Longleaf Invites Guests To Stop By And Visit

By Scott E. Smith | The Suncoast News

Published: October 29, 2008

TRINITY - White picket fences, apple pies cooling in a window sill, large front porches and rocking chairs conjures up thoughts of country living.

A front porch community, Longleaf, is hosting "Homes on Parade," an open house that will allow visitors to tour the traditional neighborhood development.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 1. Visitors will be welcomed in the Longleaf business district, in which business are clustered together, similar to conventional downtown areas. In addition, a farmer's market will be open.

The tour will showcase the qualities of a TND, in which everyone has a front porch, alleys and service rear-load garages. Visitors will also discover a multitude of parks that are interspersed throughout the neighborhoods.

Longleaf is on 568 acres east of Little Road, off S.R. 54. Once it is completed the community will consist of 1,200 homes. The development was the brain child of J.B. Starkey's grandson's, Jay B. "Trey" Starkey III and Frank Straub Starkey.

The Starkey brothers believe in preserving the environment and established the Longleaf Development Co. to oversee the coordination of the neighborhood.

Phase 3 and 4 of the Longleaf development are planned for the next several years, with a completion date of 2012.

The community has received the "Green Development" designation from the Florida Green Building Coalition and is Pasco County's first green neighborhood. In addition, Longleaf has received a Grand Aurora Award for green construction from the Southeast Building Conference and an Outstanding Florida-Friendly Community Awards from the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program for its commitment to the environment.

Furthermore, Longleaf is in second place on the 2008 Top 10 New Urbanism Communities in the nation released by New Urban Mom Web site, www.newurbanmom.com. Communities selected were those that contribute to the development of safe and sustainable neighborhoods for children, working adults and seniors.

Potential homebuyers who attend Homes on Parade will receive a map displaying the location of 22 resale and new-home open houses.

For a small donation visitors can take a 20-minute horse-drawn wagon ride and tour the community and learn what makes Longleaf different.

For more information on Homes on Parade contact Pam Marron at 727-375-8986.

Scott E. Smith can be reached at 727-815-1063 or ssmith@suncoastnews.com.