Camas Meadows development will be featured in 2017 Parade of Homes

For the first time in 14 years, the Parade of Homes will be held in Camas.

The annual builders showcase event, organized by the Building Industry Association of Clark County, will be held in July 2017 at Parklands at Camas Meadows, according to Paul Dennis, the project planner for the mixed-use development.

BIA Executive Director Avaly Scarpelli described the selection process held earlier this month as a collaborative effort of a volunteer committee made up of Parade of Homes sponsors, builders and BIA leadership. The group toured sites that were submitted for consideration, then voted on which would be chosen for the 2017 show.

“The Parklands was selected for its location, lot sizes, marketability and subdivision layout being conducive to hosting a show,” she said.

Parklands at Camas Meadows is a 36-acre mixed-use project located two-tenths of a mile east of the Camas Meadows Golf Course clubhouse, and northeast of the intersection of Northwest Payne Road and Northwest Camas Meadows Drive. It is being developed by Kevin DeFord and Aaron Barr.

It will feature what is being described as a “luxury gated community,” with 41 lots ranging in size from 15,000 to 18,500 square feet, according DeFord. There will also be five commercial buildings, which will be called The Archery, with a total of 90,000 square feet of space, and 24 living units on the top floor of one of the buildings.

“This is going to be something our city hasn’t seen before,” Dennis said.

DeFord, a Camas resident, is president and founder of Nex Generation LLC, a real estate development and acquisitions company. He is excited about the opportunity to showcase the residential portion of development as part of the 40th anniversary of the Parade of Homes.

“The site sold itself,” DeFord said. “It will have easy access and plenty of parking, It’s not a constrained site. There are a lot of easy positives that go along with that. From any developer’s point of view [being part of the Parade of Homes] is an asset and something that adds value to the neighborhood. The Parade and the vision that goes with that is a great blessing to have as part of our development.”

Fifteen lots at the Parklands at Camas Meadows have already been sold. Toward the center of the development there are nine acres of open space, which will allow the majority of the houses to be located either along the golf course or green space. There will also be walking trails within the development that connect to the Heritage Trail on the south side of Lacamas Lake.

DeFord described Parklands at Camas Meadows as a 2016 version of Lacamas Shores, a high-end development that includes 250 home sites off of Lake Road that began construction in the late 1980s. Each house’s design will be unique.

“What we didn’t want to do is sell all the lots to one builder, and have five floor plans that come in as part of the neighborhood,” he said. “Every home in here will truly be a custom home. We think that will make it a truly unique neighborhood that fits Camas and fits the community, It’s not something you’ll find anywhere else.”

According to DeFord, the development was master planned to take advantage of the small town atmosphere that already exists in other parts of the city.

“We think it really fits together well with the surrounding pieces and uses that are already there,” he said. “With all of the other development that is going on around us, I view this as a satellite east downtown Camas. With the amenities we are putting in there, once these rooftops start going in you are going to see people gathering there on Saturday morning for coffee, shopping, and walking the trails and bicycling.”

DeFord expects construction at the site to begin in July, with homes being built starting in October.

The last time a Camas development was featured during the Parade of Homes was in 2002, when a dozen houses were part of the event at Holly Hills Estates on Prune Hill. From 2003 to 2006, the Parade of Homes was held at developments in Washougal.

The 2014 and 2015 Parade of Homes, both held at developments in Ridgefield, each attracted approximately 15,000 people.

“We’ve had pretty consistent attendance over the past couple of years, but are hoping with this incredible site in Camas that attendance will be significantly increased,” Scarpelli said.

Mayor Scott Higgins explained that he anticipates the event at Parklands at Camas Meadows will provide an opportunity to display what is special about Camas.

“I have been trying to get a Parade of Homes in Camas for four years,” he said. “We lost out twice. I’m excited we finally we got it. I do think this is the best of the best. It’s a great way to showcase Camas. It will be great for the community.”

The Parade of Homes could offer information about local activities, events and features including downtown Camas, and the city’s parks and trail system.

“For me, it’s an opportunity to show what we are proud of,” Higgins said.