Home Builder Assn.'s "Street of New Beginnings" home showcase swings into final weekend

Although final numbers haven't been tallied yet, the Home Building Association of Metropolitan Portland says turnout has been good for the Street of New Beginnings, a showcase of mid-priced homes located in unincorporated Washington County.

The association hopes attendance will continue

"Of course, we'd always like the numbers to be higher than they are, but it looks like it's been pretty consistent," said spokesman Kevin Curry.

The annual Street of New Beginnings is designed to lure potential homebuyers while providing an outlet of affordable ideas for those who already own residences. This year's event is located in Castle Oaks, a subdivision situated off Beef Bend Road near Tigard.

The ten houses included in the show - all constructed by Portland metro builders - carry price tags from $275,000 to $380,000. At least four of the 10 in the show have already sold.

Created four years ago by Don Morissette Homes, this is the first year the home building association has produced the event.

The organization already has experience running housing showcases, most notably with its long-running Street of Dreams, an annual parade of million-dollar houses. That show attracts people looking for entertainment in the vein of the now defunct television show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."

The Street of New Beginnings, however, targets a crowd looking for practicality and affordability. As a result, the event needs to be promoted and scheduled differently, Curry said.

"One of the interesting things is that Fridays and Saturdays are big days at the Street of Dreams," Curry said, "but at the Street of New Beginnings, it's Sundays that have been phenomenal."

The homebuilding association is tracking visitor trends at the New Beginnings event and hopes to use the data to make some adjustments to push attendance numbers even higher next year.

"We'll probably make some improvements next year to cater to the people most interested in the show," Curry said.

Castle Oaks developer Steve Brown said the show of mid-priced houses offers an opportunity for a niche group of residential builders to showcase their talents, but the event has also provided a benefit for local nonprofit organizations and groups.

Shortly after the show opened June 14, organizers held an event for the building industry and asked those attending to bring nonperishable food for the Oregon Food Bank. Nearly 1,000 visitors donated more than 3,840 pounds of food.

Visitors to the New Beginnings showcase also have opportunities to purchase raffle tickets to win a washer and dryer, with all proceeds benefiting Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation.

The homebuilding association has been a longtime supporter of the Portland hospital, entering into a multiyear agreement in 1999 that will eventually result in the association donating $500,000.

The Street of New Beginnings will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday through Sunday, except for July 4, when the event will close at 5 p.m.

Tickets, available at the show, are $9 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 6 will be admitted for free. More information is available online at http://www.sonb.com.