Beacon Island Builders Make Plans to Break Ground

HOUSTON (April 7, 2008) – Custom home builders Murphy Yates and Dan Wallrath report they have received the first reservations on Beacon Island estate home sites and are hard at work on plans for home buyer review and approval. They both expect to begin construction this summer with occupancy expected next year.

Beacon Island has piqued the interest of luxury home buyers in Bay Area Houston as well as Inner-Loop Houstonians and out-of-state buyers say the two builders. “Never in my 28 years of building have I seen so much interest in a residential development before the roads were even built,” said Dan Wallrath. “We are seeing a flight to quality among home buyers and home builders alike and Beacon Island represents the epitome of that flight to quality,” Murphy Yates said.

Current customers of the two Clear Lake area builders have secured reservations for the first two Beacon Island estate lots with construction planned for summer 2008 and completion targeted for spring or summer 2009.

When the land bridge is removed this summer and the more than $1 million arching bridge project is complete, it will be literally an island and the developers' vision will begin to become a reality. “It’s been a long haul since December 2006 when we purchased this property, along with 26 acres of additional shoreline northeast of the Southshore Harbour Marina,” said Bob Stratton, a principal with The Verandah Companies. With vertical construction planned for single family residences blended with mid-rise and high-rise residences, the entire island needed to be secured with a new perimeter bulkhead. “Considerable fill dirt was required to raise and sculpt the grade and all this had to be done with respect for the hundreds of native trees on the island in order to maintain the Old South charm we have planned,” said Stratton.

Beacon Island is envisioned as a “Southern Coastal Village” in the style of Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, capitalizing on Old South romance and charm with lush landscaping, gas lamp light fixtures, deep porches, tall pillars, balconies and decorative iron accents. To enhance the southern ambiance of Beacon Island as a quaint coastal village, as many as 60 of its existing mature trees are being relocated. When complete, Beacon Island will feature at least nine shaded parks, tree-lined boulevards, an interior lake, and more than 2.5 miles of walking paths, meandering trails and a night-lit perimeter boardwalk promenade.

The Verandah Companies reports that the underground infrastructure is complete, which means that street paving can now be done and the bridge project can begin. Both are expected to be complete this summer. Extensive landscaping will also begin this year, along with construction of the Entry Court , the front gate Pilot’s House and the Commander’s Club. “We want future homeowners to see our southern coastal vision spring to life at the same time home construction begins,” said Nancy Pointer, a principal with The Verandah Companies. “Luxury amenities such as boat slips on Beacon Island and immediate access to the Southshore Harbour Marina will help define the coastal character of this island,” said Pointer. “As people begin to come visit Beacon Island later this year, we want them to experience what Beacon Island will become as they begin to consider purchasing a home here.”

Lighthouse Park To Be Focal Point

The Lighthouse on Beacon Island , which resembles the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse in Florida , will remain in its stately position at the north point of the island and will be surrounded by a tiered, landscaped Lighthouse Park .

The black and white-banded lighthouse became a symbol for the South Shore Harbour master planned community 25 years ago primarily through the influence of astronaut Alan Shepard, who remembered seeing the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse as the last site on earth when he made history as the first American astronaut in space in 1961.

Participants and bystanders at the Clear Lake Christmas Boat Lane Parade were treated to a stunning lighthouse light show last December, courtesy of The Verandah Companies and with state-of-the-art technical magic provided by LightPartners of Seabrook. The Verandah Companies is planning special effects light shows featuring the Lighthouse on Beacon Island for future Fourth of July and Christmas season festivities.