In Jac Shacter’s office, it’s not uncommon to see a dog or a few children running around as he collaborates with his parents and co-workers, David and Melody Shacter.
Jac is vice president of operations for TerraWise Homes, a Springfield-based homebuilder where three generations of Shacter’s family specialize in construction of energy-efficient residences designed to conform visually and contextually within historic neighborhoods.
TerraWise operates out of a 109-year-old Springfield home after which it models some of its designs. Other models include midcentury modern styles for neighborhoods such as Arlington.
A dozen years ago, David created TerraWise Homes with a goal of creating carbon-neutral houses in Springfield and other historic Jacksonville neighborhoods.
In 2025, it’s almost Jac’s turn at the wheel.
David, 67, and Melody, 66, are ready to step away from full-time employment and into a full-time role as grandparents. When Jac earns his contractor’s license in 18 to 24 months, it will be the younger generation’s chance to fully run the company that he already knows well.
“Jac knows how to do it all. He doesn’t need me here,” David said.
“He needs me here because he needs help. But he doesn’t need me here for the knowledge.”
About TerraWise
TerraWise acquires lots around Jacksonville, the vast majority in Springfield, and designs the homes it builds. The company offers buyers the chance to make modifications to their models.
TerraWise serves as the general contractor, distributing the work through subcontractors. And it sells the homes itself.
David started TerraWise in 2013 after decades of experience in the homebuilding industry. He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in arts and architecture, and went to work for a developer.
After some time there, David started his own company, Harmony Homes, and sold that to Kentucky-based Drees Homes, which builds homes around the country.
After waiting for a noncompete clause in the sale of his company to expire, David returned to work.
In June 2025, the Jacksonville City Council approved a rezoning request to allow TerraWise’s plans to renovate a 120-year-old residence as offices and build a model home next door.
TerraWise, headquartered at 1334 Walnut St. in Springfield, plans an adaptive reuse of a home at 36 W. Sixth St. to use as offices. On the lot next door, the company plans to build a model home in the style of its Grand Sweetwater residence.
“We love Springfield,” David said. “We hope Springfield at least likes us.”
TerraWise’s mission supports neighborhood revitalization by providing infill homes with modern amenities and conforming designs.
The company has built several homes next to lots with abandoned properties. TerraWise’s Sixth Street office is next to a house with overgrown weeds and several signs on the door, at least one reading “CONDEMNED.”
But TerraWise’s houses offer a new, efficient match to the classic style of older Springfield homes, many of which were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
All new homes are built to be energy efficient and meet modern building codes.
TerraWise homes are framed with 2-by-6 studs instead of 2-by-4s, allowing for heavy insulation in the walls, and modern windows that conform to historic standards but reduce energy loss in the form of heat and cooling. The company also employs modern, energy-efficient technology in the homes’ electrical systems.
Prices average about $500,000. The Shacters say customers receive such returns on their investment as lower utility bills, comfort and satisfaction in reducing their carbon footprint.
The second generation
Jac has seen most of TerraWise’s more than 140 homes go up.
He wasn’t initially planning on following his parents into the business, but after encountering issues transferring from Jacksonville University to Florida State College at Jacksonville, he ended up looking for work.
Melody said she and David gave Jac an ultimatum that if he wasn’t attending school full-time, he was working full-time.
Jac reluctantly showed up to the TerraWise office at 8 a.m. the next Monday.
He has since worked just about every job at the company. He started by cleaning up job sites, then moved to estimating quantity and costs of construction materials for homes in progress.
Jac was a salesperson for a while, then became director of operations. Now, he serves as vice president of operations on his way to advancing to David’s role as president.
“Over time, he has grown into all these positions, so he knows how to run the whole thing,” David said.
The three Shacters work together in a style that reflects their family ties. It’s not unusual to hear them cut each other off without much need for apology,
Jac and David will, in their own words, geek out about the technology they’re putting into homes. They can talk for hours about the specific technology in water heaters, the benefits of having one air conditioning system instead of two and the return on investment of solar panels over the years.
“We’re passionate about building energy-efficient homes,” David said.
“We feel building energy-efficient homes is not just good for the customers’ wallet over the long term, but it’s also good for the environment.”
More in pipeline
When David and Melody are fully done with their time at TerraWise and Jac takes over, the pipeline may still keep going. A small cohort of grandchildren could be next in line to take over the family business.
Visit TerraWise’s website, and you’ll see Jac’s son, Helios, listed as “office helper” and pictured at a desk looking at a computer.
Just as talk about the family business dominated conversation at the dinner table when Jac was growing up, so might Jac and his wife, Dakota, do the same in the near future.
“We’ve been family in business for a long time,” David said.
“And now Dakota is going to be part of it, and then their children will be part of it — probably,” Melody said.