Three Exciting New Neighborhoods Grace Palencia's Magnificent Setting

May 11, 2005 -- Developed by Hines, the international real estate firm, Palencia has fast become one of Northeast Florida's most desirable and naturally breathtaking new communities.

Recently honored with a prestigious Best in America Living Award (BALA) for Best Smart Growth Community from the National Association of Home Builders, Palencia is nestled along the scenic Intracoastal Waterway on 1,450 acres off historic US Highway 1, between Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

Palencia's master plan was creatively designed to blend a wide variety of home styles and price ranges into one community. Palencia includes single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, multi-million dollar estate homes, unique live/work units and marsh front estate lots.

Now, three new neighborhoods, Sebastian Square, Canterra and Vista Norte offer the discerning homebuyer an excellent choice of luxury living by some of the area's most distinguished builders, all surrounded by Palencia's world-class amenities.

Recently opened furnished models by David Weekley in Canterra and Toll Brothers in Sebastian Square add to the excitement generated by North Florida Builders - A Woodside Company and The Vintage Group's new offerings in Sebastian Square and Panitz Signature Homes in Vista Norte.

"We are genuinely excited about Palencia's outstanding group of builders. All have great credibility, experience and commitment to quality," said Naomi Lumley, sales and marketing director for Hines at Palencia. "Each has earned a reputation for offering customers consummate value and service throughout the building process."

The opening of these three new neighborhoods begins another chapter in the phenomenal growth and popularity of Palencia.

The sprawling one-story Kaylee model home by David Weekly has been revamped into an impressive and unique one-and-a-half-story delight in Canterra.

This luxurious model showcases four bedrooms, four baths and two outside porch areas. Upon entrance, visitors are surprised by what this 3,600-square-foot home has to offer. In addition to a separate dining area, the family room is connected to a spacious kitchen. The Kaylee also features a sunroom, which looks out onto the lanai, located right off the breakfast area.

The secondary bedrooms are located on one side of the home and two of them include their own full bath that allows for full privacy and convenience. Another feature about this exquisite home is a two-car garage with an extra storage area. A walk upstairs unveils the oversized bonus room, large enough for a pool table and sectional couch. This area is the perfect family getaway or place to entertain. A balcony, which views down to the lanai area, helps make this bonus room a must-have for all Palencia homebuyers.

Located east of Augustine Island, the Canterra neighborhood's 39 lots provide both spectacular wooded preserve areas and lake views. These home sites create the perfect setting for the award-winning David Weekley designs.

Since their beginning in 1976, David Weekley Homes has led the industry with their unique ability to create innovative designs. Imagination has led to hundreds of industry awards, including over 250 for home designs alone. It's helped them become one of America's most successful homebuilders.

Home lot packages start in the $550s and vary by home features. Lot reservations are currently being accepted.

Toll Brothers' Montgomery model, located in Palencia's Sebastian Square, perfectly showcases a multitude of upscale architectural details including Spanish colonial arched windows, stucco banding, a three-car garage, and a curved courtyard driveway accentuated by handcrafted brick pavers.

Within its 3,022 square feet of air-conditioned living space, this home contains comfort conscious amenities that expertly match the exterior's curb appeal. This four- bedroom, three-bath home features a second floor media room adding 543 square feet with an 84-inch projection screen television, an optional wet bar, and balcony which overlooks the pool, Jacuzzi and waterfall. Travertine flooring is featured in the great room and gourmet kitchen.

Attached to the elegantly appointed master bedroom is an elaborate master bath, dual walk-in closets with built-in shelving, his and her Zodiac-topped vanities, spacious garden tub, and natural stone flooring.

The Montgomery's culinary enclave is a cook's dream with its stainless steel GE appliance package, gas range, granite countertops and ample storage in the dark cherry cabinets, which span all the way up to the sophisticated ceiling treatments.

A nature preserve area and sparkling lakes surround Sebastian Square. The centerpiece of this neighborhood is a central park with a playscape located in the park for old and young alike.

Home and lot packages by North Florida Builders - A Woodside Co., The Vintage Group and Toll Brothers vary by the features and builder and range in price from the upper $400's to one million.

Within Vista Norte at Palencia, Panitz Signature Homes is building on 80-foot lots. Homebuyers will have several impressive floor plans especially for the community; from the three-bedroom, three-bath design to a five-bedroom floor plan designed from the home's generous flexible space

When Panitz Signature Homes announced it had signed on to the list of exceptional homebuilders in Vista Norte the local, family owned builder also announced three new and exciting designs including The Vilano.

Homebuyers at Vista Norte are able to choose from rare golf course home sites inside the upscale neighborhood. There are just 12 home sites remaining, including seven on Palencia's championship golf course. Designs range in size from 2,700 to 4,500 square feet, all featuring breathtaking views of the golf course, lake or natural preservation areas.

Like all of Panitz Signature Homes' designs, these homes can also be customized for the individual tastes and lifestyles of their respective owners. Prices in Vista Norte start from the mid-$550s, allowing homeowners to enjoy custom-quality features without custom home prices.

"Having developed a particularly strong following in St. Johns County over the past two and a half decades, we are excited to bring our experience into Palencia at Vista Norte," said Panitz Signature Homes President, Rob Hamby. "We are pleased to be a part of such a successful community. Palencia's growth and popularity has been nothing short of remarkable."

Hamby pointed out that Panitz Signature Homes carefully select only the finest communities in which to build, offering Palencia as a prime example.

"Palencia's comprehensive amenities package has been carefully and sensitively planned by Hines, ensuring residents the quality lifestyle that they deserve," he said. "This community is a perfect match for our homeowners."

Palencia has been recognized for encompassing all the best - quality residential construction, recreation, shopping, golf and a spectacular natural landscape all found in one community. Ideally situated as the central gathering point of the community, Palencia Village features the golf clubhouse, swim and fitness center, tennis center, the golf practice facility and the picturesque Village Green.

The close proximity to one another creates a true community and vitality, promoting neighborly interaction from a by-gone era. Market Street, the main thoroughfare in the village, is designed for small retail shops, offices and live/work units.

The Palencia Club, the community's private championship golf club, features dramatic and demanding golf spread over 7,017 yards. The par-72 course, designed by Arthur Hills, creates a one-of-a kind golf experience by weaving through a terrain of ancient live oaks, open marsh and coastal scrub oaks and provides beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

The 33,000-square-foot BALA winning private clubhouse features a luxurious members-only dinning room, a bar and grill overlooking the spectacular 9th and 18th greens banquet facilities and public cafe.

Palencia also features an extensive network of boardwalks, which when completed will reach out to a handful of preserved natural islands along the Intracoastal. Other neighborhood recreational choices include nature trails, green spaces, and parks with ball fields, playgrounds and pocket parks.

From Jacksonville, take U.S. Highway 1 south to Palencia Village Drive, located east of International Golf Parkway in St. Johns County. The Palencia Information Center is located approximately one mile inside the entrance.

Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in developing, acquiring, leasing and managing real estate, as well as providing extensive international investment management and advisory services. The Hines portfolio of projects completed, underway, acquired and managed for third parties includes more than 700 properties representing over 244 million square feet of office, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical, sports facilities and residential properties, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. With offices in 69 U.S. cities and 12 foreign countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $11 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world.

For more information about Palencia, call (904) 810-0500, or visit Palencia online at www.VivaPalencia.com. The Sales and Information Center, as well as all model homes, are open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.