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COTTAGES & TRAILSIDE ANNOUNCE NEW PLANS: Mill River, Lyon Township DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR: Mill River, Lyon Township MILL RIVER: Grand Opening Makes A Splash! HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD RISING: Development Will Include Homes At A Wide Range Of Prices BUYERS GO WITH THE FLOW: Mill River Event Generates Crowds & Sales Too! BUILDING BUSINESS & APARTMENT MANAGEMENT: BIA Distinguished Award Honorees SOUTH LYON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: People's Choice Award OAKLAND BUSINESS REVIEW: Mill River Rolls On With Three Builders CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS: The Price Is Right |
Mill River, Lyon Township Reprinted From Building & Apartment Management |
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The three BIA builders who collaborated on Mill River in Lyon Township are understandably proud of its “Development of the Year” designation. Mill River features four distinct neighborhoods, each designed to complement lifestyles of multigenerations; each arranged around a lavishly landscaped park area. The piece de resistance is a centrally located center called “The Club,” which offers year-round, vacation-like living. Mill River began with a vision. A dream team of builders from Moceri Companies, Palazzolo Brothers and Lombardo recognized the potential of this picturesque, well-located 189-acre site owned by Earl LaFave of Beck Companies. Their goal, defined after considerable planning, was to create homes for every homebuyer: fi rst-timers, growing families and down-sizers. Mill River’s prices, ranging from the $140s to the low $300s make them uniquely affordable for today’s market. “I wanted to enable multi-generational living,” says Dominic J. Moceri, “to make it possible for Junior to ride his bicycle to Grandma’s.” Most likely, Junior and Grandma would plan to meet at the 4,850 square foot community clubhouse. A virtual family resort, it’s another source of the builders’ pride. The beautifully appointed clubhouse features a cozy area for reading, viewing TV and visiting. The spacious gathering area includes tables and chairs for bridge or canasta; it’s next to a Wi-Fi café and a well-equipped kitchen and snack bar. Men and women’s locker rooms are adjacent to the fi tness center. A unique palm reader security system offers keyless entry from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The swimming pool is surrounded by lounges and umbrella tables; there is also a Whirlpool spa. Beyond the pool is a natural setting so gorgeous that one resident has already reserved it for her wedding. An allseasons sport court offers tennis and ice skating. Nearby Kensington State Park beckons residents with hiking and biking through direct access via the adjacent Huron Valley Trail. Golf courses, fine restaurants and quaint shops are a short drive away. Visitors to Mill River can’t miss the old-fashioned wooden water wheel and the impressive stone archway at the entrance. Driving down winding roads, they encounter gazebos, two huge lakes, a pond, several wooded areas and lush landscaping. |
The neighborhoods refl ect their respective builder’s expertise. The Oakmonte neighborhood features 1,100 square-foot to 1,600 squarefoot all-inclusive condominiums offering three floor plans, all with master suites, attached garages and private entrances. Refl ections, a more elegant neighborhood, has ranch and one-and-a-half story attached “duet” condominiums which include a great room, dining room, luxurious first floor master suite and full basements with an abundance of walkout sites. Trailside is a traditional neighborhood with colonial, Cape Cod and ranch homes readily meeting the needs of growing families. They have three or four bedrooms and several appealing design elements such as skylights, fireplaces, cathedral ceilings and fi nished lower levels. The Cottages at Mill River are detached, single-family “coastal-inspired” homes featuring covered front porches, colorful brick and stone exteriors, open blended kitchens, ample living and dining space and this unusual feature: bumper pads in the garage. While all three builders have family ties, Mill River represents their first collaboration of this type, and they are immensely pleased with the results. Their grand opening last May was a festive event with prizes, refreshments and trolley rides to the seven designer models. A new program, the New Home Wedding & Gift Registry, gives homebuyers a unique opportunity to afford upgrades. Mill River has set a new standard for a mixed-use, wellpriced community. |
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Mill River, Lyon Township’s most anticipated new resort-class community, opened with a splash on Thursday, May 11th, 2006. Distinguished guests mingled in The Club and enjoyed a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as trolley-ride tours of each of the four communities comprising Mill River. Visitors also got the chance to register for the Just Ducky! prize drawing – 10 lucky winners received a Kensington Metro Park Season Pass. The grand prize winner, Krista Patzach, with Real Estate One, had a lake within the Mill River community named after her and $1,000 was donated to Western Oakland County Trailway Management Council on her behalf. Terrific food, invigorating company, exhilarating prizes: The success of Mill River’s Grand Opening Event established this community as the place to be. |
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Guests register and receive their Just Ducky! drawing ticket. |
Mill River’s first guest tosses his Lucky Duck in the pool. |
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Continuous Trolley Tours guided the visitors to each of the four distinct Mill River communities. |
Council member and Treasurer of Lyon Township Patricia Carcone accepts a check from Dominic J. Moceri for a $1,000 donation on behalf of Mill River for the Western Oakland County Trailway Management Council. |
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Guests had the opportunity to tour designer, decorated model homes in each of the four communities at Mill River, featuring a total of 7 models. |
Builders and distinguished guests, l-r: Sam Palazzolo, Palazzolo Bros.; James Bonadeo, Bonadeo Bros.; Irv Yackness, Executive VP, Building Industry Association; Frank Moceri, Moceri Companies; Dominic J. Moceri, Moceri Companies; Buster Palazzolo, Palazzolo Bros.; and Irv Strickstein, National Lumber. |
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Huge Neighborhood Rising Development Will Include Homes At A Wide Range Of Prices LYON TWP.- A group of three builders plans to bring nearly 500 homes to the township, on a site once slated for industrial space. Mill River, now under construction on a 150-acre site at Milford and 12 Mile roads, will include 491 single-family homes and condominiums when completed in about two and a half years. The development's partners, Auburn Hills-based Moceri Cos., Lombardo Cos. of Washington Township and Palazzolo Bros. of Sterling Heights planned to hold an 11 a.m. grand opening ceremony today to show off their home models. Homes will range from 1,100 square feet to more than 3,000 square feet and start from the $140,000s to the $300,000s. Construction has been under way at the development since December. "Mill River truly offers something for every generation; it is an active community for active families where everything is included and everyone is included," said Dominic J. Moceri, a partner in Moceri Cos. Mill River neighborhoods include: Moceri's Oakmonte, featuring 1,100-square-foot to 1,600-square-foot stacked condominiums with master suites, attached garages and private entrances. |
Reflections, also by Moceri, a neighborhood of ranch and one-and-a-half story, attached "duet" condominiums, ranging from 1,500 square feet to 1,800 square feet and offering great rooms, master suites and attached garages. Trailside, a Palazzolo Bros. neighborhood of 1,800-square-foot to 3,000-square-foot-plus colonial, Cape Cod and ranch single-family homes with three or four bedrooms, walkout basements and fireplaces. Cottages, by Palazzolo Bros., offering 1,500-square foot to 1,800-square foot single-family homes with front porches, first-floor master suites and open living areas. Mill River amenities include a 4,850-square-foot clubhouse with a library, card room, kitchen and wi-fi cafe, a fitness center with men's and women's locker rooms, an outdoor pool and spa with a sun deck and a tennis and all-season sports court. The development site also includes winding foot paths, overlooks and gazebos. More than 80 homes have been sold so far. "We have invested a tremendous amount of time and attention to detail to ensure that the residential opportunities at Mill River are second to none," said Sam Palazzolo, a partner in Palazzolo Bros. "We are confident its popularity will endure for years to come by appealing to the market's multi-generational housing needs." |
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SOLD! A lucky Oakmonte buyer selects her home. |
They came, they saw, they signed... the attractive, single-family homes at Trailside enticed many. |
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Reflections Sales Manager Krisann Hester points out all the benefits of Mill River. |
Reflections Sales Manager Krisann Hester congratulates a happy couple, one of the first homeowners at Reflections. |
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BIA Distinguished Award Honorees The Building Industry Association (BIA) is a trade association, which represents builders, remodelers, owners, developers and suppliers to the single family and multi-family residential construction industry. The BIA recently held its annual Leadership Recognition & Awards Night. Members are recognized for their efforts and presented with prestigious awards, including the coveted President’s Award and Builder of the Year Award. Here are four of the 2005 award honorees. BIA serves the industry and the public by working to head off unreasonable legislation, which would increase the cost and feasibility of building – and buying – homes. Dominic J. Moceri — Moceri Companies Hard work, solid foundation and drive have led to the continued success of Moceri Companies. Dominic Moceri is one of those reasons. For his efforts and as a leader in the industry, Dominic was recently honored as the recipient of the BIA’s President’s Award. Reflecting on his year as 2005 BIA President, Dominic J. Moceri points to home affordability as one of his major priorities. He has spearheaded a campaign to limit increases in the costs of new homes, noting that improvements in technology and efficiency make this feasible. Dominic is passionate about acknowledging the importance of the housing industry in Michigan and proves it with impressive statistics. New construction, he points out, is responsible for over 135,000 full time jobs and, in a decade, an additional 130,000 more jobs exist in the servicing of new homeowners: their landscaping, furnishing – even their neighborhood cleaners. |
Dominic has been equally concerned about the human side of the building industry, emphasizing the respective needs of all homebuyer categories: the first-timer, the empty nester, the move-upper, the widow, etc. “We need to build for every generation,” he states, “customizing homes for all ages and all physical and financial abilities. We need to make certain that we get rid of exclusionary zoning practices.” He foresees a growing market of immigrant homebuyers. “Aren’t we all immigrants?” he asks, noting his own family history. “We need to keep the drawbridge open. New immigration will reestablish some of our historic neighborhoods, and this will create a ripple effect leading to new neighborhoods.” Dominic’s commitment to BIA has brought previous recognition as Builder of the Year and Developer of the Year. Also noteworthy is his dedication to the newly formed BIA Charitable and Educational Foundation. “It is the cornerstone for our future,” he feels. “It offers us more opportunities to give back to the community with scholarships and grants.” Now in its third generation of family ownership and management, the Moceri Companies has consistently exceeded the housing aspirations of generations of customers with unmatched consistency. Built on the cherished principles of STRUCTURE, INTEGRITY and TRADITION, the Moceri family established itself as a skillful designer, land planner and builder in the 1950’s. |
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Buster and Sam Palazzolo — Palazzolo Brothers “Building homes, building communities, building confidence.” That’s been the Palazzolo Brothers motto for over 20 years. Their hands-on, hardworking business style earned them 2005 BIA’s Builders of the Year award. Being named Builder of the Year was an unexpected honor, according to Buster, who explained that he and his brother were very proud to join the past honorees, many of whom have had more years of experience. The foundation for Palazzolo Brothers began in 1984 with 13 lots in Sterling Heights, purchased from their uncle, Cosimo Lombardo. Sebastian Palazzolo (Buster), a graduate of Western Michigan University, had just returned from Dallas after working for Pulte Homes; his younger brother, Salvatore (Sam), was completing his business degree at Wayne State University. Their 1,500 square foot ranches and 2,000 square foot colonials sold slowly at first, due to a recession. “However,” says Buster, “we worked hard to make things happen.” Their next project was 94 sites in Woodfield, a community with minimal visibility off Van Dyke Road. This community lacked potential, according to more seasoned builders. With Palazzolo Brothers determination, they completed the subdivision with success. |
Sam and Buster soon acquired a reputation for their hands-on, hardworking business style. They researched the market, created their own designs and made it a policy to include extras. Buyers were given a package with appliances, floor coverings and light fixtures. With their commitment to quality, integrity and innovative management skills, the Palazzolo brothers will continue to be a front-runner in the building industry. |
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People's Choice Award The South Lyon Area Chamber of Commerce
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Mill River Rolls On With Three Builders By Joanne Maliszewski |
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On a 189-acre site in one of Oakland County’s fastest-growing residential centers, a group led by Moceri Cos. of Auburn Hills will build 264 Oakmonte condominiums, 74 duplexes, 56 detached cottage homes and 97 traditional single-family homes for a total of 491 units in a $160 million development along Milford Road that’s also to include a library and a child-care center in Lyon Township. The site is north of 12 Mile Road and set around two lakes and a pond. The Mill River community includes residential builders Lombardo Cos. and Palazzolo Brothers Builders as well as Moceri. “This will become a standard for Lyon Township for mixed use,” said Earl LaFave of Beck Development, which is developing the development. Following some 15 months of negotiations with township officials, the development has become a compromise of residential, township and office uses. Work has started on land development, including utilities, water and sewer, said Kelly Poniers, Moceri Cos. executive director of real estate development. LaFave will continue to own property on which an office – likely medical – and senior adult housing will be built. “It is an exciting project. Instead of working against each other, the builders decided to work together,” Poniers said. “What this 4-product mix brings is a home for every lifestyle, a true multi-generational housing mix,” Poniers adds. “Mill River is a quality of life unsurpassed anywhere else when you combine the amenities and nearby attractions for recreation, education and work.” The Oakmonte condos are a signature product for Moceri. Configured so there is no rear to the attached condos, six garages are located at both ends of the building. The condos helped Beck Development financially satisfy density needs and a market niche of 1,000-1,500 square feet. The duplexes are expected to meet a demand for attached condominiums, which will offer 1,500 - 1,800 square feet in 36 buildings. Single-family homes will offer floor plans with a minimum of 1,800-2,400 square feet. “This will be a whole lifestyle community (with clubhouse). It will be a multi-generational community,” Poniers said. The mixed-use development – modeled on Moceri’s Silvercreek development in Oakland Township – has come a long way since the Elkow family, the property’s original owners, planned a mixed use of industrial and residential six years ago. The then-township board approved the request, only for it to be rescinded a short time later. |
The judgment requires Beck Development to donate about 7.5 acres to the township for a library and own the facility on a 20-year lease/buy-back deal. LaFave’s partner in the project, Schoensheck Construction, will build the facility. Stipulations include the facility’s continued use as a library, and township officials are required to obtain a millage to operate the library within five years. Joanne Maliszewski covers real estate for Oakland Business Review.
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The Price Is Right Lombardo’s $100M focus on affordable homes, new markets |
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Washington Township-based Lombardo Cos. plans $100 million in 2006 home construction, particularly in markets outside Macomb County. All continue a company strategy begun in 2002 for more affordably priced housing. Anthony Lombardo, president, said expanding to other markets such as Livingston and Washtenaw counties makes sense because these counties are underserved for affordably priced homes. Overall the company plans 560 condominiums and single-family homes in 17 communities. “You have to continue to hit the right buyers in the right locations,” he said. “We continue to change what we do as the markets change.” The company has partnerships with other builders for some of its projects. Here are some of the larger ones:
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The projects, with a focus on affordable prices, continue a trend Lombardo spotted early, company Marketing Manager Alison O’Connor said. As long as home builders build the right products, “we’re not going to see a sinkhole,” she said. For example, Lombardo has been conducting more focus groups to learn about buyer preferences rather than making assumptions about new home designs, she said. Lombardo celebrated high J.D. Power & Associates customer-satisfaction rankings this year. It ranked third in Michigan after Bloomfield Hills-based Pulte Homes Inc. and Robertson Bros. on buyer surveys. Sebastian Lombardo said the company hopes to achieve No. 1 status in the future. The J.D. Power results found that 62 percent of home buyers who visited a Lombardo sales center actually bought a Lombardo home, Sebastian Lombardo said. Steve Atchison, president of Pulte’s Michigan division, said Lombardo builds great homes and the company considers Lombardo part of the group of local home builders that are improving quality. Pulte seeks to stay ahead of the curve, he said. Pulte also has purchased lots from Lombardo at The Retreat, a Macomb Township development, and Pulte plans 185 homes, Atchison said. The J.D. Power survey looks at factors such as quality workmanship, home readiness and warranty. Lombardo has added executives to its staff recently as well, including Bob Moesta as vice president of sales and Tom VanPelt as CFO. |
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