Lennar Started Building The Preserve: 1,480 Homes on the Old Badlands Golf Course Next to Queensridge

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Oct. 20, 2026, that construction has started on the new housing project at the former Badlands golf course. The photo caption on that story says construction began on Monday, Oct. 19. Joy Broddle, the president of Lennar's Las Vegas division, told the paper that Lennar "started site work a few months ago." So the dirt has been moving for a while, but this is the first time the public got a clear look at the work.

The project is called The Preserve. It covers about 250 acres, and the first activity is in the northwest section of the property, near Alta Drive and Hualapai Way. That puts it beside the Queensridge community and across from Tivoli Village. Lennar's own interest page describes the location as off South Rampart Boulevard and Alta Drive.

Plans call for 1,480 homes. The Review-Journal says that count will include townhomes, condos and detached single-family houses. Lennar's page says The Preserve will be a private, gated community with 10 collections of homes, ranging from condos and townhomes to estate-style homes. Lennar describes each collection as having its own architectural style.

The amenity list is long. The Review-Journal reports a pool, a fitness center, a playground, and basketball and pickleball courts. Lennar's page adds a resort-style clubhouse, a pool sitting area, trails and parks, a tot lot and splash pad, an outdoor dining area and an event lawn. Those are the kinds of shared spaces you usually see in big master-planned neighborhoods, packed into a site that sits in the middle of an already built-out part of town.

What we do not have yet is pricing. Lennar has not posted any prices, square footage or release dates on its page. The only call to action right now is to join the VIP interest list. We will not guess at numbers. When Lennar releases real prices, that will be its own story.

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Start with the simple fact that west Las Vegas does not have much empty land left. Summerlin keeps adding villages farther out toward the mountains, but the older, closer-in parts of the west side near Rampart and Alta are mostly filled in. A 250-acre site with room for 1,480 homes, a few minutes from Tivoli Village and Downtown Summerlin, is rare. That is why so many people have watched this land for so long.

For buyers, this means more choice in a part of town where newer homes do not come up often. The mix matters too. Condos and townhomes usually cost less than detached houses, so a community with both could open the door for people who want to live on the west side but cannot stretch to a big single-family home. We will not know how wide that price range is until Lennar posts numbers. But a range of home types is a good sign for a wider range of buyers.

For neighbors in Queensridge and nearby streets, the effects are more day to day. Expect construction traffic, dust and noise for a long stretch. A project with 1,480 homes is not built in one season. Over time, more households also means more cars on Alta, Rampart and Hualapai, and more families using nearby schools, parks and stores. Some neighbors will see that as a loss of the open green space they once looked out on. Others will be glad to see the land finally used after years of sitting in limbo.

For current owners near the site, the question many people ask is what this does to home values. Nobody can promise that answer. In general, a well-kept new community with strong amenities can make an area more attractive, and a long construction period can be a nuisance for people trying to sell nearby. Both things can be true at once. The best thing an owner can do is keep an eye on what Lennar actually builds and what it sells for, then compare that to their own home.

The gated design is worth a word too. Lennar describes The Preserve as private and gated, which many west-side buyers like for privacy and a quieter street feel. Gated communities with this many shared amenities also come with an HOA that maintains the gates, the clubhouse, the pool and the common areas. That is a monthly cost on top of the mortgage, so it belongs in any budget math once Lennar shares the details.

There is also a taxpayer side to this story. The city of Las Vegas paid far more to buy the land than it got back from Lennar. Every Las Vegas resident has a stake in how that settlement works out, even if they never drive past the site.

Background and History

The Badlands golf course has been one of the most fought-over pieces of land in Las Vegas. For years, the closed course sat at the center of litigation involving the city of Las Vegas and developer Yohan Lowie, while Queensridge neighbors watched from next door and wondered what would happen to the green space behind their homes.

That fight ended with a late-2024 settlement. According to the Review-Journal, the city of Las Vegas bought the course for $636 million and then sold it to Lennar for $350 million. That left the city with a net cost of $286 million. The Review-Journal says those deals closed in March 2025. In other words, Lennar has owned the land for about a year and a half, and the visible construction is the next step after that sale.

The money story is not fully over, either. In a separate matter, Clark County commissioners voted on Oct. 20 to appeal a district court ruling about property taxes on Badlands land to the Nevada Supreme Court. KTNV 13 reports the county owes Lowie and the city more than $12.4 million in that case, with interest growing by more than $3,000 a day during the appeal. That tax fight is different from the $636 million settlement, and it does not stop Lennar's construction. But it shows how long the Badlands saga has reached into public budgets. We cover it in our related story on the county's appeal.

The bigger market picture matters here too. The UNLV Lied Center for Real Estate found that Southern Nevada residential building permits fell 35 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same months of 2025. That was the largest drop among the 55 U.S. metros with at least 1 million people. So a large new project breaking ground on the west side stands out at a time when builders across the valley are pulling back.

What Happens Next

The next big step for buyers is the release of real details: floor plans, home sizes, prices and the first sales dates. Lennar has not announced a timeline for those yet. The VIP interest list is the clearest signal that Lennar plans to share details with that list first. If you are interested, getting on it early costs nothing and keeps you in the loop.

On the ground, expect the work to keep moving out from the northwest section near Alta Drive and Hualapai Way. Large communities are usually built in phases, so one part of the site may have model homes and finished streets while other parts are still graded dirt. Neighbors should plan on construction activity for several years. If you drive Alta or Rampart every day, watch for lane changes, trucks and new traffic patterns as roads inside the community connect to the streets around it.

On the public side, the Clark County tax appeal heads to the Nevada Supreme Court. That case will take time, and the county's bill keeps growing while it waits. It is worth following if you care about how public money is spent, but it is not expected to change what Lennar builds.

Ryan's Take

I work a lot in Summerlin and the southwest valley, and this is the most interesting new-home project to hit the west side in years. Not because of the drama, but because of the location. You almost never get a brand new community of this size this close to Tivoli Village, Downtown Summerlin and the 215. Buyers who have been waiting for a newer home on this side of town have had very few choices. The Preserve could change that, depending on how Lennar prices it.

My advice is simple. Do not get emotional before the numbers come out. Get on the interest list, then wait for real prices and real floor plans. When they arrive, compare them side by side with resale homes in Queensridge, Summerlin and the Rampart corridor. New construction is not always the better deal once you add lot premiums, upgrades, window coverings and landscaping. Sometimes a five-year-old resale home down the street is the smarter buy. Sometimes the new build wins. You only know when you put them next to each other.

What You Can Do

If you want to buy at The Preserve, join Lennar's VIP interest list so you hear about releases early. Before prices come out, take a few minutes to get clear on your own budget. Talk to a lender about what monthly payment works for you, so you can move fast when a home you like is released. Also think about which home type fits your life. A condo or townhome may mean less yard work and a lower price. A detached home gives you more space and privacy. Knowing your answer ahead of time makes the decision easier.

If you live near the site, keep an eye on the work and on how it affects your commute. Note any problems like dust or late-night noise and report them to the city. If you are thinking about selling in the next year or two, it helps to understand how new homes at The Preserve might compete with your home. Once Lennar posts pricing, compare it to recent sales in your neighborhood.

When Lennar does release homes, here are the questions worth asking before you sign anything:

What is included in the base price? Lennar's page says premium finishes come at no extra cost. Ask for the full list in writing so you know what is standard and what is extra.
What are the HOA dues, and what do they cover? A gated community with a clubhouse, pool, courts, trails and a splash pad will have dues. Ask for the monthly amount and the current budget.
Are there lot premiums? Homes on corners, larger lots or lots with better views often cost more than the base price on the flyer.
When will the home be finished? Ask for the estimated completion date and what happens if it slips. Your rate lock and your move plans depend on it.
What will be built next to you? In a 1,480-home project, the empty lot behind your future home may not stay empty. Ask to see the site plan for your phase.
Are there incentives for using the builder's lender? Builders often offer help with closing costs or rates through their own lender. Compare that offer with at least one outside lender before you choose.

One more tip that many buyers miss: you can bring your own agent to a new-home community. In most cases, the builder pays that agent, so it does not cost you extra. The sales team in the model home works for the builder. Your own agent works for you, helps you read the contract and compares the deal to resale homes nearby. Just make sure your agent is with you, or registered, on your very first visit, since many builders require that.

And if you are on the fence about buying new or buying resale on the west side, you do not have to sort it out alone. A side-by-side look at real numbers is the fastest way to see which path makes sense for you.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com