Saturday, March 13, 2010

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty forms Strategic Partnership with Canin Associates Planners, Architects

ORLANDO - Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has formed a strategic partnership with Canin Associates urban planning, landscape architecture and architectural design studios in Orlando.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the internationally recognized, full service, multi-disciplined design and architectural firm is a perfect match for Stirling Sotheby’s.

“Canin Associates will provide conceptual and product design services to Stirling Sotheby's agents and clients, including home owners, home buyers, builders, developers, and lenders,” Soderstrom said.

“With the emphasis today on bank-owned and short sale properties, many luxury home buyers can dramatically improve the value of their new purchase through creative design,” Soderstrom explained.

Canin Associates principal Tony Weremeichik is working closely with Stirling Sotheby's associates and their clients to help solve home design challenges, Soderstrom said.

Canin Associates will also serve Stirling Sotheby’s builder, developer and lender clients whose distressed properties can sometimes be dramatically improved with relatively minor redesign and repositioning, Soderstrom said.

“Today's consumers are changing their lifestyles, product needs and product designs,” said Soderstrom.

“Current economic conditions and worldwide recession have affected nearly everyone, and there are many new important design trends emerging as a result, including right-sizing floor plans, practical use of space, homes that grow and a renewed appreciation for curb appeal. Canin Associates has played a leading role identifying these changes and adapting them to practical use here in Central Florida,” he said.

Soderstrom said Stirling Sotheby’s and Canin Associates plan a print and video series of bi-monthly features for print and online distribution under the title of “Home Design Trends for the consumer-centric lifestyle.”

“We are developing a creative, informative and entertaining approach to helpful strategies that will appeal to renters, homeowners, new home buyers, home sellers, builders, developers, and lenders,” Soderstrom said.
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For more information, contact:
Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890
Tony Weremeichik, Principal Canin and Associates, 407-422-4040 x209 tweremeichik@canin.com

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones, which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com

Winston-James Development Negotiates New Leases in Oviedo, Winter Garden

SOUTH DAYTONA- Winston James Development, Inc. recently negotiated new lease agreements that total 2,000 square feet of industrial space at Aloma Commerce Center in Oviedo and the West Orange Business Center in Winter Garden.

Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, Inc., said Little Anthony’s restaurant franchise leased 1,000 square feet of space at Aloma Business Center, located off Aloma Ave. at 2785 Wrights Rd. in Oviedo. Ty Brackney of Dunhill Management Corp. negotiated the lease agreement representing the tenant, Schwartz said.

Regulatory Compliance Association, Inc. leased 1,000 square feet of space at West Orange Business Center, located at 1249 Winter Garden-Vineland Rd. in Winter Garden. The tenant, an online training company for financial auditing firms, was represented in the transaction by Ty Brackney of Dunhill Management Corp.
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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

Lennar Reports Record Pace of New Home Sales at Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club Community in Naples

NAPLES - Lennar reports it sold a record 29 new homes in February at Heritage Bay, a gated golf and country club resort community located on Immokalee Road east of I-75 in Naples.

Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said sales of new homes at The Verandas at Heritage Bay and Heritage Bay Terrace Condominiums exceeded projections for the month.

Heritage Bay exemplifies Lennar’s bold new strategy for new home communities in Florida: mixing affordably priced homes with resort-style amenities to create communities that offer unparalleled value.

“Eighty percent of the land at Heritage Bay is comprised of lakes, golf course, conservation areas and open preserves,” Devereaux said.

Membership in the Heritage Bay golf club with 27-hole championship golf course is included with the purchase price of every new home. Community amenities also include seven lighted Har-Tru tennis courts with stadium seating for tournaments, a well-appointed 42,000 square two story clubhouse with state-of-the-art fitness center and resort-style swimming pool with Chickee Bar.
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For more information about this press release contact:
Matt Devereaux, Director of Sales, Lennar-Southwest Florida 239-278-1177
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Avalon Park Elementary School ranks 1st in U.S., 2nd worldwide in World Maths Day competition with 56,000 schools in 235 countries

ORLANDO- Avalon Park Elementary School in East Orlando scored 1st among U.S. schools in the Fourth Annual World Maths Day Competition March 3 and placed 2nd and 8th worldwide competing against students from 56,082 schools in 235 countries.

Pamela J. Sanders, principal at Avalon Park Elementary School, said Avalon Park Elementary took First Place in the U.S. and Second Place worldwide in the Ages 5-8 category behind Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Leigh-on-Sea, U.K.

Avalon Park Elementary School fifth-graders placed First among U.S. schools and Eighth in worldwide competition against schools in Malaysia, Estonia, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands and Canada in the Ages 9-13 category.

“Our students really rose to the occasion and all of us are extremely proud of their outstanding performance,” Ms. Sanders said.

According to the World Maths Day web site (www.WorldMathsDay.com), the 2010 World Maths Competition was open to all schools, grades, and individuals ages 5-8, 9-13 and 14-18 worldwide.

The 2010 World Maths Competition pitted students and student teams around the world in live, web-based games of mental arithmetic. Each game lasted 60 seconds and students could play up to 500 games, earning points for each correct answer.

Beat Kähli, who heads Avalon Park Group and built Avalon Park Elementary School five years ago, said the school’s showing in the World Maths Day Competition is a dream come true.

“Avalon Park Elementary School is blessed with outstanding faculty, staff and administrators and the students have responded with an exhibition of world-class math skills,” Kähli said. “This is something all of Central Florida can be proud,” Kähli said.

Participation in the 2010 World Maths Games was up more than 47 percent over 2009, Kähli said.
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For more information, contact
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565 stephanie@avalonparkgroup.com;
Pamela Sanders, Principal Avalon Elementary 407-207-3825 pamela.sanders@ocps.net;
Eric Marks, Vice President, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565, ericm@avalonparkgroup.com; Beat Kahli, Founder /CEO Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Ashton Woods Homes has only Eight Home Sites Remaining in First Phase at The Landings in South Tampa, Second Phase Starts Construction

TAMPA - Only eight new homes remain for sale in phase one at the Ashton Woods Homes community, The Landings located off Interbay and Westshore Blvds. in South Tampa.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay area, said the new phase that started construction will offer 35 three, four and five-bedroom homes priced from $199,900.

New homes in the second phase at The Landings range in size from 1,389 square feet of living space to 2,801 square feet.

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.
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For more information contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando 407-647-3700;
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes Homes-Tampa/Orlando 407-647-3700;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Lennar Opens Two New Model Homes at River Strand Golf & Country Club in Heritage Harbour in Bradenton

BRADENTON - Lennar has opened two new model homes and introduced six new floor plans at River Strand, the gated golf and country club community located within Heritage Harbor in Bradenton off S.R. 64.

Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said new homes at River Strand range in size from 1,194 square feet of living space to more than 3,800 square feet and new homes are priced from the $140s to more than $500,000.

Both models can be viewed by visiting River Strand in Heritage Harbor and heading to 7210 Heritage Grand Place.

Free membership in the River Strand Golf & Country Club is included with the purchase of every new home, Devereaux explained. River Strand is located on the 27-hole Arthur Hills-designed River Strand golf course, and the community features a members-only, 39,000 square foot clubhouse that offers both fine and casual dining.

The River Strand community center features eight lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and an aqua practice driving range, Devereaux added.

“Golf, tennis and country club membership is included with no additional charge or enrollment fee,” Devereaux explained. “That adds a tremendous lifetime value and lifestyle value to every home here,” he said.

Lennar sold more than 175 new homes at River Strand Golf & Country Club in 2009.
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For more information about this press release contact:
Matt Devereaux, Director of Sales, Lennar-Southwest Florida 239-278-1177
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142