Thursday, September 05, 2013

Catching Up with Carl: December 2012

An experience we all used to know, but during this recession of four-plus years we may have forgotten, is the rush of setting up a new project. I’ve been getting the ‘rush’ back with Seahorse Beach Club.

Our challenge is to have inventory ready for use by next summer. To be realistic, we should have started last summer, but the reality is that we are beginning now. So, the tasks at hand: design the homes, design the Beach Club and pool, design and install project entry structures and site signage, construct the fishing and crabbing pier that goes out into Drum Bay, and install all of the soft amenities. On top of that, there’s the website, marketing materials, exchange program, buyer financing, documentation and registration plus a whole host of other items.

We have a terrific partner in John Howton, the original developer, as he understands business and best practices, and has ramped up his understanding of the resort development business and is passionate about the development of the Seahorse Beach Club.

Our senior marketing exec is Chris Cannon, whom we worked with in the early 2000s when we introduced World’s Finest Resorts. Chris then went on to working with Four Seasons, Raffles/Fairmont on foreign-based condo development programs. He was and is a real pro.

Our project director, Scott Tracy, has been with the company since Meriweather Ranch in the mid-2000s. He’s the company broker, chief administration officer, heads up escrow management and has his hands on all aspects of the project.

I am backed by my Star Resorts partner, Rich Feldheim, and our operations manager, Christine Dempsey. 

Our sales and site marketing director has not yet been selected, but we have a couple of excellent candidates, and our pre-marketing will begin in March with sales in June.

Oh, did I mention that we have a distinct focus on fractions? A one-sixth or one-twelfth interest is available in either a 3,500 square foot beach home or a 2,500 square foot Bay home. Seahorse is a 36-unit home development and our horizon is to sell through it in 36 months beginning this coming summer. Being an hour's drive from six million people in Houston is our hole card. Man, the 'rush' feels good!

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