Homearama begins to rise
Published 9:11 pm Saturday, August 2, 2014
The street was clogged with the work and personal vehicles of dozens of workers as construction on the fall 2014 Homearama pressed forward in earnest on Thursday.
Under construction: Eric Sasser, left, president of the Tidewater Builders Association, and Sam Cohen, chairman of Homearama, stand in front of the house Sasser is building for this year’s show. Cohen also is building one down the street in The Waterfront at Parkside community.
The air resounded with hammers pounding and generators humming as the seven Homearama houses move along in various phases of construction, ranging from one house just being framed to another that is receiving its exterior trim.
The two men in charge — Eric Sasser, president of the Tidewater Builders Association, and Sam Cohen, chairman of Homearama — don’t seem too concerned about the two and a half months the builders have remaining to complete construction, paint, decorate, furnish and landscape the homes — never mind the disappearing time they have to coordinate other aspects of the show.
“It’s tight, but we’ll all finish,” said Cohen. He and Sasser each are building a home as well as running the show. “The great thing is, if somebody falls behind, someone will jump in and help.”
Located this year at The Waterfront at Parkside near Bennett’s Creek Park, the annual event is the region’s home showcase, designed to show off the latest trends in construction, architecture, in-home gadgets, furnishings, interior decorating, landscaping and more.
The show will take place on three consecutive four-day weekends from Oct. 17 to Nov. 3. The homes range from 3,000 to 3,300 square feet with prices ranging from $470,000 to $540,000.
“We’ve heard for so long how we need to do something more people could afford, so here we are,” Cohen said.
While the price tag may not seem affordable to some, it’s a far cry from the million-dollar homes that were featured in past Homearamas, particularly before the recession, Sasser said.
The neighborhood, once a farm, features 177 home sites, with many of those already built out. It sits on deep water, and several waterfront lots are available — though none of them includes a Homearama house. It’s also close to the public park and all its amenities and also has its own clubhouse and pool.
“This location is incredible,” Cohen said.
Sasser said the city has been helpful in getting the show on the road. The experience of the builders doesn’t hurt, either.
“We have several experienced Homearama builders,” he said. “It’s going to be a good show.”
For more information about Homearama, visit www.tbaonline.org.
