Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-April 15, 2015

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Javic Homes showcases Southern Living By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

The outside wrapping is pure traditional white. A pair of rocking chairs sits on the front porch. The metal roofing atop a bay window brings a touch of Craftsman bungalow. Inside, traditional gives way to modern. There’s an open floor plan, colors that pop in purple and copper next to grays and beiges on interior walls, and state-of-the art connectivity and technology. Out back, two covered patios, a fire pit, a waterfall and a flat-screen television add charm to a spacious, deep lawn. “We call it the ‘wow’ lawn,” said Jon Solomon, president of Javic Homes. The company built this luxury 2015 Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home in the Brookside subdivision in Wesley Chapel. The tree-lined streets and manicured landscape within this gated community evoke the homey feel of neighborhoods of the past. “I always think it’s a Norman Rockwell neighborhood,” said Solomon. “You just don’t see this anymore. It’s a really nice family neighborhood.” During March, the showcase home, at 29318 Chapel Park Drive, drew between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited two local charities, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Operation Finally Home. Visitors still have a chance to see the home during the 2015 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes, from April 11 through April 26. Nearly 150 model homes from 35 builders in 82 communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties are on this year’s tour. That makes it the largest new-home showcase in the Tampa Bay area, according to the sponsor, the Tampa Bay Builders Association. The association is based in Tampa and has more than 750 members including local builders, developers, suppliers and architectural firms.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAVIC HOMES

A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine.

Homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 pm., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday, during the parade. A panel of industry professionals will judge the homes based on site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural details and workmanship. The sales price for the four-bedroom, 4,100 square-foot home in Brookside is $895,000. Planning, design and construction took about a year. About a dozen open lots remain in the subdivision, which is adjacent to Saddlebrook Resort, off State Road 54. This is the second time Javic Homes has been included in Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program for showcase homes. Last year’s home was in South Tampa. “I think it’s a great way to highlight our work,” said Solomon. Making it a charitable event is a plus. “We like to give back to our

community,” he added. Southern Living’s custom builder program is by invitation only, and includes about 100 of the nation’s top builders. Magazine representatives review homeowner and business references, and make site visits before adding a homebuilder to the group. Showcase homebuilders can choose from more than 1,000 design plans in Southern Living’s database, but can modify plans or do their own. Southern Living representatives have to approve the plan and the interior finishes, Solomon said. “So we can coordinate everything with Southern Living designers,” he added. Javic Homes was founded in 2001 and has built about 300 homes in the Tampa Bay area. See JAVIC, page9A

Lowe’s celebrates Land O’ Lakes opening Hearing officer By Kathy Steele

3632 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

APRIL 15, 2015

Lowe’s, of Land O’ Lakes, is ready to throw open the doors to its new home improvement store on State Road 54. Work crews busied themselves last week with last-minute details to spruce up the landscaping and sweep clean what has been an active construction site. A week of celebrations will kick off with a Pro Services Day on April 16, to highlight the services and products that Lowe’s can provide business owners and their field representatives. The community also is welcome to this “soft opening,” with store hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Food, demonstrations and a mystery gift card giveaway will be featured during the day. “It’s a great opportunity for business owners to learn about the options Lowe’s has,” said Meredith Kleker, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a gracious way to extend the opportunities to help the business community feel part of the growth of this area.” The 152,000-square-foot store is located at 21500 State Road 54, across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location. Motorists will find new traffic signals at the entrance to Lowe’s that are meant to ease traffic in and out of the home improvement store, and the shopping center, as well. Ongoing festivities will include a preview night on April 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with giveaways, a scavenger hunt, guided tours and refreshments from Benedetto’s. A grand opening on April 23 will feature dignitaries from county government, the honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes and representatives of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The more traditional ribbon cutting will be given over to a “board cutting.” “We’re really, really excited about the partnership (with Lowe’s),” said Kleker. “They’ve made a concerted effort to partner with businesses in our community.” A Lowe’s Fest on April 25 will be an “allout celebration,” according to a Lowe’s press release announcing the special opening events. Marco’s Pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Café, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, and a dessert truck will provide food. Activities include interactive demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, a children’s craft station, a community hand print banner and a petting zoo. There also will be a special safety demonstration. Store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with

Lowe’s opening events Pro Services Day

WHERE: Lowe’s, 21500 State Road 54 WHEN: April 16, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. WHAT: Pro Services Day is dedicated to business owners and their field representatives, but anyone is welcome. Breakfast will be provided by Panera Bread at 7 a.m. Lunch will be from Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Manufacturing representatives will do product demonstrations, there will be giveaways and Lowe’s in-house specialists can help set up business accounts. Giveaways include mystery gift cards ranging from $5 to $500. From here on, the store will be “soft opened.” Regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Preview Night

WHEN: April 22, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHAT: A scavenger hunt, project starter giveaways, guided tours and refreshments by Benedetto’s.

Formal grand opening

WHEN: April 23, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. WHO: Dignitaries from Pasco County, the honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes and members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the store’s opening.

Lowe’s Fest

WHEN: April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHAT: An all-out celebration featuring food from Marco’s pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Cafe, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que and a dessert truck. Activities will include interactive manufacturing demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, balloon art, face painting, a Build & Grow workshop, mystery gift card giveaways, a kids’ craft station, community hand print banner, a petting zoo and a demonstration by a fire safety inspector.

festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

approves Lutz charter school

By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

A proposed charter school in Lutz has received approval, despite objections from nearby residents, homeowner associations and community organizations. Land use hearing officer James Scarola approved a special use permit for the Tampa Academy of Math and Science, a charter school for up to 870 kindergarteners through eighth-graders. In his April 6 decision, Scarola found that the request complies with the county’s land development code and the Hillsborough County’s comprehensive plan. The ruling will stand, unless an appeal is filed with the county’s Appeals Board. Plans call for the charter school to occupy 7.46 acres of an 8.45-acre tract, on the west side of Sunlake Boulevard, just south of Lutz Lake Fern Road. The remaining acre is being reserved for a future development. Besides clearing the way for the school, Scarola also approved a request to waive buffer requirements between the school and the remnant 1-acre parcel. The applicants — Charter Schools Properties Inc., and Charter Schools Associates Inc. — scaled down their original request for a school for more than 1,000 students. They also agreed to numerous conditions addressing transportation issues, building height, buffering, phasing of development, placement of the school buildings, and the outdoor play area. They also must turn off outdoor lights by 9 p.m. Phase one plans call for a two-story classroom building, with 33 classrooms for a maximum of 670 students. Phase two, which is contingent upon an additional traffic analysis, would serve 200 students, in 11 classrooms, in another two-story building. Both classroom buildings will be situated near Sunlake Boulevard. Access to the site will be from one driveway on Lutz Lake Fern Road, which will be a right in/right out only, and two driveways on Sunlake Boulevard. One of those driveways would be right in/right out only, and the other would be right out only. The applicant has agreed to build new right-turn lanes and a new U-turn lane in conjunction with the project. Opponents have objected for months about the traffic the school would generSee CHARTER, page9A


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