comes to Chili Homearama 2003, featuring 11 spacious homes built largely by westside companies, will be in the Park Place Community on Union Street in Chili, across from the main entrance to Black Creek Park on Route 259. If the winter weather breaks soon and construction can begin in earnest, the show will run from June 14 to June 29. "We are thrilled about this opportunity to show off our town," said Chili Town Supervisor Steve Hendershott. "A lot of people will learn what we already know, that Chili is a wonderful place to live." Homearama, sponsored by the Rochester Home Builders Association (RHBA), is an annual event designed to show off the latest in home designs, furnishings and landscaping. This year's show will be its 25th anniversary. "The show hasn't been on the westside in a number of years," said Rick Herman, executive vice president of RHBA. "This year there was a lot of enthusiasm among the westside home builders and there is a great deal of interest in building on the westside -- Chili, Ogden and Parma are hot spots right now." Homes planned for the show are all different shapes and styles -- capes, ranches and colonials -- but they are all large and well appointed. Faber Homes, which is based in the Chili-Paul Plaza, is building two homes for the show, 2450- and 3000-square-foot colonials. The smaller Faber home will feature a family room with a full-wall of windows with a fireplace in the center, said Bill Arieno, Director of Sales for Faber. That kind of special touch is what Homearama visitors come to see. In addition, Homearama features prizes and giveaways, special appearances by personalities (Herman was reluctant to name them until their contracts are firmed up), and an exhibit area featuring about 40 vendors of various home products. Parking for the estimated 1,000 visitors a day, more on the weekends, will be onsite. One of the houses, called the Discovery Home, will be left partially completed so that visitors can see what goes into the walls of new construction. New technologies in terms of insulation, plumbing, electricity and the like will be highlighted. "Things change every year in terms of home technologies," said Herman. "This kind of information is important for anyone thinking of building a home or remodeling." After the show, any of the homes that haven't already been sold will be offered for sale. "The builders often use featured materials, provided below cost by suppliers anxious to show off their new products, in the Homearama homes," said Herman. "They are able to pass their savings on to the customers. So one could potentially purchase a home worth $300,000 for a lot less than that." The prices of the planned homes range from $235,000 to more than $310,000. The furnishings featured in all of the homes will also be sold after the show. "The companies that furnish the homes would rather sell them than move them all back to their showrooms," Herman said. "Plenty of excellent values will be available." Tickets will be available at Chase Pitkin and Charter One Bank about two weeks before the show. They will cost $6 if purchased in advance or $7 at the gate. "The town's staff and building department worked so hard to get this through the approval process," said Hendershott. "I am grateful for their work; it will lead to so much good for the whole area." Other local builders involved this year include James Group/Perna Homes of Chili; Home Pride Builders and Development, Inc. and Battisti Brothers, both of Spencerport; David Quick Builders of Churchville, and Homestead Development/Allison Homes of Brockport. |
