U.S. Assets Group News
Sand Castles
05/19/2002
Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Section: SUNDAY REAL ESTATE
Page: I1
DOROTHY STOCKBRIDGE-PRATT dorothy.pratt@heraldtribune.com
Long walks on the beach, an outdoor grill and a desire for privacy. These simple pleasures led Jim and Donna McCash to En Provence, three buildings of Gulf-front luxury on Longboat Key. "It's pretty quiet in Oron Mountain, Mich. (pop. 6,000)," said Jim McCash, who likes the small enclave. "We've vacationed on Longboat for four or five years." They weren't among the 44 people who quickly put up deposit checks on the 21 units in record-breaking time in March 2000, six months before a similar quick sellout at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The 21 units then were reserved at prices fro $1.6 million to $4.7 million. Instead, the McCashes bought from another buyer prior to closing. They're among six buyers who have moved in this spring. Dr. Seth Bonder of Ann Arbor, Mich., moved in before most of the furnishings arrived. After renting a beach house on Captiva for several seasons, he wanted to be closer to the theater and symphony in Sarasota. He also wanted the feel of a single-family home. His unit on the first living level has a staircase down to a private pool. The two first-floor units in each of the three buildings have private pools. The 40- by 40-foot community pool is a physical and visual amenity. The fourth building is a clubhouse complete with woodburning fireplace, carved buffet from France's Provence region, granite bar, dining room for 12 and catering kitchen. Floors are Turkish limestone. The well-equipped fitness room overlooks a landscaped courtyard. En Provence grounds still have 19 Canary Island palms saved from the Charles Savidge home that used to stand on the six-acre property, which was sold for $10 million to provide the land for the condominium. The buildings are arranged much the same as Longboat's Vizcaya, which had the same architect, Curts Gaines Hall and its lead architect, Chuck Jones. "This is the next evolution from Vizcaya," said Jay Tallman, who was vice president for the Vizcaya developer, the Eco Group. Tallman and Tom Brown formed U.S. Assets Group to develop En Provence. Now they've teamed with a group headed by Charles Githler of Hyatt Sarasota to develop the 17-story Beau Ciel now under construction on the west side of the Hyatt. Curts Gaines Hall has set the oval-shaped building on an angle to take advantage of the bay and city views. "All 44 residences have views in two directions and private elevator entrances that feel more like a single family home," Tallman said. Once you step on the elevator, you don't sense that anyone else is around." Some of the Beau Ciel prospects have been touring En Provence to get a sense of the finishes. Even with 44 units, Beau Ciel is relatively small. More units could have been built, but "we wanted the enhanced views," Tallman said. The entire third level is devoted to amenities: the lounge area, media room, private dining room, conference room and business center, fitness and spa facility and the outdoor pool deck. A rockscape waterfall will cascade down to the lagoon pool to be built at the Hyatt. That pool will welcome Beau Ciel residents. Construction is at the second level, headed for completion in September 2003. Remaining units are priced from the high $800,000s to $2.9 million. Tallman said that the recent sale of the $4.9 million, 8,100-square-foot penthouse is the most expensive new condominium sale in this market. A Boca Raton couple bought it. For En Provence buyers like Dr. Bonder, "a classy beach house" was the lure. "It really feels like a house with our own pool and spa, the garage below and the conveniences of a condominium," said Bonder, who choose 24-inch marble squares for the main floors of the 3,800-square-foot apartment. All En Provence units have 10-foot ceilings, granite kitchens and baths, European appliances, Village Woodworking cabinets, a butler's pantry and a summer kitchen on the terrace. The McCashes have 3,400 square feet and two terraces on the third living level. They avoided the Florida look and had rooms done in Venetian plaster by Kevin Walsh. They have a sweeping view up the beach, which they like to walk early or late in the day. "I'm supposed to stay out of the sun, but Donna loves the pool and beach," he said. "It's very beautiful and quiet here, and we wanted a smaller place (with fewer residents). Looking at Vizcaya gave us an indication of the quality we'd have here." With the Florida weather heating up, they're heading back to Michigan's upper peninsula, but hope to visit a couple of times before next season's stay. "We looked at Arizona, but it's all rocks and gravel," Jim McCash said.
Caption: STAFF PHOTOS / CAROLYN KASTER / carolyn.kaster@heraldtribune.com
The view of the Gulf of Mexico from Donna and Jim McCash's En Provence condominium on Longboat Key. The couple, below, said they vacationed on Longboat for several years before purchasing their condo. Top: The exterior of one of En Provence's three midrises.
Sand castles
May 19, 2002Section: SUNDAY REAL ESTATE
Page: I1
DOROTHY STOCKBRIDGE-PRATT dorothy.pratt@heraldtribune.com
Long walks on the beach, an outdoor grill and a desire for privacy. These simple pleasures led Jim and Donna McCash to En Provence, three buildings of Gulf-front luxury on Longboat Key. "It's pretty quiet in Oron Mountain, Mich. (pop. 6,000)," said Jim McCash, who likes the small enclave. "We've vacationed on Longboat for four or five years." They weren't among the 44 people who quickly put up deposit checks on the 21 units in record-breaking time in March 2000, six months before a similar quick sellout at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The 21 units then were reserved at prices fro $1.6 million to $4.7 million. Instead, the McCashes bought from another buyer prior to closing. They're among six buyers who have moved in this spring. Dr. Seth Bonder of Ann Arbor, Mich., moved in before most of the furnishings arrived. After renting a beach house on Captiva for several seasons, he wanted to be closer to the theater and symphony in Sarasota. He also wanted the feel of a single-family home. His unit on the first living level has a staircase down to a private pool. The two first-floor units in each of the three buildings have private pools. The 40- by 40-foot community pool is a physical and visual amenity. The fourth building is a clubhouse complete with woodburning fireplace, carved buffet from France's Provence region, granite bar, dining room for 12 and catering kitchen. Floors are Turkish limestone. The well-equipped fitness room overlooks a landscaped courtyard. En Provence grounds still have 19 Canary Island palms saved from the Charles Savidge home that used to stand on the six-acre property, which was sold for $10 million to provide the land for the condominium. The buildings are arranged much the same as Longboat's Vizcaya, which had the same architect, Curts Gaines Hall and its lead architect, Chuck Jones. "This is the next evolution from Vizcaya," said Jay Tallman, who was vice president for the Vizcaya developer, the Eco Group. Tallman and Tom Brown formed U.S. Assets Group to develop En Provence. Now they've teamed with a group headed by Charles Githler of Hyatt Sarasota to develop the 17-story Beau Ciel now under construction on the west side of the Hyatt. Curts Gaines Hall has set the oval-shaped building on an angle to take advantage of the bay and city views. "All 44 residences have views in two directions and private elevator entrances that feel more like a single family home," Tallman said. Once you step on the elevator, you don't sense that anyone else is around." Some of the Beau Ciel prospects have been touring En Provence to get a sense of the finishes. Even with 44 units, Beau Ciel is relatively small. More units could have been built, but "we wanted the enhanced views," Tallman said. The entire third level is devoted to amenities: the lounge area, media room, private dining room, conference room and business center, fitness and spa facility and the outdoor pool deck. A rockscape waterfall will cascade down to the lagoon pool to be built at the Hyatt. That pool will welcome Beau Ciel residents. Construction is at the second level, headed for completion in September 2003. Remaining units are priced from the high $800,000s to $2.9 million. Tallman said that the recent sale of the $4.9 million, 8,100-square-foot penthouse is the most expensive new condominium sale in this market. A Boca Raton couple bought it. For En Provence buyers like Dr. Bonder, "a classy beach house" was the lure. "It really feels like a house with our own pool and spa, the garage below and the conveniences of a condominium," said Bonder, who choose 24-inch marble squares for the main floors of the 3,800-square-foot apartment. All En Provence units have 10-foot ceilings, granite kitchens and baths, European appliances, Village Woodworking cabinets, a butler's pantry and a summer kitchen on the terrace. The McCashes have 3,400 square feet and two terraces on the third living level. They avoided the Florida look and had rooms done in Venetian plaster by Kevin Walsh. They have a sweeping view up the beach, which they like to walk early or late in the day. "I'm supposed to stay out of the sun, but Donna loves the pool and beach," he said. "It's very beautiful and quiet here, and we wanted a smaller place (with fewer residents). Looking at Vizcaya gave us an indication of the quality we'd have here." With the Florida weather heating up, they're heading back to Michigan's upper peninsula, but hope to visit a couple of times before next season's stay. "We looked at Arizona, but it's all rocks and gravel," Jim McCash said.
Caption: STAFF PHOTOS / CAROLYN KASTER / carolyn.kaster@heraldtribune.com
The view of the Gulf of Mexico from Donna and Jim McCash's En Provence condominium on Longboat Key. The couple, below, said they vacationed on Longboat for several years before purchasing their condo. Top: The exterior of one of En Provence's three midrises.
