For the first time, the annual Parade of Homes has been moved from summer to the fall.
“We’re not going back to June ever again,” said Jim Hilz, executive director of the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio, which puts on the event. “If we had the Parade this June, it rained every single day on those dates.”
Weather, planning and infrastructure were among the reasons the Parade was pushed back.
This year’s event takes place Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 at the Northstar Community just north of Interstate 270 off of I-71. Northstar Community is a 1,700-acre mixed-use development.
When completed, it is expected to have 1,300 single-family homes, and 300 acres of commercial sites and elementary and middle schools. The Parade homes are between the ninth, 10th and 12th holes of the John Cook-designed NorthStar Golf Course.
“The development has been here a while, but you’re going to see this explode,” Hilz said. “You take the golf course, the easy (freeway) access, and you’re 10 miles from Polaris (shopping area).” In addition, the Simon-Tanger outlet-store shopping mall will be nearby.
For the third year in a row, the Parade of Homes is in Delaware County. The zoning for the homes is in Berkshire Township; students would attend the Big Walnut School District; and residents would have a Sunbury mailing address.
“It’s where people want to live,” Hilz said, “and once ODOT (the Ohio Department of Transportation) figures out what they’re going to do with this interchange, that’s going to spur a lot of additional activity.”
The six homes cost between $588,000 to $699,000. They were built by Coppertree Homes; Fischer Homes; M/I Homes; P&D Builders Ltd.; Rockford Homes; and Weaver Custom Homes.
“It’s an honor for us to have them,” Hilz said of the builders. “They get to feature what they do, and it’s a great way of doing business.”
While some people who go to the Parade of Homes are looking to buy a house, more go to get ideas for their own home renovation projects, whether it’s expanding a space or updating an appliance or yard. This year’s trends include ever-increasing home automation, kitchen islands that are more like continents, open floor-plan designs, natural lighting, butler’s pantries, and the return of having the master bedroom on the main floor.
“There are first-floor masters in five of the six homes,” Hilz said. “We have one true ranch, with the bonus room upstairs.”
The hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $15 for adults (free to children 12 or under); or $12 for online tickets; and $5 parking per car. For more information, visit biaparade.com.
