In an industry that often changes ownership and names, the name Dostie has been consistent in Northeast Florida for 60 years.
On April 28, Dostie Homes celebrated 60 years of local homebuilding under the Dostie name.
The third-generation company marked this longevity milestone at its model home in The Ranch at Twenty Mile in Nocatee.
As part of the celebration, Dostie gave away a $60,000 pool package in partnership with Pools by John Clarkson.
The Dostie family holds the distinction as the longest continuously active local homebuilding company in Jacksonville.
“There are so many people to thank when considering this company milestone, but like any business, we couldn’t be here today without our customers,” Dostie Homes President Chris Dostie said. “This pool prize package is our way of recognizing how important the customer is to our success.”
The Dostie homebuilding tradition began in 1958 when J. Rene Dostie moved his family from Ontario, Canada, to Jacksonville.
No longer interested in enduring harsh Canadian winters, Dostie was persuaded to move here by family members living in the area and who saw an opportunity to build homes here.
J. Rene and his wife, Doris, had been building homes in Canada. A warmer climate, a growing community and a need for affordable housing seemed like the kind of environment to grow a local business.
In 1974, J. Rene’s oldest son, Richard, took over from his father as the second generation to lead the family homebuilding business, and Richard R. Dostie New Home Collection was born.
Richard continued to grow the company and build homes as the economy thrived, starting in North Jacksonville.
Over the years, the Richard R. Dostie New Home Collection expanded to Timberland Parc, Eagle Harbor, Woodlands at Ponte Vedra, Julington Creek Plantation and Palencia.
Richard Dostie served as president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association in 1988, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost leaders in the local homebuilding industry.
In 2010, two of Richard’s sone, Chris and Rick Dostie, were poised to take on the Dostie Homes brand.
“It is an honor to continue the legacy that our father and grandfather started in Northeast Florida so many years ago,” said Rick Dostie.
The brothers have expanded the Dostie Homes presence to neighborhoods in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia including Pablo Creek Reserve, Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club, Palencia, The Forest at Las Calinas, Nocatee and more. The three generations of the Dostie homebuilding family have built thousands of homes throughout Northeast Florida in the last six decades.
In January, Chris Dostie was sworn in as the President of NEFBA, becoming the organization’s first second-generation leader.