Real Estate Briefs
Florida Home Builders Association
names Rep. Dane Eagle 2015 Champion of Housing
The Florida Home Builders Association named Florida Rep. Dane Eagle as the FHBA’s 2015 Champion of Housing during the Southeast Building Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award honors a legislator who has shown exemplary service for enhancing the building industry in Florida. Eagle was instrumental in supporting the FHBA’s Building Code bill this legislative session. His leadership made it possible for FHBA to delay the implementation of three key provisions of the building code allowing time for the market to adjust to the requirements.
“Representative Eagle possesses a unique understanding of the home building industry,” said FHBA Governmental Affairs Chair Greg Matovina. “Every member owes him a huge thank you as he works to improve the business environment of our industry.”
“The FHBA is grateful to have such a valuable legislative ally who understands that when success is achieved for homebuilders, it is also a victory for homeowners,” said FHBA President Jerry Linder. “This honor is well deserved.”
FHBA Chief Executive Officer Rusty Payton said that Rep. Eagle was key to locking in the changes to the Building Code bill.
“Most importantly, our victory on behalf of our members is a direct result of pro-builder legislators like Representative Eagle,” said Payton. “We are pleased to recognize his outstanding contributions to builders and associates.”
Established in 1949, the Florida Home Builders Association is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Florida’s local/regional homebuilder associations. FHBA, along with its affiliates, work to create the best possible economic and regulatory environment for members to succeed.
Six-home model park
showcases home designs in Gateway
Prospective residents can tour a new six-home model park showcasing a selection of WCI Communities’ Estate and Executive Home designs in Gateway, the master-planned community in Fort Myers.
Featuring interiors by Florida-based Design Studio at City Furniture, the model homes showcase homebuyers’ options for spaces that can be personalized to suit their lifestyles.
The model park’s three Estates include the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath Athens. One of three single-story Estate home designs available at Hampton Park, the Athens offers a den and an oversized freestanding kitchen island/breakfast bar that seats six in 2,312 square feet of air-conditioned living space.
The two-story Genoa II model features four bedrooms, three baths and a second-story bonus room within its 3,388 air-conditioned square feet. The home has a formal dining and living room and offers a three-car garage option.
With six bedrooms and 4,457 square feet of living space, the Portofino model home is Hampton Park’s largest home design. The two-story home offers formal dining and living rooms, a casual dining room, four full baths, a powder room and three-car garage. Four of the home’s guest bedrooms and a game room are on the second floor.
Three additional furnished models in the park represent Executive Homes. The Ibis, which serves as Hampton Park’s welcome center, offers three bedrooms and three-and-a-half-baths. One of four two-story Executive Home designs, the Ibis offers a den and second-floor bonus room with 2,707 air-conditioned square feet.
The single-story Heron offers three bedrooms, a den, two full baths and powder room within 2,258 square feet of living space. Hampton Park’s largest Executive Home, the Pelican, boasts 3,604 air-conditioned square feet and features four bedrooms, a den, formal dining room and second-floor owner’s suite, loft and laundry room.
Hampton Park offers 10 Estate home designs starting from the low $300,000s and seven Executive Home designs starting from the mid-$200,000s.
Hampton Park also offers Classic Homes featuring three-bedroom designs and 2,434 to 2,986 square feet. Two of these floor plans are currently open for viewing as furnished models.
Model homes are open for viewing Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information about Hampton Park, visit the Welcome Center at 12767 Fairington Way, call 239-444-5050 or toll-free 866-363-9234 or visit www.HamptonParkWCI.com.
Lee BIA’s Pinnacle & Summit
Awards set for Oct. 17
The Lee Building Industry Association is planning a 1960s’ themed gala celebrating the “new” age of advertising and marketing for its Pinnacle & Summit Awards Saturday, Oct. 17, at Quail West Golf & Country Club. Tickets to the 2015 BIA Industry Awards are $125 per person or $120 per person for a group of eight or more. Reservation forms are available online at www.bia.net/documents/RSVPForms.pdf
The Pinnacle Awards were created by the Sales and Marketing Council of the BIA in 1990 to recognize excellence in the residential building industry. The awards pay tribute to BIA members who have obtained an outstanding level of success and professionalism in residential design, new home sales and marketing during 2014 and 2015. Likewise, the Summit Awards were created in 2006 to recognize excellence in commercial building, planning and design sponsorship packets can be downloaded at www.bia.net/documents/SponsorshipPackage2015.pdf.
For more information on tickets, sponsorships or the Lee BIA, please call 239-936-5525.
Jacobson joins GATES
Construction as assistant superintendent
GATES Construction has announced the addition of Randy Jacobson as assistant superintendent. Jacobson is responsible for assisting in onsite supervision of GATES’ projects, including quality control, safety, security, project close out and transition planning. Jacobsen has 10 years of construction experience with a wide variety of project types and holds a bachelor degree in business management.
GATES Construction, with offices in Florida, North Carolina and the Republic of Panama, is a full service general contracting firm providing construction management and design-build services with a diversified project portfolio in all types of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential construction projects.
For additional information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.
GMA Architects and Planners complete the design
for Gulfshore Pediatric Dentistry in Estero
GMA Architects and Planners recently completed construction of a 6,340-square-foot tenant improvement for Gulfshore Pediatric Dentistry located at 9921 Corkscrew Road in Estero.
Working with Drs. Sammons and Tarver, GMA developed a beach and undersea motif throughout the public areas providing a cheerful distraction for the young patients and their families. Two separate video/game rooms are available to entertain patients and their siblings, one in the patient waiting room and another in the treatment area.
The inclusion of private family consultation rooms, procedure rooms, a laboratory, and IV room provide the opportunity for comprehensive dental care for children and their family members.
Ramon Acevedo was the Project Architect with Natali Garcia as Project Manager from GMA; Bob Schuerman was the Construction Administrator. Envirostruct was the General Contractor with Steve McKenna as Principal in Charge, Chuck Hardwick as Project Manager, and Mark Olson as Construction Superintendent.
For the past 34 years, GMA Architects and Planners has been one of Southwest Florida’s leading architectural design firm. The firm has provided award-winning architectural and interior design services for a broad range of clients in the public and private sectors, including several leading area developers.
For more information, call 239-275-0225 or visit www.GMAarchitect.com.
Synovus Bank adds McNeal
to commercial real estate team
Dominic A. DiMaio, president and chief executive officer of Synovus Bank of Florida, a division of Synovus Bank, announced that Mont E. McNeal recently joined the bank’s commercial real estate team as senior vice president and commercial real estate banker. McNeal is responsible for serving commercial real estate clients in the bank’s southern region, from Manatee County south to Naples in Collier County.
McNeal will be based at the bank’s downtown Sarasota office located at 1999 Ringling Blvd. A seasoned banker and lifelong resident of the area, he has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He was most recently affiliated with JP Morgan Chase as vice president and senior banker with the Middle Market Commercial Group, Tampa.
McNeal graduated from Florida State University, Tallahassee, with a bachelor of science degree in finance.
Synovus Bank of Florida, a division of Synovus Bank, together with other divisions of Synovus Bank, provides commercial and retail banking, as well as investment services, through 20 banking centers in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties.
See Synovus Bank of Florida at www.synovusbankfl.com.