Monday, June 6, 2011

Award-winning Jacksonville Swimming Pool Company Selected to Participate in State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., – Portofino Pools, a 55-year-old award-winning Jacksonville-based pool and spa company, has been selected to participate in GrowFL, a state-funded program that is part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (FEGI).

Founded in 1956 as Al Jackson Pools, the business was acquired by Portofino Pools in 1996, according to Jack Manilla, president and owner.

“We are humbled by this designation as it recognizes our strength in achieving second-stage growth during the difficult economic recession,” he said.

Manilla is an active member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, a regional FEGI GrowFL partner. He responded to Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton’s Champion Letter calling for growth companies to apply to GrowFL.

Created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature, GrowFL is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses the institute looks for ones with the potential for success, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“Portofino Pools has shown that it has potential by becoming a second-stage company during a downturned economy,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization. “And, it’s consistency in being named the ‘Best of Jacksonville’ Award winner for pools for the third consecutive year by the U.S. Commerce Association also shows the company’s strengths.”

GrowFL will support the company through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

“The secret to being in business for more than 55 years is that we have a passion and love for helping our customers save money while increasing their water enjoyment,” said Manilla, who now oversees a staff of 20 full-time and 45 part-time employees. “The designation confirms our success is due to commitment to core values, employee selection and continuing education/training.”

With assistance from GrowFL, Manilla said Portofino Pools has been shown “new windows of opportunity by a team of the best and brightest economic development consultants in Florida.”

“Our minds have been re-energized and shown new ways to think by these experts,” he said. “We are strategically preparing for continued growth to third stage.”

About Portofino Pools:
Portofino’s, customers have peace-of-mind knowing their word is the best guarantee. Armed with knowledge and innovative green technologies, Portofino’s technical team has years of business know-how, and aquatic facility expertise as they maintain more than 20 million gallons of water every week. The company also helps clients reduce operating costs and increase sustainability through lower energy use, while reducing carbon emissions and equipment repairs, and increasing pool surface life. For details, visit www.PortofinoPools.com

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance and Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Management Services and Administrative and Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

Beazer Homes Names Val Austin Sales Associate

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Beazer Homes has appointed Val Austin sales associate in the Orlando region.

David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes Florida in the Orlando area, said Austin has more than eight years of experience in real estate sales and sales management.

Austin formerly served as a sales associate and sales manager at Taylor-Morrison Homes and Wyndham Worldwide Resort at Lake Buena Vista.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Office Leases in South Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new office lease for 1,830 square feet in the South Park Business Center, an office/warehouse development located at 8600 Commodity Circle in south Orlando.

Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction on behalf of landlord, South Park, LLC of Miami. The tenant, Orlando-based Sunshine Limousine and Sedan Service was represented by Charles Hwang of Global Properties.

Kelley also negotiated a new office lease in Orlando Central Park, 6900 South Orange Blossom Trail, representing the landlord Rene Mestdagh Revocable Trust of Orlando. The new tenant, Roman Realty, LLC leased 380 square feet.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest in Orlando, serving 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 350 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.

Ryland Homes Opens Waterstone Falls near Windermere Golf Course in Cumming in Forsyth County

ATLANTA, Ga. --- Ryland Homes recently opened a new model home at Waterstone Falls, a new gated community located off Trammel Road two miles east of GA-400 and GA-20 near the Windermere Golf Course in Cumming in Forsyth County, Ga.

Bill Carter, vice president of sales and marketing at Ryland Homes in the Atlanta region, said the two-story Albany “B” model home offers five bedrooms and four baths in 3,758 square feet of living space with a two-car garage, priced from $338,900.

Altogether, Ryland plans to build 80 single family homes at Waterstone Falls from Ryland’s Georgian and Masters Collection designs with side entry garages and brick exteriors on oversized home sites.

Three, four and five bedroom homes at Waterstone Falls priced from the low $300s range in size from 2,515 square feet of living space to 5,155 square feet.

Carter said a 2.5 acre community center at Waterstone Falls will include a resort style swimming pool, cabana, two tennis courts and children’s playground.

For more information, visit www.ryland.com

NAI Realvest Negotiates $6 Million Purchase of 5.44 Acre Beachfront Development Site in Daytona Beach by Toronto Investment Firm

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the purchase of a 5.44 acre beachfront development site at 801-905 S. Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach for $6,000,000.

Chris Butera associate at NAI Realvest in Maitland, negotiated the sale representing the buyer Toronto-based Bayshore Capital. The seller is Regions Bank of Birmingham, Ala.

The site is comprised of four separate lots and three former beachfront motels that AJ Daytona Developers acquired for $26 million in 2004 and combined into a single parcel for development of a luxury hotel before Regions foreclosed in 2009

Located in the core Daytona Beach tourist area, the site ranks as the largest and highest-priced oceanfront parcel to sell in all of Daytona Beach in recent years.

“Bayshore Group has been acquiring strategic development sites in the Daytona Beach area for several months,” Butera said. “They were a perfect match for this site.”

Since last August, Bayshore Group has spent more than $14 million to acquire beachfront sites in Daytona Beach that total more than 12 acres in four separate transactions.

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 350 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.

Beazer Homes starts construction of final town home building at Heritage Commons in Seminole County

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Beazer Homes has started construction of the final building at Heritage Commons, located off Dodd Rd. two miles west of the Highway 417 exit at Red Bug Lake Rd. in Seminole County.

David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes in Florida, said eight three and four bedroom town homes will be available in the final building.

Town homes are priced from $119,990 and range in size from 1,313 square feet of living space to 1,784 square feet.

Byrnes added that there are 13 town homes available now in the community.

Heritage Commons features a community swimming pool and cabana and a children's playground.

Beazer Homes is one of the country’s 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 17 states. Headquartered in Atlanta, Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BZH.”

Henin Signature Homes to Host Realtor Showcase June 16 at Riviera Bella in DeBary

DeBary, Fla. --- Henin Signature Homes will host a Realtor Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. on June 16 to showcase the Turino model home at Riviera Bella, the luxury community Henin Group is developing on the St. Johns River in DeBary.

Jerome Henin, founder and president of the Henin Group, said he plans to unveil the new decorated Turino model home at that time.

The five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath luxury home offers 3,577 square feet with a two-car garage priced from $282,000 on the water.

Henin said Henin Signature Homes will host a public grand opening to showcase the Turino model on Saturday June 18 with refreshments and prizes.