Take Note: New-Home Community and Builder News

Pulte Homes is also offering a $4,000 gas card to homebuyers at Trillium, located on County Line Road a quarter mile east of the Suncoast Parkway. In addition, the builder will give a $10 gas card to visitors who simply register at the Trillium sales center. The offer is valid on new and inventory homes purchased in the community by September 30 and closed by December 31.

Every Standard Pacific home started in Hillsborough and Pasco counties will now be certified to meet Energy Star standards. Energy Star homes are typically at least 30 percent more efficient than typical homes. Energy Star is a joint program established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Standard Pacific builds in 21 Tampa Bay-area communities.

The Tampa Division of David Weekley Homes will begin building outside of local master-planned communities with a “build on your lot” program in South Tampa. To start, Weekley will offer two on-your-lot designs but expects to add more in the future. Home prices will start in the $330s.

Sunport Homes has also recently kicked off a “build on your lot” program in Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County. Floorplans available range in size from 1,200 to more than 2,400 square feet. Selections include the 2,104-square-foot Radiance model, featuring four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a study, priced from the low $160s.?

CHANGES
National homebuilder K. Hovnanian Enterprises, which acquired Windward Homes in 2003, announced today that its Tampa-based operation will now be known as K. Hovnanian Homes. “Although we have a long history in Tampa as Windward Homes, we’re excited to have a name that reflects the national backing we have had for five years now,” says George Schulmeyer, division president. To celebrate the renaming K. Hovnanian Homes is offering reduced pricing in all of its 10 Tampa Bay-area communities.

RECOGNITIONS
The Sales & Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) earned a Silver Excel Award from the Florida Homebuilders Association during the recent Southeast Building Conference as the Best Florida Sales and Marketing Council in the 250-plus member category. The Sales & Marketing Council offers continuing education, networking and recognition for nearly 400 sales-and-marketing professionals.

Arthur Rutenberg Homes, the nation’s largest franchisor of custom-homebuilding companies, presented awards to builders and vendor partners at its 17th annual Pride in Partnership Conference recently at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach. Lyons Heritage Tampa, an independent franchise building in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, earned top honors as Builder of the Year. Lyons Heritage Tampa is owned by Bobby Lyons, who was the first ARH franchisee in 1980. The company’s president is Lori Garton, who joined Lyons in 2004 after more than 20 years with Arthur Rutenberg Homes Inc. This was the first time Lyons Heritage Tampa earned this honor under Garton’s leadership. Lyons, who owns three franchises, was Builder of the Year in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2006.

APPOINTMENTS
Cathy Byrd, president of Innovative Restorations and GreenHeights Development, was recently appointed to a City of Tampa committee formed to review and evaluate the effectiveness of city policies regarding affordable housing. Innovative Restorations and GreenHeights Development are building green-certified, single-family workforce homes on five in-fill lots in the East Tampa area.

Taylor Morrison has appointed Rob Hall and Mary Latuszek sales associates at its communities of Oak Creek and Winthrop in Riverview.
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Only 15 single-family homesites remain for sale at Camden Woods in Riverview. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing, says new three-, four- and five-bedroom homes at Camden Woods are priced from under $180,000 and range in size from 1,712 to 3,062 square feet. A model home is open daily.

PASCO?COUNTY
Not only is Southern Crafted Homes offering customers options and upgrades related to green building, but company execs are also serving on a committee to draft and implement a green ordinance for Tampa" target="_blank">Pasco County. “Our commitment to green building can be seen in our products, materials and practices,” says Jim Deitch, executive vice president. “We feel it’s our responsibility as a local builder to continue building in a responsible way.”?

In other news from Southern Crafted Homes, the company recently announced the release of five new floorplans in the private, gated communities of Devonwood Villas and Stonegate in Land O’Lakes and The Preserve at Quail Woods in Wesley Chapel.