Idea House Tours Postponed Due to Hurricane Ike
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2008
CONTACTS: Marta Fredricks or Kim Stinebaker
Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations
713 224 9115

Beachtown Announces Joint Project with Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF)

Coastal Living Idea House at Beachtown Tours to benefit GHF

Galveston, TX – Visitors to the Coastal Living Idea House at Beachtown will enjoy the best in coastal home innovation, décor and construction while preserving Galveston’s past. Beachtown has joined with Galveston Historical Foundation, one of the nation's largest local preservation organizations, to open the Coastal Living Idea House to the public with ticket proceeds benefitting GHF.

Dwayne Jones (left), Galveston Historical Foundation executive director, and Beachtown developer Tofigh Shirazi cement a new partnership before the Coastal Living magazine ‘s Idea House for 2008. The house will be open to the public for tours this fall, with proceeds from ticket sales to go to advance the foundation’s work. Photo by Manny Chan.

“We are pleased to share in the effort to protect Galveston’s historical structures that are so important to the city’s character,” said Beachtown’s Town Founder Tofigh Shirazi. “Galveston Historical Foundation’s stewardship and preservation are remarkable and Beachtown is pleased to provide this fundraising opportunity to further their efforts.”

Coastal Living Idea Houses are built in coastal communities hand-selected by Coastal Living magazine for their environmental consciousness and sensitivity to shoreline preservation. Beachtown is the first new development within an existing historic city selected for an Idea House. The approximately 4,000 square-foot home, designed by New Urban Guild Architect Michael G. Imber, reflects a traditional Texas coastal home and historic Galveston residences.

And while Beachtown is new, its heart and soul are imbued with the tradition and charm of historic neighborhoods as a walkable, neighborly and convenient community. Consequently, it is known as a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) with all Beachtown architecture reflecting the coastal vernacular style reminiscent of many historic Galveston homes.

“Galveston Historical Foundation commends Beachtown and its founder for respecting and continuing the character of Galveston's historic neighborhoods,” said Dwayne Jones, GHF executive director. “The new homes incorporate the forms and details found in Galveston's rich architectural legacy and are placed in a unique setting that is destined to take its own place in our history and landscape.”

The foundation is a major voice of preservation advocacy both locally and throughout the state. GHF's many departments, programs, events, and volunteers are all dedicated to its mission: preserving and revitalizing the architectural, cultural, and maritime heritage of Galveston Island for the education and enrichment of all.

Tours of the Idea House will be coordinated by GHF beginning Sun., Oct. 5 and last until Dec. 29, 2008. Hours will be Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $10 with proceeds to benefit Galveston Historical Foundation. For more information visit: www.beachtown.com or call 866-854-4072. For tickets, visit www.galvestonhistory.org or call 1-877-77CLICK (1-877-772-5425).

About Beachtown: Located on the east end of Galveston Island, Beachtown is the first New Urbanist community planned in Galveston or Houston, Texas. Master-planned by the international planning and architecture firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Co., Beachtown is a Traditional Neighborhood Development designed to be walkable, friendly, and convenient and connected to nature. Encompassing wide sandy beaches and pristine lagoons, Beachtown is defined by parks, public spaces and natural passage. Beachtown is one of the few places in the South where nature is making beaches wider – at an average rate of over three feet per year. It is also the first community on Galveston Island to implement the Fortified…for safer living® program. The Fortified program, a national, inspection-based initiative developed by the Institute for Business and Home Safety, sets standards to make homes better able to resist natural hazards such as wind and water. Beachtown is minutes away from historic Galveston which contains the largest area of National Historic Landmark designation in the state of Texas. It is convenient to major airports and is one-mile from the distinguished teaching hospital, the University of Texas Medical Branch. For more information about Beachtown, visit www.beachtowngalveston.com.