colorado natives, the couple is inspired by the beauty of the state with the desire to preserve the environment. Ashlyn is originally from Colorado Springs, but grew up in Fort Collins, and Tanner is from the Fort Collins and Loveland area so staying close to their roots was a big motivator. They love The Lakes’ expansive natural space, which highlights Colorado’s beauty right in their backyard. Additionally, High Plains Environmental Center is a great perk for the couple. Located in the middle of The Lakes at Centerra, the Environmental Center is a living laboratory focused on sustainable living, which really spoke to them and their personal passion for the environment.

Once you get to know the couple, you’ll soon see that sustainability is a big part of who they are. They have a vegan diet, drive an environmentally-friendly Prius from Pedersen Toyota where Tanner works in sales, and Ashlyn has also made health part of her career. As owner of a health and fitness business online called Believe Health, Ashlyn focuses on helping women all over the country lose weight through healthy eating with plants and workout plans. A sustainable and environmentally focused lifestyle is important to Ashlyn and Tanner and is something they want to instill in their children down the road. Having those values embedded in the Centerra community will play an integral part in future parenthood.

While the couple likes to relax at home, they also enjoy the short drive to grab dinner or a movie date. Even with a vegan diet, finding great dining options around Centerra hasn’t been a problem. They particularly enjoy heading to Café Athens for their traditional Greek falafel or to Bent Fork for their crispy tofu tacos with plum and fresh lime sauce, pickled vegetables and spicy cashews. As Centerra has continued to grow, the couple finds new exciting options that fit their vegan lifestyle.

As admitted movie buffs, Ashlyn and Tanner love going to catch a show. Living so close to the Metropolitan MetroLux theater is the perfect fit for them. Everything they like to do is close by and when they do want to go down to Denver they have easy access to I-25. What really sold the couple on The Lakes at Centerra was not only the great life they can build now, but also the exciting life they can create for their future children, and for themselves as they get older. Ashlyn described Centerra life best: it’s like living in a Hallmark Christmas movie, with a cute little neighborhood and a perfect downtown to match, especially when the ice rink is open in the winter!

Considered their forever purchase, to say the Highfill’s are committed to Centerra would be an understatement. They’ve settled in a blossoming community and are ready to embrace all of life’s exciting stages ahead.