THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412080311
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY KATHLEEN BUTLER, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 152 lines
Holiday giving came early this year for some members of Tidewater's building community.
American Heritage Group Inc., along with Lafayette Shores developer Bill Wright and his brother, Nick, began working months ago on the 1994 Charity House to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads.
And, for the second year in a row, Norfolk's West Side Builders built a Holly Holiday House to benefit the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters.
Along with the principle builders, dozens of subcontractors and suppliers donated their time and sold their products at cost to help make the projects successful.
For the builders, the homes meant months of long hours - and a unique opportunity to give back to their community. Crews worked around the clock during the final stages of construction.
``It was a heroic effort on the part of many of them,'' builder Dennis Groth says.
But for the charities, the homes will mean thousands of dollars for the children of Hampton Roads.
A group of children from local Boys and Girls Clubs showed their appreciation by singing Christmas carols during an open house last weekend.
``It really is a boost for the organization and the kids we serve,'' says Web Gould, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads.
The Boys and Girls Clubs hold a special place in developer Bill Wright's heart.
``I can tell you not a day goes by that I don't think about the Boys and Girls Clubs,'' Bill Wright says. ``When you go to the clubs and meet these kids, you just can't help but be touched by them.''
Devotion to the clubs has long been a Wright family affair. The Wrights' father was president of the organization in the '40s and '50s. Bill Wright himself has been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs for more than 20 years, during which time he has served as its president and on its board.
He is now a board member and chairman of its capital campaign aimed at raising $2.5 million to build a new center in Virginia Beach.
So this year, to boost that campaign, the Wright brothers donated a $102,000 home-site in Lafayette Shores, and Bill Wright asked the owners of American Heritage Group - Curt Meslang, Dennis Groth and Stephen Quick - to build the 1994 charity house.
``We're builders, and this is an opportunity to build for a worthwhile cause and to give something back to the community,'' Meslang says.
The 4,600-square-foot, country French-style home was designed for family living and entertaining. A first-floor master suite features his-and-hers walk-in closets, a Jacuzzi tub, private sitting room and separate study.
The living room and family room can be kept open for entertaining, or the family room - with a marble fireplace - can be shut off by French doors. The black-walled dining room opens onto a small courtyard and fountain.
The kitchen and breakfast nook open onto the deck. In addition to the standard culinary amenities, the kitchen has double ovens, a five-burner gas cook top, a built-in grill, wet-bar and swing-out pantry cabinets.
Upstairs, the two bathrooms were designed to more easily be shared by occupants of the four bedrooms.
One bath features a vanity area with two sinks separate from the toilet and shower. The second bath - a toilet and shower area - connects two bedrooms, with each bedroom having its own vanity, sink and closet. A room over the garage can be used as a playroom, computer room or office.
``We had three teenagers at one time, and this to me is the epitome of the family flow,'' says Realtor and listing agent Joyce McKeever of Long & Foster Real Estate.
cKeever and partner, Lin Miller, will donate a portion of their commission to the Boys and Girls Clubs as part of the project.
The house was decorated by Al Seely of Al Seely Interiors in Norfolk, who also donated his time to the project. Seely used vibrant colors, custom furniture and a splash of antiques.
The living room walls are painted with a life-like mural of classic book in a barrister bookcase - his personal design.
For the builders and interior designer, working on the charity home was a unique challenge. It meant long hours of planning and asking companies to donate their materials and time.
But ultimately it meant designing a house the builders believe will sell for the $450,00 price tag it carries.
``Of course we had to build a house that will sell, because ultimately the sale is what will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs,'' Quick says.
Proceeds from the sale of the home will be given to the Boys and Girls Clubs' capital campaign. Money raised in the clubs' campaign will be put toward the United Way capital campaign, which will ultimately funds the project.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads runs five clubs and serves 3,900 children ages 7 to 17.
For now, Virginia Beach's club is located in a rented building near Lynnhaven Mall. But board member and past-president Lewis Hirschler says the new club, to be behind Tidewater Community College, will be in a better location to serve the community.
The home's builders say they hope their contribution - expected to be about $150,000 - will go a long way toward making that project a reality.
``What we hear today across the country is we need to help the kids. That is the future of Tidewater and our country,'' Bill Wright says. ``If we can help the kids, we can secure perhaps a somewhat better for our kids and our community.''
The 1994 Charity Home is not the only home built to benefit local children this holiday season. For the second year in a row, builder Chip Wirth and his company, West Side Builders in Norfolk, donated time to build the Holly Holiday Home.
Proceeds from the house - priced at $223,000 - will benefit Children's Hospital and St. Mary's Children's Home.
The house is part of the Holly Homes Tour, which for more than 15 years has been sponsored by the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters to benefit the hospital.
The two-story, 3,000-square-foot home has a master suite, three bedrooms, a three-tiered stairway, an eat-in kitchen and formal dining and living rooms. The family room features a gas fireplace and built-in bookshelves.
As with the other house, dozens of subcontractors and companies donated their time and materials to complete the home.
``People have been great. They've really come through,'' says Joanne R. Baxter, vice president of Design Concepts, the interior design company that decorated the house. ``The minute I said `King's Daughters,' they said `no problem.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color cover photo by D. Kevin Elliott
From left, Dennis Groth, Stephen Quick and Curt Mesland of American
Heritage Group donated their services to build this home at
Lafayette Shores for charity. Proceeds from its sale will benefit
the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads.
Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
The Charity House crew: Curt Meslang, builder; Al Seely, interior
designer; Stephen Quick, builder, and Lin Miler, realty agent.
The elegant living room and family room of the Charity House.
The master bedroom in the 1994 Charity House.
CONSTRUCTIVE ACTS
1994 CHARITY HOUSE
Address: 1417 North Veaux Loop, Norfolk
Price: $450,000
Benefits: Boys and Girls Clubs of South Hampton Roads
Listing Agent: Lin Miller and Joyce McKeever, Long & Foster Real
Estate
Open: By appointment
1994 HOLIDAY HOUSE
Address: 1544 Bordeaux Place, Norfolk
Price: $223,000
Benefits: Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters
Listing Agent: Mary-Dolph Simpson, Owner/Agent, Nancy Chandler
Associates
Open: 2 to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow
by CNB