Builders Break Ground on Model Homes at Asturia

(TAMPA, FL) – Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that Ashton Woods and David Weekley Homes have broken ground on the first of seven new model homes at Asturia, its signature mixed-use, master-planned community in Tampa, FL. Both builders are well known for their eco-friendly and energy-efficient new homes. Both builders will construct multiple single-family product types within Asturia, which will offer homebuyers several price-point options within the community, in both conventional home styles and traditional neighborhood (TND) development. The model homes are expected to be complete in November 2015.

“Hines considered a dozen national and regional homebuilders and Ashton Woods and David Weekley distinguished themselves with the highest quality architecture and value for future Asturia residents,” commented Hines Managing Director Lane Gardner. “Hines is always focused on teaming with best-in-class partners, and Ashton Woods and David Weekley are extremely complementary to the brand and product that Hines will attract to Asturia in all product lines.”

Ashton Woods, one of the nation's largest private homebuilding companies known throughout the industry for building homes with award-winning designs, has begun construction on the first of three new model homes. In Asturia, Ashton Woods will be introducing five product lines that will include floor plans ranging from 1,962 square feet to more than 2,400 square feet and will be situated on lots ranging from 36- to 65-foot homes sites. The Ashton Woods model homes are scheduled to open in the fall of 2015.

David Weekley Homes, the nation’s largest privately-held home builder has begun construction on the first of four model homes in Asturia and will feature homes from the builder’s Cottage, Garden, Lake, Manor and Park Series homes. The five home collections available from David Weekley Homes will include floor plans situated on 36-, 45-, 55- and 65-foot home sites. Showcasing the builder’s Park Series, the two-story Mendocino is situated on a 55-foot home site and features bedrooms, three full baths, one half bath and a three-car garage. Buyers can also tour Weekley’s “Behind Our Walls” display that highlights the builder’s Environments For Living® Gold Level program. Construction on the three other David Weekley Homes model homes and sales are expected to begin in the fall of 2015.

Asturia’s masterplan includes retail, office, multifamily and a variety of single-family residential offerings with an unmatched amenity package that will include recreational parks, a trail network, playgrounds, picnic areas, an impressive community clubhouse, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a luxurious resort-style swimming pool. Hines has commenced marketing the retail, office and multifamily sites to developers, retailers and end users.

Given its central location on SR-54 and its proximity to the Suncoast Parkway, Hwy 41, Hwy 19 and I-75, as well as the Tampa International Airport and the Westshore submarket, the development will attract prominent retailers, corporate office users and a garden-style apartment developer. Asturia has approved zoning and entitlements in place for the construction of 550 single-family homes, 200 townhomes, 440 multifamily units, up to 380,000 square feet of commercial/office space, and 350,000 square feet of office/light industrial space. For more information on Asturia and available parcels, please visit www.AsturiaFlorida.com.

Hines has been a national leader in land and community development for more than four decades, and has master planned and developed approximately 36,800 residential units encompassing more than 12,000 acres of land. Several high-profile master-planned Hines communities in the U.S. include: Palencia in St. Augustine, FL; First Colony in Sugar Land, TX; Las Colinas in Irving, TX; Cool Springs in Franklin, TN; Aspen Highlands and Five Trees in Aspen, CO; and Deerfield in Atlanta, GA.

Currently in the Southeast Region, Hines is developing the award-winning 2,400-acre Palencia community; the 314-acre Southaven community; Celebration Lofts, a 306-unit multifamily community in Celebration in Orlando, FL; as well as Aviva, a 276-unit residential complex in Miami. Hines recently completed Azure, a 308-unit multifamily community in Carillon Park in St. Petersburg, FL. The firm is currently redeveloping the Marco Island Marriott and also owns and/or manages in excess of two million square feet of Class A office space in Florida.

About Ashton Woods
Ashton Woods is one of the nation’s largest private home building companies, blazing new trails in design and personalization to build homes as unique as the people who live in them. Collaborating with homeowners for over 25 years, the company and its team of world-renowned designers look beyond the conventional to draw inspiration from unexpected sources, resulting in exceptional design in every Ashton Woods home. Recognized as the 2013 & 2014 Most-Trusted Builder in America by the Lifestory Research Most Trusted Builder in America StudySM, Ashton Woods’ collaborative approach is a key driver of its best-in-class customer satisfaction scores. For more information, or to experience the excitement of becoming another satisfied Ashton Woods homeowner, visit www.ashtonwoods.com.

About David Weekley Homes
David Weekley Homes, founded in 1976, is headquartered in Houston and operates in 20 cities across the United States. David Weekley Homes was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building, an honor which includes “America’s Best Builder,” “National Housing Quality Award” and “National Builder of the Year.” Weekley has also appeared nine times on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list. Since inception, David Weekley Homes has closed more than 75,000 homes. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit the company’s website atwww.davidweekleyhomes.com.

About Hines
Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with locations in 185 cities in 19 countries. Hines has $84.9 billion of assets under management, including $42.7 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $42.2 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. In 2014, Hines completed over $8 billion in transactions on behalf of its investment management clients. The firm has 104 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired more than 1,000 properties, totaling over 339 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 511 properties, representing over 176 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.

Ashton Woods, David Weekley and Hines team at Asturia model home groundbreaking
Caption Ashton Woods, David Weekley and Hines team at Asturia model home groundbreaking