Staff
It's the biggest new housing event in the region, and a chance for homebuilders to strut their stuff for the benefit of buyers—and would-be buyers—from across Northeast Florida. It's the annual Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
The 2005 edition—which was the 51st, if you're counting—featured 80 homes spread across four counties, with prices ranging from $97,000 to $2.7 million. Homes were divided into 21 categories for judging, then evaluated by 22 industry experts from around the country.
When the dust settled—literally in some cases, as builders rushed to finish their entries prior to the event's opening on May 14—the judges had declared winners and runners-up in all 21 categories.
The group—which included builders, developers, designers, engineers and industry writers—examined criteria ranging from the obvious (curb appeal) to the esoteric (appropriate use of materials, traffic flow, color coordination) in their deliberations.
Gold Medal and Silver Medal winners were announced at a banquet in June. But according to Thompson Taylor, NEFBA's staff director of the event, every builder benefited from the excitement—and the traffic—generated by the parade.
"The entries represent every style and in every price range," says Taylor. "It's a way for builders to showcase their best work."
Bryan Lendry, president of NEFBA, notes that consumers love the event as well.
"The Parade of Homes is the best possible resource for anyone thinking about buying a new home," says Lendry. "Jacksonville housing remains among the most affordable in the nation, and buyers at all price points reap the benefit of our robust market."
For homebuyers who want to visit the best of the best, winners of this year's Parade of Homes are listed below:
Category 1 $97,900 - $114,500Gold
D. R. Horton
The Willow at Nature's Hideaway
Silver
Diamond H. Construction
The Santa Fe at The Colony at San Jose
Category 2 $155,500 - $165,000
Gold
Vestcor Communities
The Cambridge at The Cottages at OakLeaf
Silver
Watson Custom Home Builders
The Braemar at Plantation Village
Category 3 $180,700 - 190,000
Gold
Beazer Homes
The Diamond at Stonefield at Bartram Park
Silver
Harmony Homes
The Aria at Morse Glen
Category 4 $200,990 - $225,500
Gold
Standard Pacific
The Navigator at Stone Creek
Silver
Classic American Homes
The Cumberland at Cherokee Cove
Category 5 $235,000 - $242,400
Gold
Morrison Homes
The Yorkshire at Litchfield at OakLeaf Plantation
Silver
Centex Homes
The Savannah at Lake Ridge South Paired Villas at Fleming Island Plantation
Category 6 $250,300 - 257,100
Gold
Watson Custom Home Builders
The Coventry at Meadowfield Bluff
Silver
Providence Homes
The Tavanier B at Victoria Lakes
Category 7 $263,000 - 282,300
Gold
Engle Homes
The Sapphire at Silver Creek
Silver
Ryland Homes
The Fleming at Bartram Springs
Category 8 $283,200 - 300,100
Gold
D. R. Horton
The Monarch at Eagles Hammock
Silver
Morrison Homes
The Brookwood II at North Hampton
Category 9 $302,900 - $319,900
Gold
SEDA Construction Company
The Chesterfield II B at Old Plank Plantation
Silver
SEDA Construction Company
The Copperview II A at Watermill
Category 10 $325,000 - $344,500
Gold
SEDA Construction Company
The Silverview II at Flora Parke
Silver
Treasure Homes
Plan 2593 at Oakwood Plantation
Category 11 $359,600 - $384,000
Gold
Engle Homes
The Captive at Whitfield at OakLeaf Plantation
Silver
Standard Pacific
The Sapphire at Oakbrook at OakLeaf Plantation
Category 12 $410,000 - $439,100
Gold
Centex Homes
The Weaver II at The Links at Fleming Island Plantation
Silver
Panitz Signature Homes
The Key Largo at Oakbrook at OakLeaf Plantation
Category 13 $441,000 - $455,900
Gold
Morrison Homes
The Chamberlain at Bartram Springs
Silver
Beazer Homes
The Sag Harbor at Amelia View
Category 14 $471,000 - $495,000
Gold
David Weekley Homes
The Molvena at St. Johns Forest
Silver
Kicklighter Custom Homes
Plan 3212 at Red's Gait
Category 15 $520,100 - $562,700
Gold
Mercedes Homes
The Santa Barbara at The Oaks at OakLeaf Plantation
Silver
Standard Pacific
The Regent at Oakbrook at OakLeaf Plantation
Category 16 $643,900 - 694,200
Gold
Toll Brothers
The Westin at St. Johns Forest
Silver
Cordele Builders
The Foxcroft at Cimarrone Golf & Country Club
Category 17 $703,800 - $727,000
Gold
Toll Brothers
The Montgomery at Sebastian Square at Palencia
Silver
Coppenbarger Luxury Homes
The Meditierra at Meditierra
Category 18 $825,000 - 895,750
Gold
The Pineapple Corporation
The Tuscan at Villini at Glen Kernan
Silver
Rosewood Homes
The Pinehurst at Eagle Landing
Category 19 $945,000 - $1,000,000
Gold
The Pineapple Corporation
The Country French at Villini at Glen Kernan
Category 20 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000
Gold
Arthur Rutenberg Homes/ Royal Coast Builders
The Calais II at Queens Harbour
Category 21 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000
Gold
McGarvey Doerer Custom Homes
The Blue Heron at Sea Colony
Best Concrete Block Home
Arthur Rutenberg Homes / Royal Coast Builders
The Calais II at Queens Harbour