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Builders of the Month, Gainesville, FL Find the Country Within the City at Wyndswept HillsBuilders of the Month
WHEN LOOKING FOR a community, many people are torn between city convenience and country charm. They want to be close to dining and shopping and within a good school district as well as have access to amenities such as cable, high-speed Internet and other forms of communication. But they also don’t want the crowds, higher cost of living and impersonal atmosphere often attributed to homes within city limits. Wyndswept Hills, a new community underway in Alachua, invites you to “come find the country within the city.” Construction of the homes is being done by a variety of builders, all of whom have close ties with the Gainesville and North Central Florida area.
Wyndswept Hills is a 60-lot, gated community located right at the I-75 Alachua exit 399, just minutes from downtown’s charming Main Street. Alachua is well known by builders and residents alike as a terrific place to raise a family. With rolling hills and graceful live oaks as a backdrop, the community boasts an Arated school district and plenty of access to nature. Hiking trails, parks, springs and rivers are in abundance, and the weather is mild throughout most of the year, allowing for plenty of outdoor activities. Just a short drive to nearby Gainesville leads you to even more options for dining, shopping and entertainment, and the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College boast an array of sporting and cultural events.
The city has also quietly become a magnet for employers and professionals. Several other large employers have established Alachua as an emerging job market, including Emdeon Practice Services (formerly Medical Manager), Moltech Power Systems and Dollar General Distribution. It is also near Progress Park, a biotech research complex that is home to several companies. Shands, UF and other nearby employers also supply a steady stream of jobs, and several builders have made their own homes here for generations.
Nestled in the heart of the city of Alachua, Wyndswept Hills offers a traditional neighborhood setting with beautiful vistas and lots on gentle tree-sloped hills. Sidewalks, lampposts and front porches that invite passers-by to stay and chat awhile are some of the features you’ll see in this charming neighborhood. Additionally, many of the things that people love about Alachua are within walking distance of the community — retail shopping, restaurants and medical and daycare facilities are all just a short jaunt from home. Future plans also call for upscale apartments in the area.
BRYANT CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. (bryantconst.com)
Wayne Bryant has worked in the construction field since 1976. After graduating from UF with a degree in building construction, he joined his father in the family business of residential and commercial construction. In 1981, he formed Bryant Construction Co., Inc. Among his most well-known work is the Sonny’s Bar-B-Q chain of restaurants; Bryant has built locations of the North Florida landmark establishment in seven southern states. His wife, Linda, has worked alongside him for 14 years, managing the day-to-day operations and overseeing the financial side of the business as well as the interior design of the houses. Office Manager Rachel Stephenson started at Bryant Construction Co., Inc., in 1981 and has been an intricate part of the operations of the company.
Wyndswept Hills, however gives Bryant a chance to return to residential construction. He was born and raised in McIntosh and has lived in Gainesville for more than 25 years. Being a native himself, he is happy to promote living in the North Central Florida area. As one of the partners in the initial development of Wyndswept Hills, he sees a unique opportunity to do just that.
“I think we’ve got something special here,” he said.
Bryant enjoys the greater creativity that residential construction allows and looks forward to building a tranquil, family-oriented neighborhood for more generations to come.
GC CONSTRUCTION OF GAINESVILLE, INC. (gcconstructionofgainesville.com)
Gary Clemmons started GC Construction of Gainesville, Inc., in 1991 after 30 years of overseeing construction projects for the state of Florida. Given his experience in the Sunshine State, he realizes that saving energy is a top concern of homeowners.
“All of my homes are Energy Star certified,” Clemmons said. “We use a lot of the new continuous water-heating systems and other features that make a home more energy efficient.”
Clemmons looks forward to the development of Wyndswept Hills because the inherent beauty of the land will be preserved.
“I love the atmosphere,” he said. “It looks like we’re going to have some trees left instead of just concrete and pavement. It’s more of a natural environment.”
Clemmons said that this keeps with how the rest of the city has been developed.
“It’s a small-town atmosphere, but yet it’s still close enough to shopping, the big events and things like that,” he said. “But you’re still far enough out so that you have some peace.”
GOMAC CUSTOM BUILDERS, L.L.C. (gomac-custombuilders.com)
Contractors Mark McKinney and Don Gocek of GoMac Custom Builders, L.L.C., have an immediate answer when asked why they are building homes in Wyndswept Hills.
“We have lived in Alachua since 1985,” McKinney said. ”We were all born and raised in and around Alachua County. Since all of our kids go to school here, we wanted to stay as close as we could.”
Founded in 1999, GoMac is a family- run business. McKinney’s wife, Neila, is the interior decorator for all of the spec homes they build, while Donna Gocek handles the sales, marketing and finances.
McKinney and Gocek are very familiar with the Alachua area for another reason — the group developed and built all of the homes in Santa Fe Station, located right next to the Wyndswept Hills community. They cite the cooperation they have with the area government as a good reason to build again in Alachua.
“We have a good working relationship with the city’s building department,” Gocek said. “They have a quick turnaround time on permits, and you don’t have to wait for weeks at a time. Everybody works with you.”
This spirit of cooperation gives GoMac and other builders a downhome feeling that they in turn put into their neighborhoods.
“We enjoy building for people who will be longtime friends and neighbors,” McKinney said. “Alachua is a great community to live in.”
SMOAK CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC. (smoakconstruction.com)
Smoaky Allen has run Smoak Construction since 1987 but has been in the business far longer. He started out as a trim carpenter and learned the contracting industry from the ground up. While he now does many custom homes, his favorite aspect of building reflects his background because he favors elaborate trim. He looks forward to adding that special touch on the traditional homes of Wyndswept Hills.
Allen likes the upscale concept of the development with its streetlights and landscaping. He also echoes Clemmons’ sentiment about working with the other builders on the project.
“We have a really good group of contractors that like to work with each other and not compete,” he said. “The camaraderie is really important. It’s been a different experience than what I’ve had in other subdivisions, that’s for sure.”
ROGER STEPHENS CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Roger Stephens is a licensed contractor who has spent the last several years working for large companies as a director of construction. But he saw Wyndswept Hills as an excellent opportunity to return to his first love of building upscale private homes. One of the best things about the project, he said, is the location and the setting.
“I have a real estate license, and one of the first rules I was taught was: The three most important factors in Real Estate are location, location and location,” Stephens said. “I live in Alachua and have for many years. I just love the city of Alachua and the environment; the people, the size and everything it has to offer. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to be able to develop, to build and to live there. From the top of a hill, you’re looking down at what’s going to be a bustling and exciting community that’s all within walking or biking distance. It wasn’t just a matter of developing; it was a matter of feeling so strongly about the land itself and where it’s located.”
With builders like they are, it’s easy to see how Wyndswept Hills will be an enclave for families. Clemmons put it well when he spoke of the camaraderie that they share: “We seem to have a good working relationship,” he said. “All the builders involved seem to have their hearts into this project.” Home prices start in the mid-$300,000s. Come and experience the country within the city — at Wyndswept Hills! G
Visit wyndswepthills.com or call Linda at 352-378-2857 ext. 14 for more information about Wyndswept Hills.
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