A thousand or so at the Realtor-Builder Luncheon. Almost that many at the NEFBA Gala. Looks like times are good again, or maybe we all just want to get together.
Good shows at both places last month. Even the barn-like atmosphere of the Jacksonville convention center didn’t dull the luncheon, and the distance that folks have to take to the Shrine Center didn’t stop the builders.
The benefit of having good events like these are obvious. These two professions offer little enough time for getting together; in fact, the mere dynamics of selling real estate and building homes tend to fragmentize (is that a word?) rather than pull people together.
Thus, it is incumbent on associations to do what they can to create opportunities and the builders association did an outstanding job last month. Its SMC subsidiary continues to prove that it’s the best group in this area - and our company covers a lot of such groups - with the trade show and luncheon. And the main office makes the gala a very pleasant way to spend an evening with almost a thousand of your pals.
Now come the annual meetings. St. Augustine installs its officers this month and the other associations follow.
Fun times.
***
Might watch what’s happening in South Georgia.
The Sea Island Company is getting frisky. For decades, they’ve sat on their tremendous real estate holdings and their only real public face has been the wonderful Cloisters Hotel.
The new generation is making big moves. The Cloister’s main building will be completely renovated - that’s probably sacrilege to some - and major building projects have elevated the once-cozy family retreat to a major resort.
They’ve brought their two main golf courses up to world-class standard and have built a 40-room Lodge which serves as the clubhouse. It’s been open two years - it’s received five Mobil stars and five AAA diamonds both years.
But the real estate is what you want to hear about.
They’re building a fifth golf course on the island with 375 homesites. Those probably are gone by now, even at a million bucks or so, but a lot more remains. The company owns a tremendous amount of land in South Georgia - for instance, it’s estimated they have 31 miles of coastline, either ocean or inland waterways.
They’re making big moves in their Sea Island/St. Simons Island base. When they pull the trigger on developing what’s between them and us, there will be a lot of good land on the market.
- Fred Seely is the editor of Realty/Builder Connection and editorial director
of Bailey Publishing & Communications In. He can be reached at [email protected].