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Ravinia Community Aims To Fill Niches

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BY HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

CARROLLWOOD Despite a rough housing market, developers for Ravinia Luxury Courtyard Villas say their product meets the right niche to do well.

Expected to be nestled among existing residences, the villas will sit on 40 acres of a former orange grove. Scott Doster, president of Tampa-based GSD Development, hopes to break ground on the project at 6915 Mushinski Road in August.

"This is probably the only sizeable chunk of developable property left in the Carrollwood area," Doster said. "It's kind of a unique opportunity as an in-fill site. Everything around it is developed."

Ellen Zusman, a real estate agent for the villas, understands the environmental term "green" is a big word. She said Ravinia has gone the extra mile.

"There are a lot of developments that say they're green," Zusman said. "But this is certified green, with better standards."
Doster said the project is certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition, a nonprofit that supports buildings with environmental benefits. He said that means a lot of little things that make a significant difference.

It includes 30 percent greater energy efficiency for each home, as rated by Environmental Protection Agency standards. Doster said appliances are Energy Star Rated, and low-energy fluorescent light fixtures are installed.
Doster said the units will be built tightly and have sufficient insulation to conserve air-conditioning use, and windows will not allow more than 6 percent infiltration from outside weather.

"The whole idea behind the construction is to minimize one's carbon footprint," Doster said.

Zusman said she is excited to work with a developer in Tampa promoting another niche: "universal access," or access for the disabled. Though such builders are sprinkled across the country, Zusman said this is the first in Tampa.
Doster said the key is the preconstruction design for a future resident's needs. For example, a 6-foot person in a wheelchair would need different accommodations than a 4-foot adult not in a wheelchair.
Universal access involves wide doorways, hallways and kitchens, as well as access into homes and showers.

"I'm impressed with a developer's willingness to do this," Zusman said. "I have a special interest in the universal design and getting the word out to the special-needs community."
Doster said retrofitting a house to accommodate special needs is expensive and can be impractical.

"Frankly, they often seem jerry-rigged," he said, and added often only a fraction of a house is modified.

A major target-demographic Doster had in mind with his partner, contractor Brent Balch with the West Florida Construction Group, is retirees looking for a smaller, more self-contained home. Doster said he has found these "step-down" users, though, have complained similar homes haven't had enough storage space.

Floor plans range from 1,800 to 2,330 square feet, with prices from $240,000 to $315,000. Plans are to build 154 units, two at a time.

Ravinia will be along an 8.5-acre, stream-fed lake.

"While the step-down user is a very large target market of ours, we got a lot of response from young families," Doster said. "They want to be able to concentrate on their families and careers and not have to worry about maintaining a big house."
Doster said another primary focus is a community atmosphere. He said the look of the villas is "Anglo-Caribbean," with a bungalow look on the outside, small alleyways for rear access that are similar to Hyde Park and Seminole Heights neighborhoods, and an open-air room.

He said the idea behind the outside room is to incorporate Florida's weather into a style of living. Doster said too many homes do not take advantage of the state's weather.
Doster said that although Ravinia is months away from construction and national headlines on the market have been negative, he is not nervous.

"Everybody is worried about the market," Doster said. "There's not a lot of this type of product available. Those who want this product are a little more able to maneuver despite the market."

ABOUT RAVINIA VILLAS

GREEN: Certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition, the design results in 30 percent greater efficiency under EPA standards than newly built homes, among other measures.

UNIVERSAL ACCESS: Disabled access, and potential residents can collaborate with the builder to greater define needs

SIZE AND PRICE: From $240,000 at 1,800 square feet to $315,000 at 2,330 square feet

LOCATION: 6915 Mushinski Road, off Henderson Road, south of Carrollwood Village and Citrus Park

CONSTRUCTION: Groundbreaking is set for August

INFORMATION: (813) 962-7500 or www.raviniavillas.com

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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