by Michael Bonts
Special To Realty-Builder Connection
Let the Parade begin.
And with that A.F. Alan Custom Homes became the first entry in the 2002 Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
“Every year the Parade brings together the finest builders in the area. It’s truly a showcase of the talent, creativity and energy contained in members of the Association,” said Geri Kotz, 2002 Parade of Homes chairman.
No stranger to the Parade, A.F. Alan Custom Homes President Alan Fixel has been a NEFBA member since 1983. He has built over 600 homes and developed over 700 lots and, with an eye on growth, builds about 60 homes a year at this time.
Fixel has won 13 Northeast Florida Builders Association Parade of Homes awards.
“At the time I was growing up in the industry, there were no major national builders in Jacksonville. Only local builders, like my father, who built 40 or so homes in 15 years. These men worked the trade because they loved what they did. And that is the kind of builder I wanted to become,” said Fixel.
Fixel said a small local builder couldn’t really compete with national builders in price.
“But, the high quality of workmanship, and the opportunity to individually customize homes and plans far outweigh any pricing advantage a chain builder can offer,” he adds.
Fixel has entered two homes in the 2002 Parade of Homes which runs from May 4 through May 26. Each displays his range, versatility and personal touch.
“My clients want spacious rooms, starting with the master bedroom,” said Fixel. “They want a large bedroom with a sitting area, with a fireplace and walk-in closets.”
The “Wakefield 2001” is a four-bedroom, three-bath, 2,744-square foot home priced at $289,900. The Wakefield is in Lois Estates.
Fixel is the first builder to develop secured, gated communities on the Northside. He announced last year construction on the first of three phases of Lois Estates, a 70-acre, 130-lot community next door to another Fixel community, Lydia Estates.
Lois Estates, named in memory of Fixel’s mother, is not a cookie-cutter development. Fixel is personally involved in every aspect of each home’s construction.
“I check the construction progress making sure everything is going smoothly,” Fixel said, “I visit each job site and schedule and supervise every step of the building process.”
Queen “Vickie” Seymore has been his sales manager for 8 years and has contributed greatly to the success of the company. On-site supervisor Karl Brust has been with the company for almost a decade.
Fixel’s second entry in the Parade is in Marsh Landing. The “Jacob 2000” features stunning columns and architectural detail synonymous with the builder and has a special place in Fixel’s heart.
The home is named after his father, the late Jacob “Jerry” Fixel, founder of Fixel Construction, Inc.
The Fixel legacy of fine home building has been handed down from generation to generation. Alan Fixel learned a great deal from his father and his great-grandfather, a framer and carpenter in Brooklyn.
He began working with his dad on weekends through junior and senior high school. After college at the University of Miami, a stint at teaching and finishing graduate school, he returned to the construction industry in the early 1980’s.
As a Parade veteran, Fixel offered some insight into what Parade goers are likely to see this year.
“Interior architectural details include 12 inches of crown molding in major living areas, such as the family room, kitchen, formal dining room and master suite,” said Fixel.
Door features and casings are also more detailed. Ceilings are high, anywhere from 12 to 28 feet. Doors are taller, too. The average door is now eight feet.
“The Parade is an exciting time for builders, too,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us as an industry to showcase the kinds of homes that are being offered in Northeast Florida.”