by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Howard White gave his company a big 25th birthday party: he invited 300 or so and he gave them an advance look at his $1.6 million creation.
White and his North Florida Builders team threw a big party at the World Golf Village to show off the Symphony Showhouse, which now is open to the public as a fundraiser for the Jacksonville Symphony.
“It’s our ways of thanking a lot of people,” said White, who soon found out that he was the object for thank-yous. His paster, Chris Bullington of the Glendale Community Church, read a lengthy declaration of White’s qualities, and North Florida marketing director Linda Mathis presented a scrapbook of well-wishes from employees and friends.
“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 25 years,” said White. “We’ve built 1,700 homes” and, then, with a laugh — “I think all of them are still standing.”
At the occasion was the first and last purchasers: Ed Hebert bought a home in Fruit Cove 25 years ago and, just the day before the gathering, Christine Haithcock and her husband bought one in the Plantation Oaks subdivision.
His latest sale should be later this month as the $1.6 million Showhouse goes on the market, though White indicated that he might already have a buyer in his pocket.
Will he get $1.6 million for the 5,672 square foot home which overlooks the first fairway at the King and Bear course?
“The house next door sold for $1.4 million and this one is better,” he answered. (Incidentally, if you like the house but prefer Duval County, there’s another “Valencia” model at Glen Kernan that’s on the market for $1.5 million.)