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Charity gets a home
By MELANIE AVE © St. Petersburg Times, published April 1, 2001 TAMPA PALMS -- There are model homes and show homes and speculation homes. But have you ever heard of a charity home? Developers of Turnbury Wood's newest house under construction have benevolent plans for the 9,500-square-foot sweeping Mediterranean structure, worth about $3-million and situated on a spacious 14 acres. M.L. Development Co. and Fechtel Co. initially plan to use the home as a place for charities to hold special events such as galas to raise money for their philanthropic efforts. The goal is to bring attention to the charities, the house and Turnbury Wood, said Jay Fechtel, president of Fechtel Co., which designed the house for M.L. Development. "We wanted to do something different with this home," he said. "Usually what a charity needs is a good reason and a nice draw to get people to come. It's nice to offer something more than "just come have dinner.' " Fechtel said he thinks the home will provide the added enticement to attract crowds to the charity events with its courtyard, open-floor layout and Italian-influenced features. The developers are working out the details of the charity home, but they plan to hold three to four fundraising events between the end of the year and next spring. The charities have not been determined. The home would be free for the charities' use. But the benevolent use is just temporary. Eventually, the home will either be sold or occupied by Scott Luttrell of M.L. Development, Fechtel said. Turnbury Wood is one of Tampa Palms newest and most exclusive subdivisions. Off Amberly Drive, the heavily wooded gated subdivision has five lots ranging in size from six acres to 15 acres. So far, only one home has been built there -- a 10,000-square-foot, two-story house belonging to Jacek Lagowski. The home, which has an assessed value of $1.2-million, was completed in 1999. The charity house, which is being constructed on two of the lots, should be completed by the end of the year, Fechtel said. The remaining two lots are for sale and have an assessed value of about $300,000 each. Development on the subdivision began in 1997. Originally, Turnbury Wood was conceived as a traditional subdivision with 14 lots. But the developers revamped plans for the subdivision and reduced the number of lots because of the numerous trees and wetlands there. With all the conservation areas, Fechtel said, "it was hard for people to see how it would be developed," Fechtel said.
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From the Times |
