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Cornerstone Fine Homes, LLC
PARADE ROUTE Amarillo’s Parade of Homes Returns for 2022
W
hen Chance Beasley was in junior high, he always loved the Parade of Homes™ in Amarillo. “My family looked forward to it every year,” he says. “I thought it was so much fun.” Today, he’s the owner of Cornerstone Fine Homes and the president of the Board of Directors of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association (TPBA), the group that represents members of the building industry and organizes the annual Parade of Homes. This event showcases builders, new construction, and some of the newest neighborhoods being developed in and around the city. According to J.T. Laramore, TPBA Executive Officer, this year’s Parade features 16 homes across a variety of price levels, from entrylevel homes to million-dollar residences, from traditional construction to innovative barndominiums. Tickets for the two-weekend event—homes are available to tour May 12-15 and May 19-22—are $12 a person, and children younger than 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at United Supermarkets and Pak-A-Sak locations, as well as online at amarilloparadeofhomes.com.
A Taste of What’s New
While the local real estate market has been booming in recent months, Laramore knows most Parade attendees won’t necessarily be in the market for a new home. They just want to get a taste of what’s
new in home construction. “On the consumer side, most just want to see the modern trends, the new color schemes for the year, or what flooring options or roofing materials are out there,” he says. “It’s one thing to go to a trade show and see a sample board. To see it in a 3,000-square-foot home is something else entirely.” Many of this year’s homes will be staged with artwork and other decór. A few others will just barely have been completed in time for the tour. The relatively low number of homes in this year’s Connally Construction, Inc. Parade results from several factors, including supply-chain troubles that have plagued the construction industry. Delays in materials like windows and garage doors prevented some builders from participating in 2022. But there’s a bright side for the thousands of ticket-holders who’ll attend: This year’s event is streamlined. “You’ll definitely be able to see all the participating homes,” says Laramore. “That’s a good thing. By visiting all of them you’ll be entered to win our Gold Prize.” Attending all 16 homes qualifies ticket-holders for a chance to win the event’s Gold Prize, which includes a $3,000 shopping spree from Casey Carpet One and a $3,000 shopping spree from Marble Depot. “Each ticket will have a unique QR code. When you scan it at each house in the Parade, it allows us to see which homes you’ve visited,” Laramore says. “That’s how you’ll qualify for the prizes.”
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Everyone who attends at least one home will be entered to win the Silver Prize: a $3,000 entertainment and security system from Sound by Design. The Amarillo Parade of Homes app, available for iPhone and Android users, acts as a digital guide for the event, offering directions to each home—some streets are so new they don’t appear yet on Google Maps—and letting users even take notes about what they see. “If you see wood flooring you like in a certain house, you can make a note to remember it for when you go shopping,” Laramore says.
Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods
Homes in this year’s parade are clustered in Rockrose’s new
Pinnacle neighborhood, as well as several more developments in and around Amarillo. “Our developers definitely like this event,” says Whitni Bonner, TPBA Executive Assistant. “It gets people out to see the new neighborhoods.” In the earliest days of Amarillo’s Parade of Homes, all participating homes would be on a single, walkable block in a new neighborhood (see below). Geography soon took over, with Parade homes popping up in every quadrant of Amarillo, and even toward Canyon and Bushland. The 2022 Parade offers the best of both worlds. Several of this year’s homes are located on Hollow Landing in the brand-new Pinnacle neighborhood, near Hollywood and Bell behind Randall
1966 Parade of Homes on Gainsborough Road
MAKING HISTORY By clustering four homes on a block of Hollow Landing in the Pinnacle neighborhood, this year’s Parade of Homes echoes some of the first such events in Amarillo. Past TPBA President Bob Fenley began building houses in the area in 1972. He’s now 85 years old, and after 50 years of building houses, still remembers the first Parades in the city. Featured Parade homes would all be located on a single city block—like Pinehurst Drive in Puckett Place or Gainsborough in the Belmar neighborhood. The street would be closed to traffic and families would literally parade, on foot, from one home to the next. “The developer would offer a discount on the lots for everyone who built in the parade,” Fenley says. A developer might also offer to lay sod or install the fencing in order to attract participating builders. “The homes were all in one location and all within a comparable price range. You parked your car and walked down the street to look at them.” Confined to a single street, the free event was designed to be an afternoon family outing, including activities for children. Fenley specialized in moderate-income housing for first-time homebuyers, focusing on neighborhoods like Eastridge and Sunrise. Back then, builders like him depended on the Parade for the same reasons they do today. “It would give us an opportunity to show our wares to more people. We wanted to sell our Parade houses, of course, but you’re also looking for prospects,” he says. Beyond the sales element, innovative builders offered a service
to the public. “We used a lot of new things people hadn’t seen. People could come through and see a brick fireplace or an airconditioning system that had just come out,” he remembers. “They wouldn’t see those things otherwise.” That purpose hasn’t changed, but the home construction world has—and not just because today’s Parades feature homes of every size and price range, spread throughout the community. “All the home builders back then were individual guys like me,” says Fenley, who is still a TPBA member. “They were former truck drivers or ex-framers. I’d come from the banking business. We weren’t college-educated. Nowadays it’s a completely different ball game.”
High School. Attendees can easily tour that cluster of homes, before driving to see the rest. One of those Pinnacle houses was built by Cornerstone Fine Homes. “For builders, this event is huge,” says Chance Beasley of Cornerstone. “It’s my No. 1 marketing tool, apart from word of mouth. It gives people the opportunity to see your work up close. Getting a few thousand people inside your doors is a pretty powerful marketing tool.” After the 2020 Parade was forced to go virtual and the 2021 Parade dealt with COVID-safe capacity restrictions, all of this year’s planners and builders are excited for a return to normal. “Last year we had to be very cautious with any public events, but this year those protocols
have been lifted. The city has been very supportive and excited to help us,” Laramore says. Beasley and the TPBA team expect to see upwards of 2,000 people attending this year. “It’s just something that’s a lot of fun for families,” he says. “We’ll have such a wide variety of styles. Not every builder has the same design taste, so it’s fun to go from house to house to get different ideas.” He hopes this year’s attendees have as much fun touring the homes as he did when he was young. “It’s fun to see it come full circle, from going as a kid to actually building in the Parade today.”
Connally Construction, Inc.
™
May 12-15 & 19-22 Thursday & Friday 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Ticket Prices: $12.00 each, age 12 and up. Children under 12 FREE
Presented by
Tickets available at: amarilloparadeofhomes.com ParadeSmart App Pak-A-Sak locations United Supermarkets locations
No cash ticket purchases available at the Parade homes. Visit all of the homes to be entered into the Grand Prize: $3,000 in products from Marble Depot and $3,000 in products from Casey Carpet One. With any ticket purchase, entered to win a $3,000 Security and Entertainment System from Sound By Design.
Cornerstone Fine Homes, LLC ™
N Soncy Rd
Connally Construction, Inc.
40
W I-40
2 3
SW 34th Ave Helium Rd
Hope Rd
Arnot Rd
Blessen Dr
Bushland Rd
Soncy Rd
Coulter St S
5
Elk Springs Rd 6 FM 2186 S Dowell Rd
12
S Western St
Hillside Rd
SW 45th Ave 4
W Hollywood Rd
7-11
W Sundown Ln VFW 27
W McCormick Rd FM 2219
13
14-15
16 Canyon
Rockwell Rd
1 E Willow Creek Dr E St Francis Ave 287
E Hastings Ave
This year’s builders:
S Georgia St
1. Fox Hollow: 1501 Fox Hollow Ave. N & B Homes, Inc. 2. Prairie South Estates: 17851 Lone Ranch Rd. Betenbough Homes 3. Looby Estates #1: Barndo #28 R & L Builders, LLC 4. The Colonies: 7904 Valcour Dr. Old World Construction 5. Heritage Hills: 9101 Heritage Hills Pkwy. Blue Haven Homes, LLC 6. Skyline Ranches: 3901 White Tail Springs Rd. Jadon Homes 7. Pinnacle by Rockrose: 5601 Hollow Landing Ave. HOME by Lyons 8. Pinnacle by Rockrose: 5603 Hollow Landing Ave. Connally Construction, Inc. 9. Pinnacle by Rockrose: 5605 Hollow Landing Ave. Cornerstone Fine Homes, LLC 10. Pinnacle by Rockrose: 5609 Hollow Landing Ave. Wyben Homes 11. Pinnacle by Rockrose: 9414 Stonecrest Dr. Wyben Homes 12. Mesquite Ridge: 9875 Desert Willow Rd. Llano Real Estate Group 13. Strawberry Fields: 15125 Let It Be Dr. Three Ale Custom Homes 14. Wildflower Village at Four Corners: 9951 Aster Rd. Rudd Homes, LLC 15. Wildflower Village at Four Corners: 14227 Periwinkle Dr. Bella Vista Homes 16. Spring Canyon: 14 Kingston Dr., Canyon Smart Living Custom Homes
BUILDERS
Rick Looby Homes How long have you been building homes? I’ve been investing in Amarillo-area properties for more than 30 years. I started out buying houses that needed repairs and updates, and completely remodeled most of them before renting them. Then I built my first house 22 years ago. It was a small, three-bedroom, two-bath at about 1,200 square feet. Since then, I have built another 150-plus homes. What types or sizes of homes do you specialize in? Most of my homes I have built have been in the Tradewinds and City View developments, which are typically smaller, starter-level homes. These were three- and four-bedroom, two-bath and two-car garage houses. They ranged from 1,500 square feet to 1,875 square feet. What neighborhoods/developments are your primary focus? In 2006, I purchased 300 acres and developed 75 of those into Sunset Acres, a rural-feeling neighborhood south of I-40 off of Hope Road. To date, I have built 52 homes in Sunset Acres, from 1,875 square feet to 2,950 square feet. Some are up to four bedrooms and even four-car garages. This is designed as a lease-only community with a lot of great amenities, including lawn service, free fiber-optic internet, a community center with game room, theater room, ball fields, playground with a splash pad, and even a basement tornado shelter. It also features Looby Lake, which hosts weekly entertainment in the summer. Then I began developing another community called Looby Acres in 2021 around I-40 and the new Loop. This neighborhood features “Barndo” homes in a gated community. These barndominium homes are designed for clients who need a lot of space—living space, a garage/shop, and a fenced, private storage area on the backside of the home. Barndo Drive has 28 lots, which sit on one acre each. My Barndos range from 2,800 square feet to 4,900 square feet of living space, along with 3,200 square feet for a gaming/shop/workspace and an additional 1,100 square feet of storage. Then there’s a three-car garage along with covered porches, patios and balconies. All plans are available for sale or lease, and have two master bedrooms with master baths, built-in storm cellars, and wheelchair lifts to the second level. The development has curb-and-gutter streets and a gated entrance, well and septic. It’s just three minutes from the medical center and shopping. What sets you apart from other home builders? A good, quality home is a lot like a good, stable, happy family: It starts with a good foundation and requires a lot of careful planning and teamwork to achieve its goals. I build all my houses or Barndos with extra-thick concrete for the slab. I use foam insulation throughout the house and garage, plus insulated garage doors to result in the most efficient house possible. Why do you believe the Amarillo/Canyon area is a great place to live? We are truly blessed to live where we do. This community still offers a small, hometown feel, where the citizens care for each other and work together to create a better Amarillo for the future. History has shown us that the Amarillo area keeps growing at a steady pace, providing jobs and quality living for everyone. This is a great place to live.
806.236.3090 | RICKLOOBYHOMES.COM
BUILDERS
Old World Construction How long have you been building homes? We started in Amarillo in 2002, with one house on speculation. This is our 20th year in business. What types or sizes of homes do you specialize in? We build all sizes of homes, from 2,850 square feet to more than 10,000. Our typical project is often between 4,000 square feet and 5,600 square feet. What neighborhoods are your primary focus? Currently, we are focused in The Colonies, The Trails, Riverfalls and Estancia. We have been known to take jobs in other neighborhoods as well, but usually stay within a 20-mile radius of Amarillo. What sets you apart from other home builders? We are one of the only residential builders to offer a true “design/ build” format in the Texas Panhandle. We take care of clients from lot selection, concept, plans design, interior design, and the complete building process. It’s more or less a one-stop shop. We utilize 3-D design software to create plans that you can feel as well as see. This process gives clients a better idea of what the final project will look like and live like. How did you first get into the business? I graduated from Amarillo High School in 1996. I worked in the jobs program my junior and senior year, and spent most of that time working for a local builder cleaning up job sites. I took the love of what I was doing and followed through with a construction science degree from Texas A&M University. I worked through the trades all the way through college, spent a year in Dallas as a superintendent, then returned home to start my company in 2002. Why do you believe the Amarillo/Canyon area is a great place to live? We love the small-town mentality of the Amarillo area. It’s an awesome place to raise your kids and develop lifelong relationships not only in business, but personally as well. We feel very fortunate that Amarillo adopted us and our creativity and helped us grow into what we are today. If it wasn’t for that kind of support, we would have never made it.
ERIC WHITE 4804 LEXINGTON SQUARE 806.353-3307 OLD-WORLD-CONSTRUCTION.COM
BUILDERS
Three Ale Custom Homes How long have you been building homes? 5 years. Three Ale’s name was created in love and honor of my three beautiful children, Abel, Luke and Edith—my three loves. What types or sizes of homes do you specialize in? We build one-of-a-kind custom-designed homes from 2,100 to 2,900 square feet to 3,000 to 5,000 square feet. I have a knack for specialty homes, such as twostory modern homes, with luxury rooftop living spaces that exceed 500-plus square feet. What neighborhoods/developments are your primary focus? Our primary focus is bringing our one-of-a-kind designs to the entire Texas Panhandle. We’re not tied to any specific area. What sets you apart from other home builders? I have an eye for style and design. I work side by side with my clients to design/create their custom floor plans and meet or exceed their desires. I like to step outside the range of “normal” design to achieve beautiful, bold and personalized homes. How did you first get into the business? I designed my family’s home and took on the build personally. I sought out the best craftsmen to hire, as well as putting in much of the labor ourselves. During the process, I fell in love with the industry, creative mastery in designing a home, and working with others in our community to build their own homes. Why do you believe the Amarillo/Canyon area is a great place to live? It’s “Home Sweet Home” to me, where the people are friendly and as my kids would say, “the air smells like money.” I’ve met some of the hardest-working women and men here.
DANIELLE SKAGGS 8 0 6 . 3 41 . 2767
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