Featured Article:

Green on Parade

New Sarasota, Florida Community Marches to the Beat of Energy-Efficiency

The Cottages of Callista Village are being built by Sarasota-based Tivoli Homes, which has been building custom and production homes in the area for over three decades.

All 21 homes to be built in the project will be certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition, thanks to a generous list of energy-efficient features and building methods. Energy Star appliances, low VOC interior paint, solar hot water and a foam insulated sealed attic (to maximize HVAC efficiency) are all part of the package.

And while these Key West-style homes may look laid back, they're built as tough as nails for ultimate hurricane resistance. Exterior concrete block walls, metal stud interior framing, hurricane-rated windows (no storm shutters needed), a metal roof, and wind resistant HardiePlank® lap siding will enable homeowners to withstand just about any category storm Mother Nature decides to dish out.

Moisture Prevention with HardieWrap™

For added moisture resistance, every home will also feature HardieWrap™ weather barrier, according to Jim Clarke, Sales Manager for the Cottages of Callista Village. "I think that's a good feature, especially down here where we have driving rain." Clarke even keeps a sample of HardieWrap house wrap handy so prospective buyers can actually see and feel the extra layer of protection—and quality—that goes on every home.

The homes' HardiePlank lap siding with ColorPlus® technology is also an easy sell in these parts. People appreciate the 15-year paint finish warranty first and foremost, and recognize the benefit of a low maintenance exterior material made from fiber cement. Homes come equipped with HardieSoffit® for a complete exterior solution.

Clarke says James Hardie's ColorPlus product was competitively priced when compared to what it would cost to stucco and paint the homes. He reports that the response to the Hardie material has been positive. "Nobody has said to me 'I'd really rather have a stucco house'." In fact, he credits the HardiePlank siding material for helping to create a sense of continuity in the neighborhood.

Exceptional Turnout

The model home at Callista Village recently participated in Sarasota's annual Parade of Homes, and the attention it received was tremendous, Clarke says. The green neighborhood brought in "more traffic than I've ever seen in the Parade of Homes." Thanks to great publicity and attendance, about 5 cottages in Callista Village are already in various stages of the sales process. "We're doing pretty good in such a short period of time."

Three models are being offered at The Cottage of Callista Village. Homes range from 1,691 to 1,975 square feet, with prices starting at $250,000.