Historic Model, Modern Touches

Mack Bissette, CEO of Atlanta-based Springdale Homes, sister company of SRG Homes and Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Fla., specializes in New Urbanist designs that blend with existing housing. His Gramercy model in Hawthorn Park in historic East Atlanta recently won for best merchandised model, $350,000 to $449,000 price category, in the annual Professionalism Awards, co-sponsored by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.

David Simmons of Atlanta merchandised the model befitting a Craftsman-style bungalow, using early-1900s reproduction furniture, picture and crown moldings and, in the dining room, traditional “judges’ panels.” He also specified interior colors of that period: green, yellow and sand. “David captured that era and added a lot of detail normally seen in much higher-end product,” Bissette says.

But all isn’t old-fashioned. Bissette knew buyers would want stainless steel refrigerators, alarm systems, surround sound and structured wiring. “Consumers love the model,” he says. “They’ve never seen anything like it.”

The community offers 10 Craftsman-style plans. It opened for sale in May 2003, and 85% of the 47 homes have sold. Buyers include corporate executives, doctors and lawyers — plus three Realtors who showed the homes.