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The Emmer Torch has been passed to Lori McGriff
In its history, Emmer Development is responsible for building more than 7,800 homes in more than 105 neighborhoods and apartment communities throughout Florida with total projects amounting to more than $600 million. In Gainesville alone, Emmer Development has built 1,800 homes and 1,300 apartment homes in communities such as Bayberry, Hermitage, Stoneridge Apartments, The Lakes, Forest of the Unicorn, Monterey, Raintree, Springtree, Sunrise, Rainbows, The Enclave, Capri, Tivoli Apartments, Villas on the Lake and Hobbit’s Glen. Such accomplishments make the company the oldest and most successful builder in the Gainesville area.
Emmer Development’s rich history has created a reputation for building superior homes in distinctive communities. The company’s newest project is no exception.
Construction is now underway at Sorrento, an exclusive clubhouse community located at 2165 N.W. 53rd Avenue. Newly engineered home designs at Sorrento encompass some of the hottest design trends from across the country. New homes feature shared-space kitchen and family rooms, breakfast nooks and breakfast bars, formal dining rooms and living rooms, bonus rooms and flex spaces, front and rear porches or patios, structured wiring packages, built-in storage shelves in the garages and fully-land-scaped lawns. Plus, the cost of each home site is built right into the base price of the home.
Though Emmer remains the company chairman and still works on special projects, his daughter, Lori Emmer-McGriff, who has been working for the company since 1985, was named president of Emmer Development in January 2002.
“We have worked really hard to bring Sorrento to Gainesville home buyers,” McGriff said. “We are eager to continue the tradition of providing our buyers with quality homes and strong customer service all at an affordable price.”
At completion, Sorrento will have approximately 259 homes. Currently, the neighborhood is zoned for some of the highest-ranked Alachua County schools — Norton Elementary, Howard Bishop Middle and Gainesville High.
“Sorrento is a great neighborhood for families with kids because the school zones are excellent,” McGriff said. “We are located adjacent to Norton, and kids will be able to walk or ride their bikes to school safely.”
Sorrento will feature an extensive amenities package including a clubhouse complete with kitchen, private billiards room and a fitness center with a kid’s playroom. Outdoor conveniences will feature a sparkling pool, kiddie splash fountain, playground, outdoor game court, built-in gas barbecue grill, covered veranda, nature preserve, picnic area, tennis and basketball courts and scenic sidewalks and bike trails.
“We are the only builder in Gainesville that goes to such great lengths when it comes to our community amenities,” McGriff said. “We had such a terrific response from our home buyers in Capri when we unveiled the community amenities there. At Sorrento, we want to create the same sense of community by developing a community center where home owners can relax, play, socialize and just enjoy themselves.”
Sorrento homes range in square footage from 1,310 to 2,714 square feet with prices from the mid $130s to the mid $240s.
Emmer Development is showcasing three new models at Sorrento during the Builders Association of North Central Florida 2003 Fall Parade of Homes going on from October 11–19.
Marketing Director Nickie Mitchell looks forward to the Fall Parade of Homes.
“We are especially thrilled about the Fall Parade this year because we will be showing our Sorrento models for the first time,” Mitchell said. “Archie McCormick of Archie McCormick Interiors, Inc. and the entire Emmer team have worked diligently to prepare these homes for display.”
Emmer Development has been a strong supporter of the Builders Association for many years. Currently, McGriff serves as treasurer on the board of directors. She has served on the board for the last 10 years and is slated to become president in 2005. She will be the second woman in history to serve as president of the Association.
“The Parade of Homes is a great opportunity for local builders to show off their talent,” McGriff said. “We have outstanding participation from our builders as well as our potential home buyers and other interested members of the community.”
Emmer Development is proud to be a member of the Gainesville community. Since Emmer relocated his modest company to Gainesville and made this North Florida town its headquarters, the company has made major progress.
In the past, Emmer Development has been named by Florida Trend magazine as one of the 200 largest private companies in Florida. Professional Builder magazine has described Emmer Development as one of the “housing giants” in the United States and, in 2002, named it to the “101 Best Companies to Work For in Residential Construction” list. One of Emmer Development’s most recent accomplishments was winning an Excel Award from the Florida Homebuilders Association this year at the Southeastern Builders Conference in Orlando. Also recently, the company received a nomination for the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award.
In addition to keeping in touch with professional and industry standards, Emmer Development has kept strong ties to the community as well. The company has been an active member of the Alachua County School Board’s Partners in Education Program since 1995. Through Partners in Education, it has assisted local schools with such projects and events as Teacher Appreciation Week, back to school celebrations, PTA carnivals and silent auctions, the ACCPTA Parenting Fair, the Second Grade Home of Your Own Program and Tools for Schools. In 2001, the company initiated the Teacher Appreciation Program at Norton Elementary. The program recognizes teachers of one or two specific grades each month. McGriff and Emmer Development have been involved with J.J. Finley Elementary School and Westwood Middle School. As a matter of fact, McGriff is currently serving as past-president of the Finley PTA.
“We have come a long way since my dad started this company 50 years ago,” McGriff said. “I am quite honored to be a part of the family business, and I look forward to having my children carry on the legacy.”
In addition to Sorrento in northwest Gainesville, Emmer Development has plans to build two distinct condominium communities in the Ormond Beach area. Plans are also underway for a singlefamily community in southwest Gainesville.
For more information about Emmer Development, call Marketing Director Nickie Mitchell at 352-376-2444 or visit www.emmergroup.com.
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