West Volusia Beacon

Group Home

A Special Builder For A Special Need

February 7, 2019 – When it comes to building a new group home for individuals with special needs, there is a great deal more to consider than there is for your average home. And such a project demands a special builder — one with years of construction experience, insight and patience. After a monthslong search, Marsha Shankleton, Duvall Homes’ Chief Operating Officer, found the perfect builder.

Funded in part by a grant from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, last spring Duvall began the long process of searching for a parcel of land in West Volusia, proximal to public transportation and large enough to build a 3300 SqFt. home for six residents with Down syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities who are cared for 24-7 by trained and certified Direct Support Professionals. The home would need both living and office space, a spacious porch and grounds for enjoying the outdoors, and sufficient parking for special needs vehicles.  A 2.5-acre plot was obtained in North DeLand.

So who is the builder? “We needed someone who knew how to marry the commercial safety of a sprinkler system, fire and carbon monoxide alarms and adequate parking, with the comfort and privacy of group home living,” said Shankleton.

Meet Tanya Ebersole, licensed contractor and owner of Camelot Custom Construction Inc. Originally part of a father-daughter team, Ebersole grew up on construction sites. With more than 30 years of experience in residential and commercial construction, she came highly recommended. (Above, Tanya Ebersole with Duvall Homes’ CEO, Steven DeVane; Below, Ebersole with Johnny Hartwell of Exclusive Drywall)

After testing her skills in a recent renovation of another Duvall Group Homes, Ebersole…Read full story in The West Volusia Beacon “A Special Builder For A Special Need” by Lisa Habermehl

Group Home

View additional images from the build of Duvall Homes’ new Group Home on our Facebook Page here.

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