Pulte Homes Starts Construction of Vanderbilt Model Home at The Plantation in Fort Myers, Grand Opening slated for late November

Fort Myers, Fla. --- Pulte Homes has started construction of the magnificent new Vanderbilt model home at The Plantation golf course community located off Treeline Avenue just north of Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing at Pulte Homes in southwest Florida, said the three-bedroom, plus den, two-bath Vanderbilt model – which is planned for a late November grand opening – offers 1,911 square feet of living space priced from $270,490 with a two-car garage. The new Vanderbilt at The Plantation is stocked with consumer-inspired features including 12-foot coffered ceilings and granite kitchen countertops plus optional designer upgrades such as outdoor kitchen, custom pool, wine refrigerator and expanded walk-in owner’s suite shower that allows customers to personalize their new home. The Plantation features an 18-Hole Hurdzan-Fry Championship golf course, the Great House golf clubhouse with a formal restaurant and bar, golf pro shop, billiards and card rooms, the Somerset Hall Amenity Center with a resort pool, spa, tennis courts, and a library.

Ryland Homes Reports Three New Homes Sold after Grand Opening of The Enclave at Ramble Creek in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ryland Homes reported sales of three new homes shortly after its recent weekend grand opening at The Enclave at Ramble Creek located on Whistling Wind Drive in Riverview east of I-75 off Rhodine Road. Mike Finley, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said new three to five-bedroom homes in one and two-story floor plans at The Enclave at Ramble Creek range in size from 1,679 square feet of living space to 2,984 square feet with two and three-car garages. New homes at The Enclave at Ramble Creek are priced from the $180s. Finley said two move-in-ready homes at The Enclave at Ramble Creek will open in October: the three-bedroom Marco B floor plan with 1,908 square feet and the four-bedroom Naples A floor plan with 2,703 square feet. The Ryland Homes sales office at The Enclave at Ramble Creek is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information visit www.Ryland.com.

Ryland Homes hosts Grand Opening of its Florida and Palm Series Homes at Waterstone Lakes in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ryland Homes hosted more than 50 visitors during the recent weekend grand opening and unveiling of two different series of homes at Waterstone Lakes, located at 10406 Waterstone Drive in Riverview east of I-75 and just off the Gibsonton Road exit. Mike Finley, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said Ryland’s new home sales counselor, Sheila Colon, sold one new home during the weekend and previewed many prospective buyers. Since the opening, more sales have followed. Ryland’s Florida and Palm Series homes at Waterstone Lakes offer one and two-story designs with three to six bedrooms in 13 distinctive floor plans. New homes at Waterstone Lakes range in size from 1,853 square feet of living space to 3,500 square feet, Finley said. Five new move-in-ready homes at Waterstone Lakes range in size from the single-story Marco C floor plan with three bedrooms, two full baths and a half-bath in 1,908 square feet to the two-story Siesta floor plan with five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths in 3,154 square feet and a three-car garage. New homes at Waterstone Lakes are priced from the low $200s.

Ryland Homes readying for Fall Grand Opening to showcase three new model homes at Windsor Plantation in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, S.C. --- Ryland Homes is making plans to host a Grand Opening event in September to showcase three new model homes that are nearing completion at Windsor Plantation, located off Dick Pond Rd. (Hwy 544) and Big Block Rd. in Myrtle Beach. Gayle Jinks, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland’s Charleston-Myrtle Beach division, said the new single-story three-bedroom, two-bath designs range in size from 1,409 square feet of living space to 2,174 square feet with a wide choice of exterior elevations and options that can expand the size of the floor plans considerably. The Bellhaven II model home, base priced from $179,000 with 1,409 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, features an open family room, island kitchen and dining nook with vaulted ceilings and when it opens will be showcased with 2,106 square feet including optional sunroom and bonus room The Litchfield II model home, priced from $193,000 with 1,768 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, features an open family living area that totals more than 700 square feet and includes an island kitchen, family room, dining room, breakfast nook and screened lanai that are perfect for family gatherings or social occasions. The Litchfield II model opening will include an optional bonus room with bath and will total 2,092 square feet Barrett II model, priced from $240,000 with 2,174 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, is designed for social occasions with more than 800 square feet of open family living space that includes a huge vaulted family room, center island kitchen with breakfast nook, and formal dining room with tray ceiling. The optional elevation featured on this model increases the home’s square footage slightly up to 2,191 square feet.

Lennar has only 16 Coach Homes Remain for Sale at Emerson Square in the Heart of Fort Myers near Estero

Fort Myers, Fla. --- Lennar Homes has only 16 coach homes remaining for sale in the final phase at Emerson Square located on Hidden Gateway Blvd. off U.S. 41 just south of Alico Road in the heart of Fort Myers near Estero. Matt Devereaux, director of sales and marketing for Lennar Homes in southwest Florida, said new three-bedroom, two-bath coach homes at Emerson Square are priced from $181,990. New coach homes at Emerson Square range in size from 1,883 square feet of living space to 2,099 square feet with two-car garages. “Emerson Square coach homes are some of the most spacious in southwest Florida,” Devereaux explained. “With our low pricing, this final phase is the last chance home buyers will have to choose a home in a gated community the heart of Fort Myers,” Devereaux said. Each coach home at Emerson Square boasts three bedrooms, two full baths, a breakfast nook, a dining room, a spacious living room that’s big enough for entertaining and a master suite with his and hers walk-in closets. Lennar coach homes at Emerson Square come with the homebuilder’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: Extras such as granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile are all included in the Lennar Homes price. Emerson Square features a community center with a clubhouse, swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness facility and playground, with lush tropical landscaping throughout. Visit www.lennar.com.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Retail Lease at Aloma Square Shopping Center in Winter Park

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 3,200 square feet of retail space in Aloma Square Shopping Center at 6700-6864 Aloma Avenue in Winter Park. NAI Realvest Associate Mitch Heidrich negotiated the lease representing the local tenant Debarco Inc. Cheri Hendricks-Kelly of Noble Management Company represented the landlord, Hart Properties II, Ltd of Palm Beach Gardens.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease Renewal at The Citadel III in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed a lease renewal agreement at The Citadel III, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive in southeast Orlando. The NAI Realvest leasing team of Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM, Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor principals at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Citadel Partners, LTD based in Groveland, Fla. The local tenant, DSV Air & Sea Inc. a global transport and logistics firm, signed the lease renewal for suite 690 with 4,102 square feet. NAI Realvest is the leasing and management representative of The Citadel III.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Lease for CPAs in 6,702 Square Feet at CenterPointe II in Altamonte Springs

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 6,702 square feet of office space at Suite 1040 CenterPointe II, 220 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs. Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing the tenant Glickstein Laval & Carris, P.A. certified public accountants. The landlord Emerson Investments International, Inc. was represented by Kenneth Koch.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects complete remodeling projects on two Winn Dixie Supermarkets

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park recently completed the design for remodeling of two Winn Dixie supermarkets. Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson, said the two 35,000 square foot Winn Dixie stores are located in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects completes design of Publix and Walgreens redevelopment in Tampa

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently completed design to redevelop a Publix supermarket and Walgreens drug store at South Village on Dale Mabry in Tampa. The Publix, according to Chairman Lonnie Peterson of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects is 47,000 square feet and the Walgreens totals 13,000 square feet. Construction on both stores will be completed this fall. Regency Centers of Jacksonville is the developer of South Village.

Plasmonics, Inc. to contribute $250,000 to University of Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Plasmonics, Inc., a private technology company that is developing highly sophisticated next-generation infrared sensors and metamaterial surfaces for use in a wide range of electronics devices, announced it will contribute $250,000 in 2013 to support University of Central Florida research efforts. Dr. David Shelton, president of Plasmonics Inc., said UCF has played a critical role in the company’s success. “Collaboration with UCF has been pivotal for us thus far,” Dr. Shelton said. “We regularly consult faculty on a variety of projects working side by side in the on-campus lab facilities.” Besides the cash contribution, Plasmonics is supporting two university PhD candidates as they continue to research and publish findings in their respective fields. “As Plasmonics grows, we plan to continue collaborating with the university and giving back to the institution from which our efforts developed,” he said. Plasmonics is developing tunable infrared metamaterials---engineered composites with unique refractive-index characteristics. Metamaterials with tunable resonances have wide ranging potential for optical devices, modulators, and sensors. Plasmonics is a member of the UCF Business Incubation Program’s Photonics UCF campus site. For more information about Plasmonics Inc. visit www.plasmonics-inc.com/.

Ashton Woods Homes names Alex Robertson sales manager in Sarasota region

MAITLAND, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has named Alex Robertson sales manager for its communities in the Sarasota region. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes, said Robertson is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa and has more than nine years of new home sales experience. Ashton Woods Homes is now active in three communities in the Sarasota region.

Ashton Woods Homes Starts Presales at Whitaker Park in Sarasota County

SARASOTA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes started presales at its newest community of Whitaker Park located off Richardson Road in Sarasota County. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing said Ashton Woods Homes is building three, four and five bedroom single-family homes at Whitaker Park that range from 1,703 square feet of living area to 3,400 square feet. Roche said Ashton Woods Homes plans to build 79 homes at Whitaker Park priced from the $267,990.

First Green Bank’s New Winter Park Branch Donates Reusable Commercial Fixtures to Habitat for Humanity

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Somewhere a hip new boutique, a charitable thrift store or a creative hair salon is going to find its future at Habitat for Humanity. First Green Bank, which ranks as one of the nation’s greenest banks according to the American Bankers Association, recently donated high-quality interior fixtures, cabinets, retail display shelves and granite counters valued at $2,200 to Habitat for Humanity for resale and reuse in Habitat for Humanity ReUse Stores in Florida. Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer at First Green Bank, said the sleek designer cabinetry was high tech in its day---at the iconic Absolute Sound store in swanky Winter Park. Now, the furnishings can find a new life as late-1980s retro---at a very affordable price for a creative entrepreneur. “This is one of the reasons I’m so proud of First Green Bank,” LaRoe said. “From day one, the remodeling design of our new Winter Park location included plans to recycle, reuse and restore existing resources---that is the most conservative approach to expansion. LaRoe said the bank’s “green” values are part of its core mission, and Habitat for Humanity is one of the bank’s favorite beneficiaries. “Someone gave a lot of thought to the design and construction of those fixtures,” LaRoe said. “They cost a lot when they were new. They consume a lot of energy in their construction, transportation, materials and assembly. Our mission is to maximize the value of those things, even used retail cabinets,” he said. Habitat for Humanity accepts donated construction materials, architectural features and building supplies for resale at all of its ReUse Stores throughout Florida, including Orlando, Sanford, Leesburg, Eustis, Groveland, and Wildwood locations. First Green Bank expects to open its new “green” Winter Park branch in early Spring 2014, LaRoe said.

Ashton Wood Homes Starts Construction of Two Urban Loft Models at Laureate Park in Lake Nona Area

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has started construction of two model homes in the urban loft design the homebuilder recently introduced at Laureate Park located off Narcoossee Rd. in the Lake Nona area of Southeast Orlando. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said the new two-story urban loft floor plans feature three bedrooms with two-and-a-half baths and range from 1,703 square feet of living area to 3,400 square feet. Ashton Woods’ urban loft homes at Laureate Park are priced from $244,990 to $268,990. The two models underway will be completed, decorated and ready for viewing the second week of September, Roche said. Ashton Woods Homes has released 20 new homesites for urban loft homes at Laureate Park. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com.