Taylor Morrison swept the multi-family category and a Classic Homes by Clayton model was named the overall Green Award winner in this year’s version of the annual event.
A group of experts from outside the Manatee-Sarasota area visited all 58 model homes from 26 builders on the parade and presented awards for best model, best kitchen, best master suite, best curb appeal and more. That’s about double last year’s total and well above the number from 2009, which was the smallest in recent memory. Neal Communities models were judged overall winners in four of the 15 single-family categories, while Camlin Home Corp., John Cannon and Paradise Homes of Sarasota each won two categories. Gibralter Homes, Medallion, Arthur Rutenburg Homes/Nelson Homes, Neal Signature Homes and Tidmore-Henry & Associates each won one category. In all, Neal Communities garnered 20 awards, with John Cannon tallying 16 and Medallion, 12. Taylor Morrison’s Ibis at Verona Preserve model was the only multi-family award winner. The Duval model by Classic Homes by Clayton was named overall Green Award winner, and Lakewood Ranch Communities was named best green development of more than 501 acres.
Lakewood Ranch and Legends Bay at IMG Academies were voted developments with the best entranceways. Among subcontractors, Coast to Coast Pools took two of three pool categories and Charlene Neal pureStyle took six of nine interior design awards. The majority of the homes on the Parade are in Manatee County, spanning east and west Bradenton, Parrish and Lakewood Ranch, as well as Sarasota County and Apollo Beach in Hillsborough County. Home prices start in the low $100,000s. “It’s much bigger than it was,” said Alan Anderson, executive vice president of Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota, of this year’s Parade of Homes. “It’s a sign that things are getting better.”
