Good afternoon,
So for the last several weeks the Sales Staff have been saying that March would be busy as January and February were pretty slow, as they usually are. In the last thirty-six hours we put Lot 1, Lot 5 (both on the park) and Lot 241 (Rosewood Landing) under contract and as I sit here typing this update John Page is writing a contract for Lot 242. As the weather begins to warm up and people make their trips to the Wilmington area, we expect to see a continuation of this recent activity This winter we attended four real estate shows in Chicago, Philadelphia, Parsippany, N.J. and Greater Washington, D.C. and we had a great deal of interest in the community.
Some final paperwork is being completed with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority to finalize the water and sewer service for the next section of Rosewood Landing and paving the new roads is not far off. On the south side of the community, we plan to start three model homes for the new Cottage Park section within the next two weeks as the builder is applying for permits on Monday. We already have four reservations for Cottage Park. Duke Power has finally wrapped up the power line work in the easement area and they should be completely out within a few days. Burrows met today with a landscape company that will be installing hundreds of plantings along the bluff in the areas where we recently reinforced the bank and in other areas as well. The owners of Lot 205 on the river will be starting construction very soon as their builder has already obtained the building permit.
As with life, change is one of the certainties of the restaurant and business world. Chef Erin Wiley has been given an amazing opportunity to become the Executive Chef for a group that owns several restaurants in Wilmington and March 23rd will be her last day with us at Porches Cafe. Erin has been instrumental in helping start and grow Porches and she leaves knowing that there is a firm foundation for the cafe to continue to build upon and we are excited about the future. We thank her for her efforts and wish her nothing but the best. She will be hosting brunch this Sunday from 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. with an great assortment of both breakfast and lunch items.
Amenities Update
The pool furniture has been taken out for cleaning and we anticipate opening the pool at the end of this month. The lighting in the bathrooms is being switched out to LED which will help control the expense and also improve the lighting. The new fitness equipment has been installed at the fitness center and we are working with the vendor to get the elliptical repaired as well. The azaleas and shrubs outside the bathroom facilities will be replaced by the same crews doing the bluff plantings in the next week or so as most of them died as a result of the hurricane. The natural area between the bathrooms and tennis court will be planted with Splitbeard Blue Stem which is a tall grass that produces white flowers in the fall.
Neighborhood Safety
Several of you reached out to me after my e-mail regarding golf carts on the riverwalk and thanks very much for your comments. Please be aware as you are walking around the community over the next month that everything living in the woods that has been sleeping this winter is beginning to wake up and may not be in a good mood! We are trying to schedule an officer from North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement to come speak to the community about our wildlife and should have that scheduled in the next month or so.
Community Activities
Don’t forget to stop by Porches tonight and enjoy live music with Bill Kerr from 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.
Brunch will be offered this Sunday from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. with a great looking menu of both breakfast and lunch offerings.
The bar at Porches will NOT be open tomorrow evening as Jennifer is out of town this weekend. We do plan on reopening next Saturday evening.
The annual Parade of Homes will be held the last weekend of April (27th & 28th) and the first weekend of May (4th and 5th). Historically, we have seen hundreds of folks come through the community over the two weekends.
Have a great weekend and as always, thanks for making this special community your home.
John Lennon