What's Going Where Wednesday IV

Ivy Homes: Drive down any street in Port Tampa and you'll see a new house, or two, going up. Some are filling in empty lots, others are replacing tear downs. Taken all together we probably have as many in-fill houses under construction as Inland and Castillo are building at South Tampa Square. This week I caught up with Ed Rechak, President of Ivy Homes, to ask him about the homes he's already built in southwest Port Tampa and where he's going from here.

Driving down Commerce Street toward Picnic Island Park most people don't even realize a residential enclave lies behind the industry on Commerce St. and Ingraham. Back in 2004 Rechak saw a neighborhood that had already turned a corner for the better and a larger area that was ripe for the developments like Casa Bella, Westshore Yacht Club and New Port Tampa Bay. "I saw where prices were going north of Gandy and saw potential south of Gandy. Once you get behind Ingraham there are some brick streets, beautiful trees, it's a neat place."

Named for his sister, Ivy Homes is Rechak's company. He came up through the ranks with some national home builders and decided to venture out on his own "to build the kind of home I would want to live in," he says. Apparently Rechak wants to live with hardwood floors, an enormous master bath, high tech gadgetry, high ceilings, crown moulding, granite countertops, screened lanais, and leaded glass entry doors. Ivy Homes' first two Port Tampa houses were finished in spring 2005, the second two houses were sold before the footings were poured. With each round of homes Rechak has aimed more square footage and a higher price point. His Eduard Isle model, just started on Shamrock near the Rec. Center, will have 2700sf of living space and a Victorian flare. The Padraic, planned nearby on Sparkman will have bay windows and 3400sf under roof. In keeping with the character of this area some would like to see designated an historic district, Rachek removed just one tree from the heavily wooded Shamrock lot.

Nearing completion in southwest Port Tampa are two more Ivy Homes models with a Mediterranean Revival character. Rechak says with these houses he'll be the first builder in Tampa to use a new "green" building product for sidewalks and driveways. The city has approved his use of Flexi-Pave, a permeable material made from shredded tires. Rechak chose a color that I think will read as weathered brick from a distance. In addition to providing a use for old tires the material reduces storm water runoff, and very importantly for homeowners does not puddle. When asked what he wanted the world to know about Ivy Homes Ed said he didn't really know, his aim as a builder is to provide a quality home with great customer service. He then called me back to mention he provides a 2-10 Home Warranty that is transferable when the house is sold, mold protection, and anti-microbial paint.

Ivy Homes has 2 houses going up on the 7400 block of S. Elliott, 1 at the corner of Bradley and Germer, 1 on the east side of Shamrock just south of the rec. center, and 2 in permitting for 2 adjacent lots on the west side Sparkman north of Interbay. Prices start in the high 400s.