In The News
Local Homes to provide Freedom11-10-2008
See Story in Bay News 9
PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A Bay area home builder is designing and developing homes with a different buyer in mind - the disabled.
Tampa-based New Millennial Homes has already built one "Freedom Home" in Tampa and recently unveiled another one in St. Petersburg on 3rd Avenue S.
In fact, the builders have plans to create a neighborhood of homes built specifically with the needs of disabled people in mind.
Building officials said their homes suit people no matter what their physical limitations are. Inspired by soldiers returning home from war, disabled veteran Wally Dutcher helped the company with the universal design.
"They can differentiate themselves from other builders who are not doing that,' Dutcher said. "And (this also helps) the aging of the baby boomers."
The Freedom Homes feature wheelchair ramps, extra wide hallways and doorframes and amenities like custom bathrooms, light switches installed in cabinets and water faucets closer to stove tops.
"You can move about anywhere in this home freely,' said New Millenial Homes President/CEO Michael Shrenk. "There is no stopping, going backwards and forwards. There is no how do I get to this point, how do I line myself up."
The biggest feature of the Freedom Home may be its affordability.
The home built in St. Petersburg costs about $108,000 not including the lot.
The original Freedom Home was built near Busch Gardens during the summer. Now the company is planning to build seven more in St. Petersburg.
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