A private community of exceptional, beautifully wooded, one-half acre (approx.) homesites. Even more rare is that these homesites are 125-130 feet wide with plenty of space and trees between neighbors. The community is gated with an elegant brick privacy wall along the entrance.

Forest Oaks is also in a great location, extremely convenient to three new schools (elementary, middle, and high school), a brand new county park/sports complex, shopping (Cypress Creek Town Center, Shops at Wiregrass, The Grove at Wesley Chapel, and Bruce B. Downs shopping minutes away), and the proposed Pasco National Tennis Center next to Saddlebrook, with easy access to Hwy 54 & I-75.

Real Estate - The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Builder Profile

Avalon Building Corp. of Tampa Bay to build in Seven Oaks  Tampa Tribune

Ralph Zuckerman, President of Avalon Building Corporation of Tampa Bay, has always guided the company with the goal of providing Avalon's customers with top quality home designs and details at an exceptional value. Ten years of awards and customer satisfaction letters seem to verify that commitment.

Zuckerman describes the Avalon style as very livable, open and bright. "The floor plans allow you to create a great home life and the interiors are filled with architectural details columns with arches, coffered ceilings, art niches, and moldings that add style and elegance. We look at the designs and concepts of million-dollar-plus homes and incorporate the features you'd see in those homes into much more affordable homes without sacrificing quality," Zuckerman said.

Avalon will be bringing this strategy to the Watermark neighborhood of Seven Oaks. Located in New Tampa  about a mile east of I-75 on the north side of State Road 56, this master planned community adjoins nearly 1,200 acres of open spaces, preserved wetlands and conservation areas. Amenities include a SportsCore with pools; kids waterpark; tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; and softball and soccer fields.

Almost all of Watermark's 90-foot lots back up to the nature preserve for spectacular views. Watermark is scheduled to open around December 2005 and Avalon is taking reservations now.

"Seven Oaks is a great community in an unbeatable location," Zuckerman said. "It has all the amenities of New Tampa and easy access to I-75." "And with the larger lots, you're not on top of your neighbors."

Avalon's model home center, which resides within Seven Oaks, showcases the company's style in two award-winning floor plans. The 3,170-square-foot Avalon IV has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a den, bonus room and a three-car garage. Design features include a double-sided fireplace and double 8 foot French doors serving the family and bonus rooms, both of which open via 9-foot sliding glass doors to a freeform pool accented by a natural stone waterfall. In 2004, the design won the Tampa Bay Builders Association Parade of Homes Grand Award and the Pasco Building Association Best Overall Award.

At 3,654 square feet, the 4-bedroom, 3-bath Antigua offers a den, upstairs bonus room, and 3-car garage. Notably, the master bathroom is totally free form, with a garden tub shaped like a whale, whose tail forms the shower seat. Large picture windows in the Master Bath overlook a private walled garden solarium. The Antigua also offers a double-island kitchen, two separate lanais and a family room with two glass walls overlooking the preserve and pool. The Antigua just won the Tampa Bay Builders Association Parade of Homes Grand Award and the Pasco Builders Association Best Overall Award in 2005.

Other Avalon plans include the 2-story Captiva with 3,478 square feet (3,923 with optional bonus room), den, play loft, and three-car garage; and the Capri, a Great Room plan, with 2,670 square feet (3070 with optional bonus room), den, and three-car garage.

Besides its recent honors, Avalon's accolades date back to 1997, with awards for Outstanding Quality of Design and Construction, as well as Best Value for the Investment. "We also do our best to create or select very attractive communities with desirable locations, so that customers have convenience where they're living and a great atmosphere for their homes," Zuckerman said.

Avalon also will be building in Forest Oaks, a gated community of 20 wooded, one-half acre (approx) lots. Forest Oaks is in Wesley Chapel and is convenient to 3 new schools and a new county park. Autumn Oaks, a beautiful established community in North Pasco is another area in which Avalon will be building. Autumn Oaks offers easy access to Tampa via the Suncoast Parkway and will feature both 1 acre and ½ acre wooded lots, according to Zuckerman.

In addition to its work in defined communities, Avalon builds "on your lot" for individual landowners. Whereas some builders shy away from this practice, Zuckerman said, "Building on your lot has always been a very important part of Avalon's business." Avalon will build on customers' lots in mid and north Pinellas, Pasco and North Hillsborough.

Another very important distinction according to Zuckerman is that Avalon is also a semi-custom builder. Ralph Zuckerman says, "Avalon builds from their models, but they are glad to make changes or expansions to help make it your family's home."

Avalon's homes range from 2500 to 4000 square feet, with pricing between $229,000 and $344,900 for home only without homesite. Pricing within Avalon communities varies and will include the homesite.

For information on any Avalon projects, contact the model center at 813-907-3431