Inside Tucson Business: Mon., Jan. 28, 2008
SAHBA holds first Parade of Homes in 20 years
By Joe Pangburn
For the first time in 20 years some of the latest and greatest innovations in home building are being shown off in a Parade of Homes.
The Southern Arizona Home Builder's Association (SAHBA) event will be Feb. 2 - 17. Seven $1 million-plus in the Dove Mountain area are in the parade. The custom-built homes are designed to showcase the latest in home styles, electronic systems, appliances, kitchen and bathroom luxuries, plus outdoor living extravagances and master bedroom and bathroom excesses.
Some green building techniques were were also used colored concrete floors, carpet made from recyclable materials, solar panels and water conservation techniques.
The rooftop of the Casas Bonitas
Development home has an entertainment
area as well as a putting green.
Among some of the highights are homes with TVs, a 900 square-foot master suite, a putting green on a roof, voice response heating and cooling systems, European architecture and sliding glass walls.
The builders are Bauer Homes, Casas Bonitas Development, Becklin Construction, Lathrem Homebuilders, JD Raney Construction, Washburn Custom Builders and Canatsey Building & Development.
Each home carries the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification, as part of a partnership with Southwest Gas, one of the Parade of Homes sponsors. As part of the Parade of Homes, representatives of suppliers and manufacturers are available to demonstrate and explain their products.
The Parade of Homes will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the event. Tickets can be purchased on-site for $12 each, seniors 50 and older are $10 each, children 12 and younger are free. Some special promotions have been are planned. On Feb. 11, tickets for military personnel are half price. Feb. 13 is two-for-one admission for people over 55. Feb. 14 admission is $2 off with a canned food donation.
Parking for the Parade of Homes is on Dove Mountain Boulevard, north of Tangerine Road. Shuttles take visitors from the parking lot to the homes.