The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve: Vacation Living at a Fraction of the Cost –
A Unique Way to Vacation in Florida
The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve Biography Page
Gainesville, Fla. - There has never been a better time to seize the American Dream of vacation home ownership. The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve, located on the banks of the Suwannee River - 5 miles west of Bell in Gilchrist County and just 40 minutes from Gainesville, offer an easy and practical alternative for you to own a fully furnished and amenity-rich vacation home.
If you’re from Gainesville, you don’t need other folks to tell you about the popularity and value of country real estate and water front property. You’ve seen the endless line of cars and trucks with boats attached parading down SR24 and SR26 on a Friday afternoon in the summer - and the reason for their voyage is clear. Despite the travel, they are the lucky ones who have built their own vacation homes, bought a place intact, rented someone else’s or accepted an invitation for some fun in the sun.
But now there is a new option for those who want enjoy their own fun family getaway. It’s called fractional ownership. It’s stylish, affordable, hassle-free and located on Florida’s pristine Nature Coast. This beautiful cottage development lets would-be cottagers own a deeded piece of the action without all the responsibilities of repairs, decorating, pest control and lawn care.
With everything from furnishings to dishes and towels in place, owners can just pack a toothbrush and a change of clothes and they are set to go.
Each three bedroom, three bath cottage at The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve comes equipped with a pontoon boat, golf cart, six bicycles, a screen porch and open deck, all new furnishings (turnkey), a washer and dryer, two televisions, a satellite dish, a DVD and VHS player, a stereo, a fully equipped kitchen, linens and towels, a game table and board games.
Set within the property are two floating docks, a boat ramp, a seven station fitness trail, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a tether ball station, Horseshoe pit & horseshoes, shuffleboard, a swing set and wildlife feeders. “When people had a vacation home in the past, they all gathered and had a great time but nobody was thrilled with the time, energy and expense that was involved throughout most of the year while it was not being used” says Dan R. Brock former Music Business Executive and current Suwannee Preserve LLC partner. The older generation no longer wants the work associated with a vacation home, but they all want to visit and vacation with their family from time to time. And today, the lifestyle of the younger generation is so hectic that... when they go on vacation they want everything to be ready for them – all clean, shiny, no roof to be fixed or docks to be repaired. The Cottages allows them to do that without having the capital or work tied up that is typically required.”
It also doesn’t hurt that The Cottages sit on 12 acres of property with riverfront access and are centrally located so that families can enjoy all that the Suwannee River, area springs and pristine countryside have to offer. Cottagers can enjoy many activities such as fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, tubing, hiking, bird-watching, biking and horseback riding just to name a few.
“Few regions of Florida are blessed by nature as the Suwannee River Valley. Gilchrist is still considered the ‘Natural Florida’ as it was, once upon a time, and it is hard to disagree. We offer a refuge from the hectic, everyday schedule of modern life,” says Lois Fletcher, Executive Director of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce. “With two major rivers forming the northern and western boundaries of Gilchrist County, and over 60 springs within or contiguous to the country, the area has the highest concentration of freshwater springs on earth. It’s easy to see why the peace and tranquility of Gilchrist County draws people from the concrete cities.”
For owners, The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve will be an ideal place to entertain friends, spoil grandchildren and spend quality time with family members together. You will have time to reminisce about days gone by and experience new memories in a setting conducive to relaxation and reflection. Fractional ownership of one of The Cottages provides a substantial amount of personal use time. Owners receive a one-sixth deeded interest in a specific cottage giving them 2 months of exclusive use per year. The allotted time may be used in two week increments and is rotated throughout a six year calendar, so that all owners will eventually enjoy use during key holidays. A deed will be recorded in Gilchrist County and title insurance will be issued as part of closing costs. The deeded interest can be marketed and sold in the same way that any other real estate ownership is transferred in today's market. To allow for maximum use and flexibility for owners and their family and friends, usage is exclusive and rentals are strictly prohibited. Each owner pays a monthly fee initially estimated to be $330. This fee includes real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, cleaning after visit, reserves for replacement of furnishings and exterior upkeep. All ongoing costs of vacation home ownership are included, leaving the owner with a hassle-free way of paying the bills traditionally associated with a second home. A percentage of each owner's monthly fees goes toward the cost of a professional management company. The manager will prepare a yearly budget based on the actual expenses involved in the operation and management of The Cottages.
While The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve are considered a timeshare development under Florida law, fractional developments provide owner benefits and a level of exclusivity that far exceeds that of the established time share image carved out over the past 40 years. The idea of fractionally owned cottages on the Suwannee was developed by Rick Kennedy and friends, who joined together to form the Suwannee Preserve LLC. Rick founded Kennedy Construction (CBC058849), a premier home builder and family owned business based in Sanibel Florida in 1980 (www.kennedyconstructionofsanibel.com).
Rick and his wife, Elise, moved to Clearwater, Florida after they both graduated from the University of Tampa in 1970. After seven years in Clearwater, they moved to Sanibel, where they built their first development, a small gulf front resort.
By 1980, Kennedy Construction was involved in all aspects of residential and commercial construction on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The builder perfected his craft, building high-end custom homes, additions and remodels along with commercial building such as The Timbers, Matzalunas, and University Grill restaurants and the Seapines and Clamshell condominiums. Between 1990-1995 Kennedy Construction was also involved in building 32 high end custom homes on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.
Kennedy and friends discovered the Suwannee River in 1998. They were impressed with the friendliness of the people and the peace and beauty of the area. Together they decided to buy riverfront property and completed a four bedroom, four bath home that they’ve continued to use for family vacations and weekend getaways.
The group decided it would be a good idea to rent the cottage when not in use and soon discovered there was a high rental demand. The demand for their riverfront cottage soon led to the birth of The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve.
“Second home ownership makes a lot of sense, but overpaying for it doesn't. We enjoyed this area so much, that we felt others should have access to it as well,” says Rick. “With fractional ownership, we have created an affordable way for families to have a vacation home on the Nature Coast. The Cottages will allow families to enjoy a larger, higher quality vacation property while spending less money on upkeep, taxes and initial purchase price.”
One-sixth ownership prices start at $69,500 for community cottages and $97,500 for riverfront. You can call or e-mail to arrange a private tour with the developer starting at
9 a.m. on Friday, August 13.
For More Information Click Here