The Founders Club, a golf course community featuring a core course by Robert Trent Jones Jr., has opened a sales gallery in Gateway Professional Center, 301 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 205.
The community will include 262 homes on 700 acres, a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse and other recreational amenities. The Founders Club Development Co. L.L.C. includes Thomas Brown and Jay Tallman of U.S. Assets Group and Fred Starling of The Starling Group.
Premier builders are John Cannon Homes, Todd Johnston Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, Marc Rutenberg Homes, Pruett Builders and Taylor Woodrow Homes. Models are expected to open in spring 2005.
The sales gallery has a model of the community, information on homes and home sites as well as memberships in the golf club. Only 275 equity golf memberships will be offered. Construction is well under way on the golf course with completion expected late this year.
John Cannon Homes, founded in 1987, specializes in the design/build approach, blending professional design with client preferences and construction expertise. John Cannon Homes has received numerous awards for design and customer satisfaction. Builder Magazine recognized the company among the nation's "101 Best Builders to Work For" for the past two years.
Todd Johnston Homes, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is another highly honored local builder. Todd Johnston heads the company of 40 employees, and wife Karen Johnson is vice president/comptroller and founder of the affiliated Masterpiece Interior Designs. The Johnston hallmark is providing architectural innovation and quality, value and service.
Lee Wetherington Companies, named 2004 America's Best Builder by the National Association of Home Builders and Builder magazine, has built more than 2,000 homes, with 300 sales in 2003 for a volume of $111 million. Wetherington consistently leads the Parade of Homes in awards: a total of 149 awards since 1993, with 39 plaques, including six for Best Overall, in 2004 alone. President/CEO Lee Wetherington and his companies are well known for community service and philanthropy.
Marc Rutenberg Homes has garnered many national, regional and local awards during the past two decades. Marc is the nephew of Arthur Rutenberg, known for four decades of leadership and innovation in home design.
Pruett Builders has been designing and building high-end, luxury homes for more than 20 years. Pruett is a leader in building homes that are energy efficient, healthy and technologically innovative. Pruett has garnered local and national recognition within the industry, Silver and Gold Aurora Awards, as well as recognition for "Best Customer Service" and "Best In American Living" awards from national trade groups.
Taylor Woodrow has been building luxury homes in Florida for more than 30 years. Its more than 60 active projects throughout the U.S. have earned the company global recognition as both a builder and creator of some of the world's largest and most unique developments.
For information on The Founders Club, located on Fruitville Road, three miles east of Interstate 75, phone (941) 378-0900.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Florida)