The 1993 Parade of Homes got under way Saturday as the first of an expected 100,000 visitors trekked through 10 new "dream homes" on display at the annual show sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Salt Lake.
Site of this year's show is the Mill Hollow subdivision of some 300 new homes near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon at 3000 East and 6900 South."It's a really nice setting this year in terms of location, mountain views and convenient access to the freeway system," said Paul Shaw, HBA president.
HBA executive director Anne Beyer agreed. "This is a very spectacular show with a wide variety of models - the first time we've had 10 homes in many years.
Last year's Parade at Pheasant Hills in Draper featured six model homes. The topography of the hillside site required visitors to be bused to the development from a parking area separate from the site.
No such problems plague Mill Hollow, a 130-acre development that allows nearby parking and close proximity to the traditional commercial exhibits tent that this year features more than 100 companies offering everything from hot tubs to mortgages.
Mark Daniels of Buehner Block Co., Parade chairman, praised Mill Hollow developer OMN Development. "They have designed splendid amenities for the community, and with a golf course planned by the county nearby, Smart Living (the '93 Parade theme) is truly a concept in harmony with the Parade of Homes," he said.
This year's show includes Utah's first official "Smart House," which features computer-driven technology that will do everything from automatically turning on the shower to a preset temperature and water pressure, to phoning the owner at work to report a fire or break-in.
"It's the wave of the future and it's here today," said Tom Landes, president of Americana Construction, builder of the "Shaker Hollow," Smart House.
"It's a system for managing not only the home's energy use, but almost every other function in the home," said Landes. "Its computer network regulates state-of-the-art safety and security systems and allows programmable energy and climate controls."
Smart House is a consortium of 55 partners, mostly manufacturers, involved in producing components for the Smart House Home Management Systems which control heating/cooling, audio/video, security and lighting in a home.
In addition to the Smart House technology, "Shaker Hollow" also showcases natural gas in a wide array of uses, including a compressed natural gas vehicle fueling system in the garage and a gas-fired boiler that circulates hot water through a series of underground pipes to melt snow and ice from the driveway and sidewalks.
Designer of "Shaker Hollow" was The Highland Group. Decorator was Charlotte Hill Design Inc. Landscaping was by In Nature's Image. Base price, excluding lot, is $350,000.
In addition to the usual awards presented to the various homes by a panel of expert judges, and the People's Choice award announced at the end of the show, OMN Development principals Kevin Oakes, Chris McCandless and Wayne Niederhauser offered their own awards this year - fishingtrips to Alaska - to the builder who had his home completed first.
That honor went to Doug Knight
builder of "Somewhere in Seattle," which features a green Shakertown shingle exterior and roughsawn, whitewashed beam ceiling on the inside. "Rajah" slate floors, sandblasted doors, cottage style windows and Craftsman-style stair railings are used to complete the home's rustic look.
The home is for sale during the show at a list price of $395,000. Base price, not including the lot, is $309,000. Architect was John C. Shirley & Associates. Interior design was by Juidiith Clawson Interior Design. Landscaping by Carter & Co.
A "Builder's Choice" award was also scheduled to be presented to the contractor who "was most cooperative and showed an eagerness to help other builders in the Parade," said Shaw. The winner of that award had not been determined by press deadlines.
"With all the people over there working up to the last minute, these developer awards created a wonderful atmosphere of camaraderie," said Shaw.
Other homes in this year's Parade include "The Executive," built by Horsley Construction, architect Techni-Graphics, decorator Christiansen Englert Design, landscaping John Saunders, base price $255,000.
"The Cheshire," built by John Roe Construction Inc., architect Landforms Architects Inc., decorator ZCMI, landscaping Glover Nursery, base price $274,900.
"The Cambridge," built by Miller-Shupe Homes, architect The Rohovit Group, decorator The Comforts of Home, base price $275,000.
"H20," so named for its indoors swimming pool, built by Promax Development & Construction, architect Technigraphics, decorator Contemporary Furniture, base price $370,000.
"Bridlewood," built by Shurtleff Construction, architect Landforms Architects Inc., decorator Classic Trends Interior, landscaping Utah Landscape, base price $225,000.
"Beau Rivage," built by Construction Concepts, architect Hargreaves & Associates, decorator Michael Draper, landscaping Landscaping Design, base price $265,000.
"Mode de Vie," built by Utah Lifestyle Homes, architect Jim Whitmore, decorator Gilded Dandelion, landscaping Conservation Sprinklers, base price $205,000.
"The Lockhart," built by Gary Anderson Construction Inc., architect Hargreaves & Associates, decorator Vintage Oak Gallery, base price $226,000.