Dirt was shoveled at the Highway 155, Frog Road and Heron Bay Intersection on Wednesday for the groundbreaking of a new traffic signal where the Heron Bay development significantly added to the already congested Highway 155. The Henry County Department of Transportation (HCDOT), Commissioner Warren Holder (District 1) and residents and affiliates of Heron Bay gathered around the soon-to-be construction sight to kick-off the project, which was developed under a public-private partnership.

The $88,397 project was roughly split between the HCDOT, Cole Tracks Associates, which donated $25,000, and Stag Leap, which donated $20,000.

“We saw a need for improvement because of the development that had occurred. This is a good example of what public-private partnerships can accomplish, as it will benefit everyone without putting all the burden on taxpayers,” said Commissioner Warren Holder (District 1) about the project.

The new traffic and turn signals added to this intersection will provide better access for the thousands of Heron Bay residents and also a safer entrance onto Highway 155 from Frog Road. With the help of these generous contributors and the continuous hard work put in by the HCDOT, the intersection of Highway 155, Frog Road and Heron Bay Boulevard is expected to be completed by mid-August, providing a safer, more organized intersection for Henry County citizens.

Cutline: Groundbreaking took place at the intersection of Highway 155, Frog Road and Heron Bay Boulevard. Those involved, pictured from left to right, are Stacy Gooding, the Heron Bay Marketing Coordinator, Terry McMickle, Public Works Division Director, Commissioner Warren Holder (District 1), Ed Taylor, First National Bank Heron Bay Branch Vice President, Sheila Wolfe, Heron Bay Property Manager, Catherine Wright, Heron Bay Employee, Vivian Hampton, Gables Resident, Carol Vetula, Pine Hurst Resident and Todd Smith, Minerva Properties Project Manager.

Minerva Properties is pleased to announce the closing of the 900th home at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club. This milestone was reached earlier this month Thadius and Mindy Nesbitt closed on their new D.R. Horton home in the Meadow Glen neighborhood at Heron Bay. The Philadelphia couple is moving to the Henry County master-planned community to be closer to family and plan to move into their new home this summer.
“We wanted a place that was warm to retire to, so we actually first considered moving out of the country to somewhere tropical, but decided that we did not want to be that far away from family,” said Mindy. “With its resort-style amenities and convenient location to Thadius’ family in Atlanta, Heron Bay was the perfect community for us.”

The Nesbitts' home is the two story Fieldstone floorplan by award winning, national homebuilder, D.R. Horton Homes and includes five bedrooms with three bathrooms. Located on a wooded homesite in a quiet cul-de-sac that backs up to preserved greenspace, the spacious home is in a peaceful area surrounded by nature. The beautiful open concept floorplan features a two-story foyer flanked by formal living and dining rooms, large gourmet kitchen with center island, spacious family room with gas fireplace and a guest suite on the main level. The second floor includes an owners retreat with a luxurious bathroom with large bathtub and separate shower.

“We are very excited about this milestone,” said Heron Bay's Marketing Director, Lisa Brutvan. “It comes at a time when many communities are feeling the discouraging pressures of a down market. Reaching this significant milestone energizes us about the response of our homebuyers and prospective homebuyers to the lifestyle available at Heron Bay. It also proves the dedication of our staff and development team. We are excited about the success we have seen at Heron Bay and the momentum that we have moving forward.” 

D.R. Horton and Heron Bay have worked hard to make the Nesbitts transition from Philadelphia to Atlanta's southern crescent as easy as possible. “Purchasing our new home has been a great experience due in large part to the customer service here at Heron Bay. Everyone from the development team to the builder to the sales agents have been extremely friendly, helpful and willing to make special accommodations for us, which can be difficult for someone moving from another state. They were the nicest people I have ever met in my life,” said Mindy.

In addition to their new home, the Nesbitts are looking forward to taking advantage of Heron Bay’s resort-style amenity package that includes an aquatic center, clubhouse, tennis center, lake, golf course, parks and more. The Nesbitts' new neighborhood, Meadow Glen, is a short stroll from an adjacent neighborhood park and right down the street from the golf clubhouse and grille.

Within the economic stimulus bill signed into law this week by President Obama, there is a provision allowing qualified homebuyers to claim a tax credit worth $8,000 or 10% of the home’s value, whichever is less, on their 2008 or 2009 tax return. A big plus is that this credit is totally refundable unlike the current tax credit for first-time buyers of $7,500 that was passed in July of 2008, which was actually more of a low-interest loan.

Who qualifies for this credit?

• Homebuyers who have not owned a home during the last three years, who purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.
• Homebuyers who plan to live in the newly purchased home for at least three years. (Buyers who sell prior three years will be obligated to pay back the credit.)
• Homebuyers who make less than $75,000 for singles and less than $150,000 for couples

How do you apply for the credit?

• Applying for the credit is easy – just claim it on your tax return.  No other forms or papers have to be filed.  If you owe taxes when the return is filed, the amount owed will be deducted from the $8,000.  If you are due a refund when the return is filed, you will receive the full $8,000 credit plus the refund amount owed.
• Taxpayers who have already completed returns for 2008 can file an amended return to claim the credit.

Now is a great time to buy a home in Heron Bay Golf & Country Club!  DR Horton Homes has recently purchased lots in three new neighborhoods offering a diverse selection of home styles targeted to every life stage priced from the high $100’s – Mid $300’s.  New homes in these neighborhoods are now under construction! 

In our Links, Lakeview and Preserve neighborhoods, there are a variety of attractively priced homes now available for sale on spectacular home sites. John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods has numerous award-winning home designs available to build both on and off the golf course. 

Our resort-style amenities are fully completed and our Home Owners Association is fully funded with an active program of social activities for all of our residents.  Visit Heron Bay today to tour our amazing community and take advantage of the best possible time to buy a new home!

The Heron Bay Community Association and the Social Activities Committee held a Sweetheart Soiree for residents at the Heron Bay Lodge on Valentine’s evening. With 56 guests in attendance, the memorable event was considered a hit by attendees. The romance-filled evening included a delicious array of tempting foods and beverages, with special His and Hers martinis, live music and gifts.

The romantic atmosphere was set by live jazz music provided by the popular Henley Varner Band. Heron Bay's clubhouse, the Lodge, was transformed into a picture perfect location for the  enchanted evening. The meal was complete with decadent dessert treats and a scrumptious Raspberry Elegance cake. Decorations included elegant white tablecloths covered in fresh rose petals, complete with soft candle light. To remember the evening, all attendees were given a special sweetheart gift, a framed copy of the couple’s picture.

“As a proud member of the Heron Bay community, I attend all of the events that I can,” said Heron Bay resident and social committee member Sonia Joseph. “This year, the atmosphere at the Soiree was very cozy and romantic, which really added to the fun of the evening.”

The social committee was formed by the Community Association to cultivate a sense of community within Heron Bay through regular events for residents of all ages and takes pride in bringing together the residents of Heron Bay as a real community.

Minerva Properties is pleased to announce the appointment of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage to manage the luxury custom home sales, direct lot sale program and sales of homes by award-winning John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, their flagship, master-planned golf community located in Henry County. A team of experienced new home sales specialists will be handling the sales for Heron Bay from the community's one-stop sales center in The Lodge at Heron Bay. The new team includes sales manager Meril Missbach and on-site sales agents Sherry Driver and Josh Irwin.

Director of Sales for Coldwell Banker, Meril Missbach, brings more than 20 years of real estate experience to Heron Bay Golf and Country Club as the new sales manager. She is a member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors and the Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council, has earned her Certified Sales Professional designation and is working toward her Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) designation. Missbach has received several recognitions throughout her career including being named one of Atlanta’s Top Realtors in 2004 by Atlanta Magazine, one of the Top 100 Agents in 2005 by Communities Magazine and is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Club.

Sherry Driver and Josh Irwin are the two on-site sales agents at Heron Bay. Driver has been in the real estate industry for more than eight years and specializes in golf and country club communities/custom homes sales. Driver is a member of the Metro South Association of Realtors (MSAR) and has repeatedly been named a member of MSAR’s Million Dollar Club. Irwin has also worked in the real estate industry for eight years and was a member of MSAR’s Million Dollar Club from 2002 to 2007. His background is in new home sales and he began working in luxury sales in 2005.

About Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors
Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, a leading residential real estate brokerage company, is a specialty division of Coldwell Banker that serves as a comprehensive, strategic advisor for new construction residential developments. Focusing on single-family developments, multi-family dwellings (including condominiums, townhomes and lofts) and bank-owned distressed assets, NRT Development Advisors assists with conceptualizing the product, provides input on design, develops the most effective marketing plan and provides expert onsite sales teams and support staff. Based in Atlanta with a regional office in Orlando, Fla., NRT Development Advisors has successfully marketed over 750 new construction and conversion developments including luxury high-rises, single-family developments and bank owned assets. NRT Development Advisors is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeratlanta or www.cbbankowned.com.

 

Top national builder to offer three different product types and price points
in one of Atlanta’s top master-planned communities

In October, Minerva Properties announced that D.R. Horton had contracted to purchase single family home sites in The Villas neighborhood in Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, the premier master-planned community in Atlanta’s southern crescent. Minerva Properties is pleased to announce that D.R. Horton has agreed to purchase home sites in another two neighborhoods within Heron Bay, The Summit and Northridge. D.R. Horton is a national leader in the residential homebuilding industry and has built homes in four previous neighborhoods within Heron Bay, three of which are now sold out, with Meadow Glen likely to reach close-out by mid 2009. The opening of these three new neighborhoods will allow D.R. Horton to continue their successful selling strategies with a variety of different home design concepts at multiple price points.

The Villas, located along the 18th fairway of the Heron Bay golf course, offers a well designed collection of both ranch and master on the main homes priced from the $180,000s.  Homes at The Summit are designed to fit any lifestyle, featuring innovative ranch plans and livable two-story family homes priced from the $190,000s. Northridge features D.R. Horton's Estate Series, which offers both sprawling ranch plans and large two-story homes with spacious owner's suites and gourmet kitchens, starting in the $220,000s.  The Northridge community is located along the 7th hole of Heron Bay’s golf course and many home sites offer lovely views of the course.

“We have had great success at Heron Bay and are very excited to continue our partnership with this community,” said Tom F. Hill, Jr., Atlanta division president at D.R. Horton. “We have built our homes here since the community first opened and are just as excited now as we were then, as this community has maintained its momentum and advancement and will continue to grow in the years to come.”

“Heron Bay is very happy to have this additional new home inventory,” said Brian Davison, Co-Managing Partner of Minerva Properties, developer of Heron Bay Golf and Country Club. “Our community is strong and flourishing because we are able to offer new home shoppers stability through partnerships such as those with D.R. Horton, one of the nation's largest and most respected home builders.” 

Quality customer service is a key component of D.R. Horton’s philosophy. Homebuyers have the ability to personalize their home with creative design choices in flooring, lighting, cabinetry, appliances and more. Professional builders guide the buyers through the home building process and make quality inspections along the way. Buyers have an orientation walkthrough with the builder before closing to review the new home and make sure the details are just right, and there is a scheduled 11-month walkthrough after the closing to ensure the new homeowners are satisfied.

In addition to a beautiful home, residents at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club enjoy an array of resort-style amenities. Heron Bay’s amenity package includes various neighborhood parks including the recently opened Lakefront Park with covered pavilion, a tennis center, community sports field, miles of sidewalks and nature trails, community lodge with fitness center and the three-pool aquatic center with heated Junior Olympic pool for extended swim seasons.  Residents may also choose to join Canongate for play on the beautiful and challenging 7,300 yard, par-72 golf course, or take advantage of non-motorized boating on Henry County’s 1,100-acre Cole Reservoir, which is adjacent to Heron Bay.

Residents of Heron Bay Golf and Country Club welcomed the holiday season at their annual Holiday Open House last Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. Approximately 150 residents socialized with neighbors while enjoying an assortment of holiday treats as Christmas carols filled the air.

Children and adults alike had the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, enjoy a reading of “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” and win giveaways such as Ultra Diamonds gift bags, poinsettias, Canongate golf gift certificates and much more.

“The Social Activities Committee, as always, worked very hard to bring this event to life,” said Carla Cooper, Events Coordinator at Heron Bay. “This is my fourth Holiday Open House at Heron Bay and it is wonderful to see everyone and to give our neighbors an opportunity to visit with each other and enjoy a bit of holiday cheer at Heron Bay.”

Colleen Aki has lived at The Springs at Heron Bay for three years. Every year, she and her two children participate in the Holiday Open House. “This year, my neighbor and I took our children to the event together. As always, it was great fun for the whole family. The children really enjoyed making ornaments and seeing Santa and the adults really enjoyed the friendship and wonderful food. It is something that we look forward to every year.” 

Heron Bay’s Social Activities Committee plans several events for residents throughout the year that are designed to cultivate a sense of friendship among residents.

Prestigious award marks the sixth won by Henry County masterplanned community

Minerva Properties is pleased to announce that their master-planned community, Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, received recognition Saturday Nov. 8, 2008 for their outstanding marketing efforts during the past year. Heron Bay won Silver for Best E-marketing – Best Interactive Application. The OBIE Award recognitions, presented annually by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, are the highest that can be bestowed upon new home building industry members.

“It is a great honor to be recognized among the best in marketing in Atlanta’s home building industry,” said Lisa Bruvtan, Marketing Director at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club. “Creative and effective marketing is extremely important in today’s market and we appreciate that industry professionals and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association have recognized the hard work that we have put into the online marketing campaign at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club. We would also like to extend our thanks to the team at mRelevance and RearView Advertising for their collaboration on this award-winning campaign.”

 The Sales and Marketing Council of the HBA presents its annual OBIE Awards every November. The OBIE Awards began in 1980 and have grown throughout the years to now feature more than 100 building, remodeling, marketing and personal achievement categories in which to be recognized.  Since becoming eligible in 2004, the Silver Award won this year by Heron Bay Golf & Country Club represents the community’s sixth such award in a variety of categories, including the prestigious Community of the Year Award won in 2005.

Heron Bay Golf and Country Club’s fifth annual Goblin Gallop was a record breaking event, raising over $25,000 for the Hands of Hope Clinic, Henry County's only free medical and dental clinic. More than 250 participants put on their running shoes and Halloween costumes to participate in this year’s event which was held on Oct. 25, 2008 and included a 6K run, 1 mile Run/Walk and a Tot Trot for children ages 5 and under.

“The Goblin Gallop is Hands of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser and we are so appreciative of the hard work and dedication that Heron Bay Golf and Country Club gives to this event each year,” said Janet Turner, Founder of Hands of Hope Clinic. “This year’s race was the best in the history of the Goblin Gallop and it could not have been this successful without the generosity of our wonderful volunteers, runners, sponsors and supporters.”

Established in 2004 as a way to bring the community together while drawing awareness of and raising funds for the Hands of Hope Clinic, the Goblin Gallop has grown in size each year, and has been hosted by Heron Bay Golf and Country Club since 2005. Last year’s Goblin Gallop attracted more than 230 participants and raised more than $20,000 for the clinic.

New to this year’s event was the raffle of a plasma television, which broadcasted the Georgia versus Louisiana State University game during the race. Raffle tickets were given to the 6K participants upon registration and additional raffle tickets were sold during the event. Tim Burnham, 19, from Griffin, Ga., was the winner named following the conclusion of the race.

Sponsorship dollars, registration fees and raffle ticket sales all benefited the Hands of Hope Clinic, a free Christian medical clinic in Henry County. The clinic operates every Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 1010 Hospital Drive on the campus of Henry Medical Center. Its commitment is to provide any resident of the county who does not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, has no private health insurance and who cannot afford to see a doctor, with basic medical care and free medications as available. Hands of Hope Clinic relies on help from volunteers, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, therapists, and other various healthcare personnel and is financially supported through its volunteers and charitable donations. All monies raised during the Goblin Gallop and plasma television raffle will support the clinic. 

Purchase represents builder's entry into fifth neighborhood within Heron Bay

Minerva Properties is pleased to announce D.R. Horton has contracted to purchase 43 single family home sites at The Villas neighborhood in Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, Henry County's premier master-planned community. D.R. Horton is a national leader in the residential homebuilding industry and this purchase marks D.R. Horton’s entry into its fifth neighborhood within Heron Bay.  Homes in The Villas will be available for presale in November 2008 with initial homes available in early 2009.  The ranch style and master on main homes will be priced from the high $100,000s.
“D.R. Horton looks forward to continuing our partnership with Minerva and the Heron Bay community,” said Tom F. Hill, Jr., Atlanta division president at D.R. Horton. “The Villas is located along the 18th hole of the Canongate golf course and presents an exceptional opportunity for  prestigious, yet affordable living in an award-winning golf club neighborhood. At Heron Bay residents can enjoy the benefits of a resort without ever leaving home.”

D.R. Horton plans to offer low maintenance, ranch style and master on main floorplans offering livable, open spaces and innovative home design. The highly detailed interiors include gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and raised panel cabinets, wood flooring in the kitchen and breakfast areas, and spacious owner’s suites. Exceptional exteriors feature professional landscaping and carriage style garage doors.

Quality customer service is a key component of D.R. Horton’s philosophy. Homebuyers have the ability to personalize their home with creative design choices in flooring, lighting, cabinetry, appliances and more. Professional builders guide the buyers through the home building process and make quality inspections along the way. Buyers have an orientation walkthrough with the builder before closing to review the new home and make sure the details are just right, and there is a scheduled 11-month walkthrough after the closing to ensure the new homeowners are satisfied.

In addition to a beautiful home, residents at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club enjoy an array of resort-style amenities. Heron Bay’s amenity package includes various neighborhood parks including the recently opened Lakefront Park with covered pavilion, a tennis center, community sports field, miles of sidewalks and nature trails, community lodge with fitness center and the three-pool aquatic center with heated Junior Olympic pool for extended swim seasons.  Residents may also choose to join Canongate for play on the beautiful and challenging 7,300 yard, par-72 golf course, or take advantage of non-motorized boating on Henry County’s 1,100-acre Cole Reservoir, which is adjacent to Heron Bay.