Ribbon Cuttings, Shea Homes/Victoria Gardens

The DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Bob Apgar and several friends were on hand to congratulate Shea Homes during a ribbon cutting ceremony in celebration of their debut in the Florida market. Shea Homes at Victoria Gardens, located in DeLand, Florida is a beautiful active lifestyle community located within the Victoria Park master planned community. Shea Homes recently announced its first foray into the Florida retirement market. With operations in Northern, Central and Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, North Carolina and Florida, Shea Homes has the distinct honor of being America’s largest privately owned home building company. “Trilogy by Shea Homes ranked highest in customer satisfaction among the largest active-adult community homebuilders by J.D. Power and Associates.” Adding to the allure of Victoria Gardens is that each new home built is Shea Certified Green, which sets new green building standards on a national level with average energy and resource savings of 20 percent compared to conventionally built non-green homes. Each Shea Certified Green home will include solar technology, green fiberrecycled insulation, and wood from certified sustainable forests whenever possible. Homeowners will benefit from the motion and occupancy sensor lighting and energy efficient windows, air conditioning, and appliance in a reduced cost homeownership over time. Single-story homes in Victoria Gardens are priced from the $200,000’s to the mid-$300,000’s - 2,210 square feet. Model homes are now available for purchase. For more information, call Shea Homes/Victoria Gardens at 866-342-2168.

Ribbon Cuttings, Pioneer Realty of Florida

Pioneer Realty of Florida located in downtown DeLand at 206 N.Woodland Blvd. celebrated the completion of its two-year building renovation meeting guidelines set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED). Pioneer owner/broker Diane Aunapu celebrated “going green” with her daughter Tiffany Smith Schroeder, family, well-wishers and Chamber representatives. Originally built as Kruse’s Bicycle Shop at the turn of the 20th Century, Diane Aunapu purchased the building in 2005 with grand visions of an artful office building that would last another hundred years. Diane and her daughter Tiffany, a local green building consultant, decided fromthe start that this building would be equipped with sustainable products and systems that minimize the structure’s impact on the environment. Strict green building criteria were followed during the construction process as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Counsel’s LEED program. The office building demonstrates reduced energy needs, water conservation, and a higher level of indoor air quality than most business buildings of its size. The building now teaches how small changes in systems and materials can greatly reduce environmental impact and vastly improve the office experience for many years to come. Formore information on the building now called eCo green service center, call 386-469-0882. Private and shared offices for lease ranging from $250 - $1000/mo.