Builders have broken ground on the first of six new model homes at Markland, Hines’ master-planned community in St. Johns County.
Markland’s builders are Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Cottage Home Co., Riverside Homes, Providence Homes, Drees Homes and Dream Finders Homes.
Initial pricing will range from the $300,000s to over $600,000.
The model homes will open in March. The first offering of inventory homes will be completed in the second quarter.
Markland’s design will pay homage to the 19th-century classic architectural styles of the grand homes of St. Augustine. The Markland Manor House amenity center will be designed in a classic, Greek Revival style, with formal gardens that connect to a network of trails and parks.
Markland’s amenities will include a zero-entry pool, cabanas and pergolas, a fitness center and yoga studio, tennis courts and an explorer dome playground.
Jacksonville-based LandSouth Construction announced Rob Vergnolle, vice president of operations, and Tyler Edenfield, assistant field superintendent, are co-winners of the firm’s 2015 Diamond Award.
The award is voted on by the employees based on which colleagues best represent the company’s core values.
Vergnolle supports the project management team to ensure each project meets its goal. He also manages the company’s client relationships. He has more than 20 years of construction experience.
Edenfield’s duties include organizing and supervising a field office, reviewing construction progress and updating the construction schedule in real time and communicating with subcontractors.
Davidson Realty Inc. hosted two Peak Producers training sessions in February aimed at driving production and sales.
Peak Producers is a 16-week training course created by Buffini & Co., the largest real estate coaching and training company in North America.
The program focuses on increasing production through negotiating and sales skills, lead generation and overall customer service.
The program was facilitated by Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson and a Buffini & Co. certified mentor.
Peak Producers has created marked increases in agent production for those who have completed the training.
According to Buffini & Co., agents average 12 transactions during the program and generate nearly $100,000 in income. The program had been delivered to more than 40,000 agents nationwide.
Davidson has been offering the program to its agents since 2012.
The firm also hosts regular wine and cheese events to provide information to professionals interested in a career with Davidson Realty.
The American Institute of Architects Jacksonville Chapter welcomed its 2016 board of directors at the chapter’s annual board installation in January.
They are:
• President: Tyler Curl of Reynolds, Smith & Hill
• President-elect: Christopher Allen of Haskell
• Treasurer: Jennifer Suharmadji of Stellar Group Inc.
• Secretary: Michael Compton of Reynolds, Smith & Hill
• Chapter directors: Patrick Kern of Reynolds, Smith & Hill; Skip Yauger of Gresham, Smith and Partners; and John Allmand of JAA Architecture Inc .
• State director: Tony Lamell of Stellar Group Inc.
AIA Jacksonville represents and serves over 800 individual member architects, associates and allied design professionals who are working in fields allied to architecture.
Davidson Realty Inc. hosted its 15th annual awards celebration in January at Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.
More than 20 agents and employees took home annual awards for production, sales and service. They include:
• Suzy Evans: sales agent and closing agent of the year
• Mirtha Barzaga: listing and closing agent
• Jock and Leah Ochiltree: closing team
• Amanda Houser: Rookie of the Year
• Cindy Vaughn, human resources/accounting manager: President’s Award
• Delores Alexander, receptionist: MVP Award
Also, these eight agents earned awards for selling $3 million or more in 2015 were: Amy Anderson, Pauline Cake, Shelley Nemethy, Ben English, Ted Tyndall, Maxine Levy, Joanne Samuelson and Ana Speziale.
The Palazzo on St. Johns celebrated the grand opening in January of its sales gallery and model condominiums.
The Palazzo is a waterfront condominium community located at Baymeadows Road and San Jose Boulevard.
Three-bedroom homes start in the low $400,000s and include up to 1,988 square feet of living space. Four-bedroom homes start at $439,900 and include up to 2,500 square feet.
Features include private elevator landing for each residence, hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings and large terraces with sweeping views of waterways and a wildlife preserve.
The Palazzo will have 72 three-and four-bedroom waterfront residences among four buildings. Phase two is finished and phase three is underway, with an expected completion by fall.
Sales and marketing activities for the community are managed by The Condo Group, powered by Re/Max Watermarke.
Shearwater, the new master-planned residential community on County Road 210 in St. Johns County, celebrated its grand opening Jan. 30.
The celebration featured food trucks and a variety of children’s activities.
It was the first opportunity for the public to tour Shearwater’s model homes. Homebuilders include David Weekley Homes, Lennar, Richmond American Homes and MasterCraft Builder Group.
The 1,500-acre Shearwater community features over 600 acres of preserved natural habitat punctuated by a collection of parks, ponds, playgrounds and lakes designed for outdoor enthusiasts.
A kayak and canoe launch will provide direct access to Trout Creek and the beautiful St. Johns River.
The community’s amenity center will include a 7,200 square-foot fitness lodge, Har-Tru clay tennis courts, resort-style lagoon and lap pools, lazy river and a variety of playfields.
A Kayak Club will provide 6,800 square feet of recreation space with gathering areas and event venues for community activities.
The Bluffs on Plummers Cove, a riverfront community in Mandarin, is open for sales.
Located atop an elevated bluff on the east bank of the St. Johns River, the development offers 21 executive home sites and priced from the mid-$400,000s to $1.6 million. Three homes are riverfront sites with private docks.
Elacora opened Windward, its first model for the community, furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group.
In all, six single-family home plans are being offered, four of which were designed specifically for The Bluffs.
The homes range from 2,200 to more than 4,000 square feet. The open floorplans feature gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.
All homes are designed with tile roofs and paver driveways.
The Bluffs on Plummers Cove is located on Scott Mill Road, just north of the Interstate 295 overpass.
The sales center is at 2767 Chapman Oak Drive.
Toll Brothers introduced a new home design at Coastal Oaks at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra.
The 2,675-square-foot Captiva is priced from $386,995 and features an open floor plan with three bedrooms and two-and-one-half bathrooms.
The home has a grand foyer that provides access to a private study enclosed by double French doors.
A gourmet kitchen features a large center island leading to the home’s great room and dining area.
Additional highlights include a covered lanai and a three-car tandem garage.
The home design also features an optional second floor with a bonus loft and bedroom and bath.
A 3,383-square-foot, quick delivery Captiva Renaissance is available now.
Priced at $525,900, the two-story home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a first-floor master bedroom suite that is highlighted by an expanded bath.
Coastal Oaks at Nocatee offers resort-style swimming pools and a 6,500-square-foot clubhouse with a catering kitchen and fully equipped fitness center.