June 2011 has been one of the most active months for real estate sales and home closings the World Golf Village area of Northeast Florida has seen in quite awhile.  Several new construction projects in World Golf Village are also encouraging and the May 2011 home sales inventory was down over 25% from May 2010. “June has been our strongest sales month in nearly five years, with the most closings we’ve seen in any month since 2007,” says Sherry Davidson, president of Davidson Realty, the leading real estate company serving the Neighborhoods of World Golf Village and nearby St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach and Jacksonville.

New construction is also ramping up in the St. Augustine, Florida master-planned golf community. More upscale coach home units are being built in Laterra Links and more units are also underway in The Cascades, an active adult retirement community.  Developers recently acquired the previously stalled Isle of the Worlds neighborhood and units there are being completed.  Additionally, two estate home lots sold recently in Waterbury and Heritage Cove, new custom homes in Windmill Estates and The Crest are nearing completion and another custom home will break ground soon in Waterbury.

For the first time, The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center has received the American Automobile Association’s highly coveted AAA Four Diamond rating for 2011. The honor is achieved by less than 4% of properties. “We are truly pleased to be recognized with this very prestigious distinction,” said Jeffrey Oliasami, general manager of the resort. “The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort is now part of a very elite group of hotels to have earned this rating, and we’re very proud of our team for accomplishing this great feat.”

To receive the AAA Four Diamond rating, a lodging establishment must consistently reflect upscale and extraordinary characteristics in both physical attributes and level of guest services. To achieve the distinction, the AAA inspector determines that the property meets Four Diamond guidelines, and then the property is evaluated by an anonymous inspector who reviews the property in 12 critical service areas, which includes measurement of over 300 guest interaction points.

The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center was also recently honored with the Medical Meetings M&D Award. Did you know that the property is the largest hotel and convention facility between Orlando and Atlanta? There’s over 86,000 square feet of function space conveniently situated along the village walk next to the World Golf Hall of Fame and the IMAX Entertainment Complex.

But with all the good things that are happening at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, the resort refuses to rest on its laurels.  According to General Manager Jeffrey Oliasami, the Renaissance will continue to make guest-friendly changes and introduce new amenities that enhance the property and guest experience. Some of the latest changes and near future enhancements include:

NEW!  The resort now offers complimentary airport transportation to/from the Jacksonville International Airport on group’s peak arrival and departure dates – for new group business booked after April 2011
 
NEW!  Complimentary shuttle to/from historic St. Augustine is offered for individual guests – seating is limited and based on availability
 
COMING SOON!  A total patio renovation with extensive, state-of-the-art – and over-the-top! – upgrades will bring an additional 15,000+ square feet of outdoor function space.  The project is expected to be completed by September 2011. 

NEW!  The resort pool has been resurfaced and now connects via new walkways to our the new patio
 
NEW!  “The Masters” Board Room is the newest additional meeting room with approximately 450 square feet
 
NEW!  Caffeina’s Marketplace “Proudly serving Starbuck’s Coffee” and Gift Shop (completion early July).  Caffeina’s Marketplace is a coffee house serving grab-and-go foods along with gifts indigenous to St. Augustine.
 
NEW!  On-site Destination Services Department offers group guests a customized and uniquely memorable experience!! 
 
NEW!  Elite and comprehensive in-house Audio-Visual expertise delivers outstanding service, ground-breaking technology and creative solutions for dazzling presentations and winning meetings
 
NEW!  A UPS Store conveniently situated inside the Convention Center will open July 1, 2011

For over 150 years the intersection of S.R. 16, Nine Mile Road and Pacetti Road has played a prominent role in the commerce of central St. Johns County. Today it offers a fantastic opportunity for a business, looking to capitalize on location, location, location.

The intersection was the hub of the original Mill Creek hamlet – the center of timbering, turpentine harvesting, cattle farming and agricultural enterprise. The crossroad was the jumping off spot for a “corduroy road” that ended with a landing at the confluence of Mill Creek and Six Mile Creek and provided access to a collection of logging encampments. For decades, loggers harvested prized-trees and turpentine along the tributaries of the St. Johns River. From Mill Creek, logs were floated out Six Mile Creek – bundled into log rafts – then steered down river to the big mills in Jacksonville. One day, I found a pair of original, perfect condition, hand-thrown, clay turpentine pots along the remnants of the old corduroy road.

Closer to the turn-of-the-century, the crossroads-area became the center of a thriving and productive farming community. Gladiolus flower farms and nationally-renowned potato farms spread over the region, interspersed with cattle-raising businesses. The County and the region produced quality goods that were shipped throughout the country.

I know that you have heard that now is absolutely the best time to buy and that’s a fact,  but did you also know that now is absolutely the best time to build your dream home?  Here in our St. Augustine golf course community, we have been experiencing a positive upswing in homesite purchases and new construction. 

Two of our four featured homesites at World Golf Village were sold just this past month.  They were remarkable properties and the remaining featured lots are equally beautiful.  Now, we are excited to share another great one with you.

Lot 10 in Windmill Estates is a large, almost ½ acre lot situated along Conservation Lands, offering an abundance of privacy.  You can have your own little Sherwood Forest in your back garden, as you grill your hamburgers and relax as the sun goes down. Open the front door of your new home and right across the street, your vista is the King & Bear golf course.  Let’s face it, whether you love golf or whether you’re impartial  – it’s a magnificent sight, like living in the peaceful countryside.  Take an evening stroll with the dog or even a bike ride along the neighborhood sidewalks. It is thoroughly enjoyable to weave though the neighborhoods of the King and Bear or go to the Swim & Tennis Center and Fitness Cottage just down the street. 

There’s a sign just past the gate into the King & Bear neighborhood that reads  “Welcome Home”.  You’ll be so glad you are.

For more information contact Davidson Realty Agent Suzy Evans at (904) 940-5000 and to see our other specially priced homesites please visit  http://www.worldgolfrealestate.com/index.php/featured_homesites. Enjoy the homesite video!

At a mere 150 miles from Jacksonville, Savannah, Georgia – the City built on a Bluff with a main street named Bull – is a must-see-and-do for anyone living or vacationing here in our community. The infrastructure work on the perennial construction of I95 has essentially been completed, making the drive up the Georgia Coast, both smooth and enjoyable. A two-night stay is the best way to get introduced and be able to absorb the character of Savannah – but with the recent travel ease, even an overnighter with a morning arrival and a next day, evening departure, will provide you with an entertaining and educational opportunity.

Savannah, founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, has one of our nation’s largest, intact, historic districts. The City, best experienced on foot (www.TheSavannahWalkingTour.com), delivers intriguing details and storylines at every turn. Oglethorpe’s City Plan, with geometric Wards with Squares, has been studied for centuries and has served as inspiration for urban planners, architects and landscape architects from around the world.

Oglethorpe’s City Plan may have been truly original, no one knows for sure. He organized each Ward into 8 Blocks. The largest 4 Blocks were Tything Blocks for residential purposes. The other 4 Blocks were Trust Lots for civic and commercial uses. The Tything Blocks were subdivided with East-West Lanes, creating today’s service alleys at the rear of homes. At the center of each Ward, was a Public Square; the beloved civic spaces that have helped make Savannah famous. To expand the town, Oglethorpe simply replicated and extended the patterned grid. The original Plan called for 4 Squares; Johnson, Wright, Ellis and Telfair. Today, there are 22 Squares gracing the City.

For a time Savannah was overlooked, forgotten and under-appreciated. The decades of the 60’s and 70’s, and into the 80’s, were not kind to the fabric of the City. Many historic buildings were either abandoned or demolished and a few really ugly, mostly municipal, buildings were forced on the scene. The backbone of the City’s residential retail and business district, along Broughton Street, was all but empty. By the late 70’s, the City experience for most visitor’s was confined to the riverfront honky-tonks and souvenir shops along the stone-cobbled River Street and bluff-top Factor’s Walk. Braver tourists would sometimes venture out to explore the City’s many Squares, but usually they were satisfied with a quick trolley tour to see the most promoted sights.

Over thirty years ago, in the midst of Savannah’s urban decline, Paula Wallace, May and Paul Poetter and Richard Rowan had a vision to create, from the ground up, a premier academic environment for art and design education. Today, the Founders’ vision has evolved into an internationally revered and distinguished university led by President Wallace. The Savannah College of Art and Design : SCAD was instrumental in helping spur a downtown renaissance. As SCAD grew in prominence and prestige – they acquired numerous historic structures. All of their acquisitions were ingeniously adapted, painstakingly restored and respectfully transformed for a variety of academic uses. With over 8,000 students, the Savannah location is comprised of almost 70 separate buildings, most of which are in, or adjacent to, the nationally registered historic district. The district was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966, named the Savannah Historic District.

SCAD offers a unique college experience that is in beautiful harmony with the City and its historic heritage. Seemingly overnight, SCAD has grown to be recognized as the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art university. SCAD has an urban location in Atlanta, Georgia, a study-abroad location in Lacoste, France and in 2010, became the first U.S. art and design university to establish a degree-granting location in Hong Kong.

SCAD has been wholly embraced by the City of Savannah. It is the City’s pied-piper, helping launch countless boutiques, shops and restaurants and symbiotically inducing the construction and renovation of historic homes, hotels, inns, apartments and condominiums. Even redevelopment of the original 1733 Ellis Square/1763 Market Square has taken place, further expanding the City’s visitor and resident entertainment, shopping and dining options. SCAD’s presence and its events, choreographed by its student/faculty personalities, have helped define a modern-vibe. That vibe is juxtaposed against the rich and historic tapestry of the City Center. The SCAD Family of administrators, educators, students and visiting participants conduct themselves with élan, while respecting the past, energizing the present and projecting a promising future for them, The Arts and the City.

One of the best ways SCAD gives back to the City is through its annual SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival. This year, on Saturday, April 30th, the festival celebrated its 30th Anniversary – growing from an initial 40 to over 600 artists.  The festival now takes over the 1840 Forsyth Park, from Park Avenue on the south to the gorgeous, 1858, cast-iron Forsyth Fountain on the north. The park’s sidewalks are divided into approximately 5’ x 5’ squares. Each participant is given an identical box of colored chalks and then turned loose at 11:00AM. There were 520 squares for current students, 162 squares for alumni and 168 squares for prospective high school seniors and juniors. Prior to the 4:00PM Awards Ceremony, a panel of distinguished judges made the rounds to select the various categorical winners. This year, the judges dispensed a number of awards and prizes.

Even though Father’s Day is just one day – this year it is Sunday, June 18 – we think we should celebrate Dads all month long! It is our experience that most Dads love golf – and they love food. So, we have decided to play a little game on The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village’s Facebook page that involves golf and food! Several times during the month of June, we will post a picture of a famous golfer and the first person to identify him or her by name will receive two free tickets to the World Golf Hall of Fame and two free appetizers at the Renaissance Resort Hotel. BUT, just like all fun games, there is a twist! The pictures we post may not be the most recognizable photos of the golfer… We have faith the true golf aficionados will be able to figure out the answers though! If you can guess who is in the photo above, you might be a winner! If you don’t win, but your Dad loves golf and food, you can always bring him to the World Golf Hall of Fame on Father’s Day for Community Appreciation Day. Admission is free and all fathers receive a goody bag too! Good luck – and Happy Father’s Day!

Summer is definitely in the air! I can feel it when I step outside and get blasted by the heat!  I can really feel it in my children’s behavior. Not to mention, my sweet kindergartner counting down the days until she can officially say she’s a first grader! If you are like me, then all of these signs are pointing us in the direction to figure out what to do with our kids over the summer break. The weekends are full of pool parties and beach trips, but the weeks need to be filled with fun, too!

An option I looked into that is open to St. Augustine residents is camp at Turning Point Children’s Academy. Each week is a different theme. Children will learn about the desert, space, weather, rainforest, etc. Each week also includes Bible lessons, water play, art and other fun activities. Turning Point offers flexibility. Drop off begins at 7:30 a.m. and pick up is by 6 p.m. The cost is $140/week. Call Ms. Carole at 904.824.0477 for more information.

Florida Get Fit is known for helping women, men and children get in shape through boot camp, body sculpting, kick boxing and conditioning. Help your children stay fit through the summer by taking advantage of the many camps they offer. Florida Get Fit is offering football conditioning, gymnastics, tumbling, cheer and baseball camps. Most of the camps are $75-$85 per week; from 9 a.m. to noon. Baseball is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $175 per week. This is a great way to help your child to be in the best shape possible when school and sports start in the fall.

Our Lady of Good Counsel is doing Vacation Bible School from July 11-15th on SR 16. Camp is from 9-12. The cost is $15 for Parishioners and $25 for non-Parishioners. My daughters did it last year and had so much fun. Contact Amy Sue Long at 599-3080 or aslong99@hotmail.com if you want to sign your children up!!! At the end of the week the children put on a performance. It was soooo incredibly cute. All the children received copies of the music they performed to. They made picture frames and gave the parents pictures of themselves in their camp tshirts.

Another great option for World Golf Village residents is camp at the Swim & Tennis Center. Camp is offered through the summer. The cost is $99/ week from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Go to www.wgvsocial.com for more info.

If your children are into horses, Haven House Ranch has camp for children ages 6-17 to spend the summer hands on with the horses, learning general care, tracking and riding. There are 3 different levels. General camp is for anyone. Bible camp includes life lessons. Advanced camp is for experienced riders. Rates vary but start at $225. Contact www.havenhorseranch.org or call 813.5710 for more info.

If you know of a camp in the WGV area, please post a link on our Neighborhoods of World Golf Village Facebook page.

Native Floridian Craig Hartwig knows a thing or two about Florida landscaping. His company North Florida Landscape has been in business since 1962 and he opened The Grounds Guys franchise in March of this year.  To appreciate Hartwig’s handiwork, check out some of the common areas in World Golf Village and The King & Bear.  Hartwig’s team worked with Davidson Development’s Rick Pariani to implement a rustic pastoral design featuring columns of trees and foliage placement to create natural corridors and framed views in the award winning Jacksonville golf course community. He’s also the “go to” guy for many of the best yards in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village and neighboring golf course communities.

Here’s what we learned recently when we talked with Craig Hartwig.

Your businesses include North Florida Landscape & The Grounds Guys.  What kinds of services does each offer?
North Florida Landscape offers landscape design and installation of new construction, renovations and existing landscapes in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and throughout North Florida. The Grounds Guys, a national franchise, provides landscape management and maintenance, and we service the World Golf Village and northwest St. Johns County areas exclusively.
 
How long have you been in business?
North Florida Landscape has been in business since 1962. My whole family was born and raised in Florida and we’ve been in the Jacksonville area since the late 50’s.  I worked on the landscape and irrigation infrastructure for World Golf Village back when it all began and I fell in love with the area.  My family and I decided to make the area our home and we still love it here.

We opened The Grounds Guys franchise in March 2011 and we’re excited about this new concept in grounds maintenance – providing top-notch professional service with quality controls and state-of-the-art technology.
 
What trends are you seeing in landscaping in our area?
Both nationally and here in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, there is a movement toward more native types of material and less water use. Along these same lines, we’re also seeing a trend towards larger planting areas and less lawn. 

Environmentally friendly pest control is not a new trend but it’s a technology that has vast improved recently and is a very effective option for Jacksonville and St. Augustine homes.  We’re using some products that are organic ground up plant materials which are natural bug repellents – they are a lot safer for the homeowner and the community.

Photo Courtesy of Kirk Chamberlain Studio

A high-functioning office space is equal parts science and style.  Whether it’s 8,000 square feet or 80,000 square feet, commercial space should help employees work efficiently and comfortably, be inviting to clients, reflect the corporate image and be flexible for future growth or business changes. To learn more, we talked with Connie Turner, a leading commercial interior designer based in Jacksonville who recently completed major corporate projects for Adecco and Rayonier and has worked as a consultant on more than 10 airport design projects around the country.

What’s the scope of commercial interior design?
In my practice, it can mean a soup-to-nuts build out where I create the space plan, present CAD drafted floor plans and elevations, develop construction documents and get city approvals, create the furniture plan, present color palette selections, supervise the build-out and deliver a move-in space.  Or, I often work as a consultant alongside building managers, architects, construction managers and other professionals to provide space planning and design.

Do only large corporations need professional design services?
Actually, I work with both medium and large companies – any business that’s looking to maximize its space and ensure it’s going to work well for their specific needs.  I’ve done spaces as small as 1,500 square feet and as large as 150,000 square feet.

When should a company seek your help?
Occasionally I help companies rethink their existing space and rework it to better meet their needs and update the design.  More and more, companies come to me very early in the process – when they are outgrowing space or they are thinking about moving for better lease rates.  I help them determine their “shopping number” – the amount of square footage they need to meet their current requirements and ensure they have room to grow. 

In the case of Davidson Realty, I worked with them very early on which was a unique opportunity because we actually developed a space plan that the building was then designed around.  Jim and Sherry Davidson wanted to rethink typical work cubicles and create a space where both clients and employees would feel “at home”. The result was this residential inspired U-shaped space with several small “living rooms” where clients could meet with agents or builders in a relaxed, inviting environment.  The courtyard at Davidson was Rick Pariani’s inspiration and is a real standout – it extends the building’s public space, reflects the residential feel, marries the outdoors with the interior space and epitomizes the quality lifestyle inherent in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village where Davidson Realty makes its home.