Osceola School Board Awards Rhodes+Brito Architects Continuing Services Contract

ORLANDO, Fla. – The School District of Osceola County recently awarded Rhodes+Brito Architects a contract to provide continuing services in 2009-2010 worth up to $2 million.
Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito Architects, said the continuing services contract means the award winning architectural firm can be called on at any time to work on a variety of projects during the term.

For more information contact:
Ruffin Rhodes, Rhodes+Brito Architects, 407-648-7288 ruffin@rbarchitects.com
Maximiano Brito, Rhodes+Brito Architects, 407-648-7288 max@rbarchitects.com
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644-4142 (fax: 4410)

NAI Realvest negotiates $1.6 Million sale of 48,592 square foot industrial building in Daytona Beach

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sale of the 48,592 square foot industrial facility located at 1870 Mason Ave. in Daytona Beach for $1,600,000.00.

Robert Blackwell, SIOR principal at NAI Realvest, associates Sean DuPree, CCIM and Jim Murr negotiated the transaction representing the seller, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company.

Blackwell, DuPree and Murr teamed up with Chris Pacheco of Albuquerque-based NAI The Vaughn Group in the negotiations on behalf of the seller.

The buyer is Juno AO Real Estate LLC of New York, N.Y.

About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

For more information contact:
Robert Blackwell, SIOR or Sean Dupree, CCIM or Jim Murr at NAI Realvest 407-875-9989; rblackwell@realvest.com, sdupree@realvest.com or jmurr@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, Chief Operating Officer, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Beazer Homes Starts Development of 36 New Home Sites at Sawgrass in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Beazer Homes has started development of 36 new 50 and 70-foot home sites at Sawgrass, off Weatherbee Rd. between S. Orange Ave. and Boggy Creek Rd. in southeast Orlando.

David Byrnes, Beazer Homes’ Florida division president, said new three, four and five-bedroom single-family homes at Sawgrass will include Beazer’s new eSMART features that increase energy, water efficiency and indoor air quality, and will range in size from 1,400 to 3,300 square feet of living space priced from the $170s.

Byrnes said Beazer Homes will start construction of a new model home at Sawgrass in January. The Newberry II model home will offer 3,300 square feet of living space with five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage.

Beazer only builds high performance homes engineered for energy efficiency, cost savings, and comfort. Its high performance homes are called eSMART. Homeowners can save money, conserve energy, improve indoor air quality and lower ongoing costs of home ownership with a Beazer eSMART home.

For more information, contact:
David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com;
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142
About Beazer Homes:Beazer Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 17 states. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange will double U.S. Tax Credit for qualified new home buyers

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- The Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange, voted one of America’s 100 best master planned communities by readers of Where to Retire magazine, announced it will double the U.S. Tax Credit for qualified home buyers through the end of the year.

Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, Inc., which is developing the Villages of Royal Palm, said through Dec. 31 the Villages of Royal Palm will double the $8,000 U.S. Tax credit available for first-time home buyers or the new $6,500 Federal Tax credit available to qualified move-up homebuyers.

Schwartz said five new single-family homes at the Villages of Royal Palm qualify for either tax credit now and are ready for immediate move-in.

The Villages of Royal Palm offers villa homes priced from the $160s and single family homes priced from the $200s

Schwartz said 100 new homes remain for sale.

For more information about this press release, contact:
Winston Schwartz, President, Winston-James Development, Inc. Beville Rd., South Daytona, Fla. 32119; 386-760-2555;

James Adley, Principal, Winston-James Development, Inc. 386-760-2555;

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Cuhaci & Peterson Hired to Re-design exterior of Old Publix Grocery Store in Winter Garden

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has been awarded a contract to design the exterior renovation of an old grocery store building that was formerly a Publix supermarket at Winter Garden Center located off South Park and SR 50 in Winter Garden.

The developer of the 50,000 square foot facility is Barron Realty, Inc., according to Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC.

For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Beazer Homes will start pre-selling new town homes in December at Hampton Lakes in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – Beazer Homes will start pre-selling new town homes at its Hampton Lakes community located on Race Track Road and Country Way Blvd. in Tampa in December.

Kareyann Rhodes, sales manager for Beazer Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said 68 two and three bedroom town homes with two-car garages and private rear courtyard will be offered.

The town homes at Hampton Lakes, which include Beazer’s new eSMART features that increase energy, water efficiency and indoor air quality, will range from 1,300 square feet of living space to 1,850 square feet, and are priced from the mid-$100s, Rhodes said.

New models will be featured and ready-to-move-in town homes will be available in the first seven-unit building, which is expected to begin construction in early January at Hampton Lakes.
For more information, contact:
Karey Rhodes, Sales Manager, Beazer Homes/Tampa 813-663-9002 Krhodes@beazer.com;

David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com;
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Negotiates Sublease for 16,160 Square Feet of Warehouse Space for a Family Fun Center in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida which is associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently negotiated a sublease agreement for 16,160 square feet of surplus warehouse space located at 622-624 Ware Blvd. in Tampa.

Chuck Bohac, vice president with the Industrial & Land Services Group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, negotiated the transaction representing the sublessee, Xtreme World Fun Center, LLC based in Orlando. The family entertainment center will be equipped to accommodate birthday parties and other groups with full indoor trampolines when it opens in the first quarter of 2010.

The sublandlord is Third Dunkin’ Donuts Realty, LLC based in Canton, Mass.

About Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 30 brokers divided among its Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne offices which serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace. Visit www.commercialfl.com.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Named to The Global Outsourcing 100™ in 2009 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals™, Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 130 company-owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm’s transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), tenant-in-common (TIC) investments suitable for tax-deferred 1031 exchanges and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Contacts:
Chuck Bohac 813-639-1111
Jeff Sweeney, President 407-481-5387
Larry Vershel 407-644-4142

NAI Realvest negotiates five-year renewal lease for 52,590 square feet of industrial space at Crossroads Business Park in South Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently completed a five-year renewal agreement for 52,590 square feet of industrial space at Crossroads Business Park located on Gills Drive off W. Landstreet Rd. in south Orlando.

Robert Blackwell, SIOR principal at the firm, associates Sean DuPree, CCIM and Jim Murr negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, Ace World Wide Moving & Storage Co., Inc. The leased space consists of 40,140 square feet in Suite 400 at 1125 Gills Drive and 12,450 square feet in suite 500 at 1075 Gills Drive at the industrial park.

The landlord, CRP-2 Crossroads, LLC, was represented by Matt Sullivan and Wilson McDowell of Colliers Arnold.

About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

For more information contact:
Robert Blackwell, SIOR or Sean Dupree, CCIM or Jim Murr at NAI Realvest 407-875-9989; rblackwell@realvest.com, sdupree@realvest.com or jmurr@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, Chief Operating Officer, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Lennar’s Central Florida Division Appoints John Kappeler Purchasing Systems Manager

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida division, which builds new single-family homes and town homes priced from the $100s to more than $400,000 throughout Central Florida, recently appointed John Kappeler purchasing systems manager.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida division, said Kappeler has more than 10 years of experience as a home building executive and formerly served as purchasing systems analyst at Kimball Hill Homes in Tampa.

“John Kappeler is a high knowledgeable home building executive who will play a key role in our continued growth in the Tampa Bay, Orlando and Space Coast regions,” said Metheny.

Lennar’s Central Florida Division builds in more than 30 communities throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Lake, Polk, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Brevard counties.

For More Information About This Press Release:
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar-Central Florida, 888-317-7489
Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 727-479-1700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Ride Green Scooters a Big Hit at UCF Housing Fair

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ride Green Scooters of Winter Park---the new venture by Orlando entrepreneur Ron Schwartz that markets fuel-efficient scooters priced from under $1,000 rated at 75-110 miles per gallon---was a big hit at the University of Central Florida Housing Fair on the east Orlando campus recently.

“About 3,000 students attended the Housing Fair and at least 1,000 of them visited our exhibit,” Schwartz said.

Located on Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park, Ride Green Scooters has recently received two new 2010 models adding to its Jonway and Shenke motor scooter inventory. Both are made in China.

“We are one of the first dealers to import these two new models in the Orlando region and they are selling well,” said Brian Schwartz, managing partner. Both scooters offer versions that range from 50-cc to 250-cc and feature upgraded suspensions and disc brakes.

“For more than half the world’s population, these energy-efficient vehicles are the principal means of transportation,” said Schwartz. “Most UCF students see them as an ideal solution to the on-campus parking shortage,” he added.

Ride Green Scooters offers a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week road service program for all participating scooter owners and expert scooter maintenance and repair on all models is available at the Ride Green Scooters Showroom and Garage at 671 W. Fairbanks.

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For more information, contact:
Ron Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407-342-3648 (direct)
Brian Schwartz, Principal, Ride Green Scooters 407 467-3214
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

ABD Development Company offers smaller, smarter custom built homes at Heritage Green in Providence

ORLANDO, Fla. --- With the challenging economic times, ABD Development Company is now offering four smaller, smarter custom built single-family homes at Heritage Green at Providence Golf & Country Club off U.S. 17-92 and CR 532 in Davenport in Polk County.

David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company, said the recently designed homes that focus on smaller but smarter design and energy efficiency range from 2,400 square feet and are priced from under $400,000.

For information call 863-427-7528 or visit www.providenceFlorida.com.

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For more information contact:
Alene Raskin, Marketing Manager, ABD Development Company 407-370-6400
David Kohn, President, ABD Development Company 407-370-6400
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contract to design three new retail facilities at The Villages in Lady Lake

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, was recently awarded contracts to design interiors for three retail facilities at Village Crossroads retail center at The Villages in Lady Lake.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the facilities include a Dollar Tree Store, Fantastic Sam’s Hair Salon and Casablanca Restaurant.

The three facilities total 15,000 square feet of retail space, Peterson said.

Developer Benchmark Properties awarded the contract.
* * *
For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Emerson International Negotiates Office Lease for 15,000 Square Feet at CenterPointe I in Altamonte Springs with Crump Insurance Services of Florida

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement for 15,000 square feet of Class A office space at CenterPointe I, located at 240 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs.

Kenneth Koch, commercial portfolio manager at Emerson International, negotiated the lease agreement with the new tenant, Crump Insurance Services of Florida, on the landlord’s behalf.
Steve Andrews with Fischer & Company and Matthew Mckeever with Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.

Crump Insurance Services of Florida is a property and casualty insurance wholesaler.

For more information contact
Eric J. Emerson, Vice President and General Manager Emerson International, Inc. 407-834-9560; ejemerson@emerson-us.com;

Kenneth Koch, Commercial Portfolio Manager, Emerson International, Inc. 407-834-9560;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contracts to design renovations for Sweetbay Supermarkets in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and S. Pasadena

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, which ranks as one of the largest commercial architectural firms in the southeast, was recently awarded contracts to design renovations for Sweetbay grocery store facilities in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and South Pasadena.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said all three facilities measure 35,000 square feet of retail space.

* * *
For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Beazer Homes Opens Third Phase with 79 Home Sites at Dupree Lakes in Land O’Lakes

TAMPA, Fla. – Beazer Homes has opened a third phase with 79 new single-family home sites at Dupree Lakes, located off Ehren’s Cutoff and S.R. 41 in Land O’Lakes.

David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes in Florida, said new three, four and five-bedroom homes in the new third phase at Dupree Lakes will include Beazer’s new eSMART features that increase energy and water efficiency and indoor air quality, and will be priced from $189,900
Dupree Lakes features a community clubhouse with resort-style swimming pool, soccer field, basketball and tennis courts and walking trails.

For more information, contact:
Karey Rhodes, Sales Manager, Beazer Homes/Tampa 813-663-9002 Krhodes@beazer.com;

David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com;
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142.

About Beazer Homes:
Beazer Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 17 states. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contract to Design Pizza Hut Restaurant facilities in Georgia, South Carolina

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, was recently awarded a contract to design two Pizza Hut restaurant facilities in Baxley, Georgia and Bluffton, South Carolina.

Jed Downs, president of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said Yum Brands, Inc., the Louisville, Ky. Company that owns the Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s brands and ranks as the largest restaurant company in the world, awarded the contracts.

Both restaurant facilities will total 1,200 square feet of space, Downs said.
* * *
For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Data Transfer Solutions Named Gold Certified Solutions Partner by Kentico Software

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, the Downtown Avalon Park-based firm that provides GIS, transportation planning and engineering, asset management, web design, database applications and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S., has been named a Gold Certified Solutions Partner by Kentico Software, named the fastest growing young technology company in the Deloitte FAST 50 Rising Stars last year.

Kentico, based in Brno, Czech Republic, designed a state-of-the-art content management system (CMS) that ranks as one of the most efficient platforms for large-scale, fully-dynamic web portals that meet the needs of government agencies and corporations, said A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer at Data Transfer Solutions.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS), recently launched a unique environmental web site for Park City, Utah, (www.parkcitygreen.org) that currently ranks as one of three international finalists in the running for Kentico’s prestigious Site of the Year 2009 Award, voted on by more than 2,000 Kentico users in 74 countries worldwide.

“Kentico’s powerful content management system will likely rank as the leading platform for large-scale users such as government agencies and large corporations,” Fragala said. “Government’s effort to show greater transparency and to elicit the participation of more citizens converges with Kentico’s adaptability and user-friendly interfaces,” Fragala said.
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For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Jade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com