By The Business Times Staff
Copyright thebusinesstimes
Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times
The 44th Annual Parade of Homes is a chance for the public to tour new designs and for builders to showcase their craftsmanship. It also highlights the economic reach of the industry.
The Home Builders Association of Western Colorado represents more than 150 companies that collectively employ thousands of people across the region. Beyond their own employees, builders rely on subcontractors from every corner of the construction sector, from electricians and plumbers to framers and finishers, multiplying the number of local jobs supported by the industry.
According to Colorado Mesa University’s Q2 2024 Economic Update, all construction in Mesa County employs an average of 5,354 workers with total quarterly wages of $87.7 million. The industry ranks 10th in overall employment, sixth in total wages and fourth in average weekly wages at $1,261. That makes construction a mid-sized employer in Mesa County, but among the top-paying industries when looking at weekly earnings.
This year’s Parade of Homes features 17 homes from 16 builders. Here are three of the builders, each with a unique story, vision, and the home they are unveiling to the community.
BOA Builders:
Energy Efficiency and Community Building
BOA Builders has been part of the Grand Valley since 1982. The company was started by the father of Wendi Gechter and is now operated by Wendi and her husband Charlie. In recent years the company has focused on semi-custom homes.
“We do commercial, residential and custom builds, but our main focus recently has been semi-custom homes,” BOA Builders New Home Sales Consultant Abby Schaefer said. “We are building three different communities right now in Orchard Mesa.”
One of those neighborhoods is Shadow Mesa, which is where BOA’s Parade home is located. The home is a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, two-car-garage model. The development is already about 80 percent sold.
The home reflects the company’s commitment to energy efficiency.
“All of our homes are certified Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready,” Schaefer said. “They are certified Energy Star 3.1 and Indoor AirPlus for clean indoor air. They are also solar ready and EV ready.”
The homes also feature advanced ductwork systems and energy-recovery ventilators that bring in fresh air while removing pollutants and allergens. These features make a difference on utility bills, and BOA estimates those bills for its homes average about $100 per month.
Shadow Mesa’s homeowners association fee is $130 per month and includes fiber internet, front-yard maintenance, snow removal and trash service.
“It is a pretty good deal,” Schaefer said.
BOA Builders is also preparing for its next major development, Plum Ridge, a 55-plus community in Orchard Mesa in partnership with Epcon Communities. Reservations are scheduled to open Sept. 21.
The company is led by Wendi Gechter, operations/broker, and Charlie Gechter, builder. The team also includes Tammi Brophy, executive administrator; Kenny Jolly, purchasing agent; Chuck Furlano, superintendent/project manager; Gary Raum, superintendent/project manager; and Abby Schaefer, new-home sales consultant.
Creative Design Builders:
A First Parade Showcase
Creative Design Builders, owned by Brian and Kaila Chesney, is new to the Parade of Homes but not to homebuilding. Brian started the company in 2006. This year marks their first Parade entry.
The Chesneys are featuring a 2,100-square-foot home in the Spyglass neighborhood of Orchard Mesa. The property backs to open space with unobstructed views of Colorado National Monument.
The home includes three bedrooms, an office and a large master suite. Features include white-oak hardwood flooring, two large sets of accordion-style glass doors opening to the back patio, and custom built-in cabinetry.
Kaila pointed out the flooring in this home as a major highlight.
“It is a real-white-oak, floating floor where if one plank gets scratched, you can pull it out and either fix it or replace it. You do not get that with other flooring,” she said.
The design combines stone, wood and glass on the interior and a mix of stone and stucco on the exterior.
Although Brian currently manages four or five other projects, this Spyglass home is the Chesneys’ personal showcase.
“When we started building, we realized some of the features that we had going into the home would really showcase well,” Kaila said. “The timing just happened to work out.”
The home is nearly complete with only finishing touches and landscaping remaining.
Maves Construction:
A Family Legacy and a Dream Home
Maves Construction has been part of the Western Colorado building industry since 1989, when the company was founded by Dave Maves. In 2003, his son-in-law Michael Maves purchased the business.
Over the years the company has built a reputation for custom homes that combine striking design with lasting quality.
The company has been a Parade of Homes regular. Kelly Maves said they have entered about 28 homes over the years.
“We have been doing Parade homes almost every year since the company started. It is an opportunity to put our best work forward and connect with the community,” she said.
This year’s entry is in the Dream Home category, reserved for homes valued at $1.5 million or more that are fully landscaped and furnished. The Maves home is 4,200 square feet and located at 7114 Gulf War Drive at the Bookcliff Country Club. Kelly said it was built for repeat clients.
One of the highlights is a recreation space. Kelly explained that it includes a golf simulator and theater room.
“It is just a really cool hangout space,” she said.
The home also includes three bedrooms, an office and expansive living areas that look out across the golf course.
Kelly highlighted the scope of collaboration and the amount of local jobs one home like this can involve.
“Over the course of construction, probably 300 people have touched this house. At one point we had 50 people on site in a single day,” she said.
Maves Construction employs 10 staff members themselves and works with a wide range of subcontractors.
