An open house in a model home off Pitchkettle Road on Friday looked fairly ordinary — real estate agents showing off a spacious model while everyone munched on appetizers and sipped drinks.

But it represented a new beginning for the Heron’s Point at Lake Meade development, which a former developer started in 2006 but ended in 2008 when the recession hit, after having built only 13 homes.

Derrick Caglianone and his partners, Dave Decker and Sean Bidescome, purchased the development one year ago today. So far, they’ve built several models and sold two homes, with several more interested parties about to make it official.

Caglianone, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he had been doing work in the Hampton Roads area for about the last three and a half years.

The 100-acre property was “very distressed” and overgrown when he first saw it, he said, but he could see what it could be.

“I see visions,” he said. “You kind of look through a lot of that stuff and see what the property is as a whole.”

The property has a total of 90 lots and a mile of shoreline on Lake Meade. There’s already a walking trail and pier with a bald eagle currently in residence nearby, said Louise Perkins with Prudential Towne Realty, who is one of the main agents for the development.

Homes in the development will range from 2,500 to 3,500 square feet, Perkins said, getting larger toward the water. Current inventory prices range from $339,900 to $399,900.

The development has its own architect, so homebuyers can make modifications to the models or create a custom design.

“It’s a lot different than picking model A, B or C,” said Tom Retnauer of Retnauer Baynes Architects. “We’re excited to see this development. You don’t find lots of that bluff overlooking the water.”

Caglianone said the neighborhood is a perfect choice for couples looking to get their children away from the hustle and bustle.

“This is an opportunity for somebody that wants to raise a family in a country setting,” he said.

Caglianone said he plans to build a summer home for himself in the area soon and has plans to contribute to the community. He and his wife, who is a cancer survivor, run the Pamela Caglianone Foundation, which assists families affected by cancer with everyday expenses.