Publisher's Pick: Builder

While other builders have come and gone, Standard Pacific Homes has shown an unwavering commitment to Northeast Florida. In fact, last summer the company upped its stake in the region with two major land purchases.

The company bought 109 acres within Tamaya, a 780-acre master-planned community that’s just taking shape on the northeast corner of Beach and Kernan boulevards in Duval County. There, they'll build a neighborhood of 270 upscale homes, says Jim Birkholtz, Jacksonville division president.

The yet-unnamed neighborhood will target move-up buyers with homes ranging in size from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet. Standard Pacific’s design team will create new models that will feature well-equipped outdoor living areas and summer kitchens as well as spa-style master bathrooms.

In addition, the company bought 43 acres in Bartram Park, on Bartram Park Boulevard, just north of Racetrack Road, where it will build 190 homes in a gated community.

For 48 years, Standard Pacific has been building stylish, high-quality homes in California, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Colorado as well as Florida. It has been building in Jacksonville since 2003.

Standard Pacific is a leader in customer satisfaction, and offers buyers the opportunity to personalize their homes by selecting everything from flooring to fixtures, from countertops to cabinets.

But it’s the designs that truly set Standard Pacific apart. Its team of award-winning architects has created an array of models emphasizing casually luxurious open space, multifunctional rooms, plenty of storage, spa-like master bathrooms, indoor-outdoor connectivity and, of course, windows galore.

In addition to its new communities, Standard Pacific is continuing in North Creek (Jacksonville, from the $170s); Eagle Landing (Orange Park, from the $310s); Forest Hammock (Orange Park, from the $160s); Greenleaf Village at Nocatee (Ponte Vedra, from the $300s); Palencia (St. Augustine, from the $370s); Samara Lakes (St. Augustine, from the $160s);

For more information, visit standardpacifichomes.com.