Lorain County residents believe they live in an ideal location. They enjoy the ease and beauty of country living, affordable land and quality housing stock, all a short distance from Cleveland and its big-city amenities.

"People are finding that Lorain County is a great place to live, and people are finding the land prices are a little more affordable than in Cuyahoga County," says Terry Bennett, president of Terry Bennett Builders and Remodelers and president of the North Coast Building Industry Association. "It's close to downtown Cleveland, close to the airport and has very good transportation in terms of the freeways and the Turnpike."

In Bennett's eyes, there is one other feature that makes the region wonderful. "We have an abundant share of excellent builders who build very good homes in the community," he declares. Those builders will be showing off their talents at the North Coast Building Industry Association Parade of Homes "The Dream" Tour 2004.

The Parade, primarily sponsored by Third Federal Savings Bank, runs May 15, 16, 22 and 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Twenty-two new homes and four remodeled homes showcase the work of 19 area builders and three remodelers. Some of the homes are in senior adult communities, and one condo is featured on the tour.

"This is an opportunity for people to see both new homes in various developments and subdivisions," says Bennett. "It's also for those people who might be interested in remodeling their homes."

New homes in colonial, ranch and Cape Cod styles are located in Avon, Avon Lake, Columbia Station, Elyria, Grafton, LaGrange, North Ridgeville, Sheffield Village and Wakeman. "It just gives everyone a good opportunity to see what the neighborhoods look like and the roads going to those neighborhoods," says Jean Sexton, executive officer with the NCBIA. "It's an opportunity to talk to the builders. They can tell you the benefits and features of their homes."

The homes range from 1,300 square feet to more than 3,400 square feet. Prices run from $119,900 to more than $500,000.

Remodeling projects include a kitchen/ dining room in Eaton Township, a kitchen remodel in Westlake and two homes in Huron across the street from each other. Together, the Huron homes feature a basement refinish, a bathroom remodel and a master-suite remodel. "Every remodeling job you'd want has been done," says Sexton.

Expect to see some new faces in this year's Parade. Only four of the builders have been featured in previous years. "Because there's so much growth in Lorain County, there's a lot of new products and new builders, so you're not going to be visiting the same thing you saw last time," Sexton observes.

Environmentally friendly homes are a theme of this year's Parade. In addition to the tour's centerpiece — The Dream (see page L8) — Bennett advises visitors to look for energy-efficient features in many of the new homes. "Energy efficiency is a very high [priority] again," he says.

A tour preview and a sneak peek at The Dream will be held May 8 and 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting at the Lorain County Metro Parks Carlisle Visitors Center, off Route 301 at 12882 Nickel Plate Diagonal Road just north of LaGrange. The builders and remodelers will show renderings of their projects and answer questions. Examples of green building products will be on display. Visitors can attend various seminars or check out a car show. The Metro Parks will host family activities and pizza and hot dogs. The event is free, except for the concessions.

New Home Construction

Avon

1 Bennett Builders, Greenview Estates

2 Creekside Homes, The Village at Creekside

3 Lapos Construction, Highland Park

4 Scaletta Developement, Avenbury Lakes

5 Terry Bennett Builders & Remodelers, Red Tail Golf Club

Avon Lake

6 Gamellia Construction, Piccolo Place

7 Kopf Builders, Legacy Pointe

8 Kopf Builders, Waterside Crossings

9 Lakeside Condominiums, Bridgeside

Columbia Station

10 Gill Construction, Cobblestone

11 Gill Construction, River Glen

Elyria

12 Dale Yost Construction, East Hampton

13 Lake Star Construction, Horizon

14 Linna Homes Inc., East Hampton

Grafton

15 Majzun Construction, Waterford Crossing

LaGrange

16 R.J. Perritt Homes, Union Station

17 Stiner & Sons Construction, Ravine's Edge

Lorain

18 Suburban Homes, Lighthouse Village

North Ridgeville

19 Bob Schmitt Homes Inc., Ridgefield

20 Bob Schmitt Homes Inc., Ridgefield

Sheffield Village

21 Longview Builders Inc., Deerfield Village

Wakeman

22 Fannin Brothers Inc., RiverBend

Remodeled Homes

Eaton Township

23 Lake Star Construction

Huron

24 Don Jason Builders

25 Don Jason Builders

Westlake

26 Terry Bennett Builders & Remodelers

“The Dream”

Carlisle Township

27 “The Dream” House

28 Lorain County Metro Parks Carlisle Visitors Center -- parking and shuttle for "The Dream"

To see the Parade of Homes map, click the "media" button below.