Work Starts On 2004 Showcase Home At Mirabay®

by David Weekley Homes

Construction is under way on the Tampa Bay Builders Association's Showcase Home in the award-winning, 750-acre community of MiraBay® in the SouthShore area of southern Hillsborough County.

As the centerpiece of the 2004 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes^TM -March 20-April 4 -the Showcase Home features the latest construction materials and techniques as well as decorating ideas, says Brenda Kunkel, vice president sales and marketing for MiraBay. The Showcase Home is David Weekley Homes' 3,384-square-foot Sand Dollar design, which is being built on one of the community's few canalside homesites bordered by water on two sides.

The two-story, four-bedroom floor plan includes a metal roof, front porch, wood shutters and three-car garage. Its long foyer with ceramic-tile floor is flanked on either side by an optional study and a dining room with octagonal tray ceiling. The staircase leading to the home's secondary bedrooms and children's retreat also is located here.

Directly ahead, an arch-accented hallway provides access to the island kitchen, which will feature state-of-the-art appliances, an island range, pantry and bi-level breakfast bar. The adjoining breakfast area provides access to the lanai and pool via a French door.

The kitchen and breakfast area are open to the 16-by-19-foot family room, which features an optional gas fireplace, 21-foot-high ceiling and an expansive view of the lanai and pool area.

The master suite features an optional French door opening to the lanai and pool area. The master bath boasts twin vanities, a garden tub, separate shower and 7-by-15-foot walk-in closet.

Even before its first model homes opened, MiraBay was honored by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission for having the Tampa Bay-area's best master-planned community design. It is the latest Tampa Bay-area venture by TERRABROOK®, the national community developer that also created WestchaseTM -the best-selling community in bay-area history.

When completed in about seven years, MiraBay is expected to provide 1,350 single-family and about 700 multifamily homes priced from the $200s to more than $2 million including homesite.

MiraBay's community plan has a strong focus on nature - especially protecting manatees and other aquatic life; preserving wetlands; and improving the area's ecology.

TERRABROOK® is a residential and commercial land-development company that owns, develops and manages more than 45 properties in 24 markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Known for its community-creation philosophy, the company is one of the nation's leading developers of master-planned communities. Last year, more than 4,900 new homes and retail homesites worth $1.5 billion were sold in TERRABROOK® communities.

To reach MiraBay, take Interstate 75 south to exit 246, then turn left on County Road 672 (Big Bend Road). At U.S. 41, turn left (south) and go 3.7 miles to MiraBay's community entrance on the right. The welcome center is on the left, inside the community. From the south, take 1-75 to exit 240, turn left on County Road 674 and go to U.S. 41. Turn right (north) and proceed to MiraBay on the left.

For additional details about MiraBay, call (813) 645-1000, or visit www.mirabay.com.

Houston-based David Weekley Homes, Texas' largest, privately owned, single-family Home Builder, as well as the third largest, privately owned Home Builder in the U.S., is engaged in the design, construction, marketing and sales of single-family detached homes. David Weekley Homes currently builds in 18 markets across the nation, including Atlanta, Austin, Bluffton/Hilton Head, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Fort Myers, Houston, Jacksonville, Orlando, Palm Coast, Panama City, Phoenix, Port Charlotte, Raleigh, San Antonio and Tampa. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit the company's Web site at www.davidweekleyhomes.com.