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History becoming expected amenity for affluent second home purchasers
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Added: 01/10/2004
Type: Summary
Viewed: 983 time(s)
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History becoming expected amenity for affluent second home purchasers
Why buy a home in the mountains when you can own a home in the mountains on the famed Greenbrier Resort estate (c1778), or live on The Ford Plantation, Henry Ford’s famous winter escape on the coast of Georgia. More and more, affluent second home buyers are looking for more than just the great view, and the “in” spot. They want a special place that is one-of-a-kind.
“Being able to walk your friends down a path and relate a story about the history that has taken place where they are standing adds a certain value,” explained Steve Schram, CEO of The Greenbrier Sporting Club, the new real estate development taking place on The Greenbrier estate.
“How many people can actually say Princess Grace slept here, or that the private golf course they are playing on was once a POW camp in War World II. Having that history, the drama and stories adds a new dimension to your home. The history can not be duplicated any where else.”
For many homeowners, the history itself becomes an activity that multiple generations can enjoy, learning about the property, who’s been there and what happened there. Another benefit is that historical properties tend to limit the amount of development.
A good example of limiting development is The Greenbrier Sporting Club. Only 500 home sites will be available in The Greenbrier’s 6500 acre estate. Another example is a development in the Bahamas, called Deep Water Cay. As the oldest bone fishing camp in the Bahamas it was important to maintain the history and feeling of a fishing camp. With only 50 home sites and extra amenities designed to fit the surroundings, Deep Water Cay maintains its history, yet you aren’t roughing it. The Ford Plantation, mentioned earlier, has limited development as well.
The development company of Dolan, Pollak & Schram has specialized in finding the one-of-a-kind properties with a history behind them. They are involved in the Ford Plantation, Deep Water Cay and The Greenbrier Sporting Club. “We concentrate on four areas, when searching for new developments: History, conservation and improvement of the surrounding environment, architectural continuity that works with the history of the area, and developing a Sporting Club Lifestyle that offers dozens of world-class amenities and activities for the whole family,” explained Peter Pollak, Co-founder and Partner of Dolan, Pollak & Schram, “our customers like the history, expect superb service and are ecology sensitive. They want the environment and nature to take center stage, not the homes.”
This attention to history, architecture, amenities and nature has been very successful for The Greenbrier Sporting Club. The members-only, private equity club is two years ahead of schedule, and has already sold over 120 memberships. A recent survey of those members showed a great affinity for the history of The Greenbrier as a reason they purchased. The tradition of excellent service and quality was the top reason for buying.
One member related on the survey, “The staff at the Sporting Club seems to be continuing the traditional "southern" feel of the resort (The Greenbrier Resort). Individuals such as Alan Williamson give you a sense of someone who is deeply committed to making the Sporting Club the best it can be and his knowledge of and dedication to the local environment leads one to believe this area will only get better and not deteriorate with the new development. The local people (WV, VA) keep this resort special. They have a sense of pride that enhances your experience.”
A strong history drives tradition and pride, and that is hard to duplicate. At a time when Americans are searching for a simpler way of life, a backlash to our technology driven era, and the security that history provides, The Greenbrier Sporting Club and other developments like it offer consumers a special place in which to live.
With over 120 members in just 14 months, and 128 properties sold (starting at $280,000), The Greenbrier Sporting Club is having great success. They relate the history of The Greenbrier and the standards of excellence as a major reason for this success.
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