FROM THE TAILGATE
Sage advice from the trenches
By Ron Jones
The Dream Refreshed
Every year the producers of demonstration projects or “show homes” displayed in conjunction with building industry events declare their intention to discard the outrageous “McMansion” behemoth model in favor of a more realistic, more responsible version of what the modern American dream can be. Sadly, much like those well-intended New Year’s resolutions we’re all too familiar with, by the time the deal is done they invariably seem to cave in to the pressures of needing to outdo the previous year’s offerings.
These giant albatross houses often sit on the market for months, even years, waiting for someone to come along and salvage them (often for pennies on the dollar). The builders desperately cling to their hopes that the media attention and extra traffic will reward them for the blood, sweat, and tears they had to shed just to make it to the opening bell. The homes frequently have little sense of place and acceptance in the neighborhoods and communities where they are erected.
At Green Builder Media we were determined to break the mold with our 2011 demonstration homes in the Orlando area, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. We proudly present the VISION House and ReVISION House 2011 for your approval. Our offerings feature thoughtful, creative design; state-of-the-art building technologies, systems, and components; fabulous products and finishes; exemplary energy performance, water conservation and resource management; and, of course, quality workmanship by a gathering of some of the finest craftspeople in the market, especially our builder partners, Jon Pleveich and Kim Foy, of Southern Traditions Development.
We are delighted to have the support and participation of many of the industry’s most respected product manufacturers, all of whom have graced these homes with functionality, comfort, innovation, convenience, reliability, beauty, and value.
The tandem of projects, one new home and the other a deep energy retrofit/remodel, are found in one of those wonderful, long-established communities in the Orlando region, College Park. In addition to the careful attention to detail, and the durability and home safety elements that course through the DNA of both houses, they also possess something that few other demonstration projects in this season’s lineup can claim, namely, a real sense of belonging.
We are confident that in the years and decades to come residents of the cozy College Park neighborhood won’t remember that hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors enjoyed tours of these two projects, soaking up all the information and ideas that ooze from every surface and space; they’ll simply appreciate them as welcome additions to their community. And isn’t that the highest compliment of all?
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01.2011
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