Carmel - Carmel Monthly Magazine

August 2019 Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Submitted There is no need to arrange flights and hotel stays to experience paradise—you can live in it year-round, right here in Carmel, Indiana. The Waterfront of West Clay, a Shoopman Homes development, offers a selection of residential lots with either lake or wooded views that epitomize a place for tranquility and natural beauty. Conveniently located in west Carmel, near the Hamilton County and Boone County line, residents can easily access the city of Carmel, the neighboring towns of Zionsville and Westfield and downtown Indianapolis. Shoopman Home Building Group (Shoopman Homes) is a multi-award-winning custom-home builder founded by native Hoosier Paul Shoopman. Shoopman, a 2018 Sagamore of the Wabash recipient, has built a 48-plus-year career, leaving his mark throughout central Indiana. His vision, talent and passion for quality construction and quality development has made him a recognized and highly respected builder in the Indiana market not only by his peers and customers but also by a vast list of loyal vendors from his industry. Many of these vendors have worked with Shoopman over the last four decades. Shoopman Home Building Group (Shoopman Homes) was honored as a 2019 Business of Integrity winner at the Torch Awards, established by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In receiving the award, Shoopman Homes was recognized as a business with fewer than 11 employees that displays an outstanding level of ethics and integrity in all its business dealings. He has also received the Foundation Builder Award in the 2018 Annual Builder Achievement Awards presented by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. Destined to Build a Local Legacy Shoopman, a product of Indianapolis Public Schools, grew up on the Southside of Indianapolis in an era when high schools focused on teaching a variety of trade skills and graduated its students with a basic knowledge of how to change their oil and make a hammer meet a nail. “In the 1950s and ’60s, you took shop classes,” Shoopman said. “After high school, you went to work and followed your industrial training. I’ve always liked building, the smell of wood and making things, so construction was a natural fit .” When asked what it feels like looking back at nearly 50 years of being in the construction industry and knowing that he’s left his mark throughout central Indiana, Shoopman expressed, “It feels good. When it’s all done , I will be able to drive through it and say to myself, ‘I was a part of that.’ Our business philosophy has never been to build the cheapest house. We have always offered more standard features, accents and amenities. The better looks, the happier I am.” Shoopman has followed and evolved with the trends over the decades, and his knowledge of what the current “Boomers” and subsequent generations want in a home and housing development is one of the differentiating factors that sets The Waterfront of West Clay apart from other area developments. “Functional and livable square footage is an important design element,” Shoopman emphasized. “You can have a 3,000-square-foot home, but if it isn’t laid out correctly, there’s a lot of wasted hall space, etc., than you’re paying taxes on and heating/cooling wasted space. Attention to detail, functionality, traffic flow, and the diamond kitchen pattern design are all important parts of our design process. We can’t be perfect, but we get as close to it as we possibly can.” The Shoopman Homes Experience Behind every great builder is a solid team comprised of interior and exterior team members. Shoopman’s relationship with his vendors and contractors spans decades, which plays an integral part of his company’s continued success. “We’ve been blessed with incredible employees and vendors/contractors over the years,” Shoopman said. “95% of your success is a direct result of the relationships that you build with contractors and suppliers. It’s not about taking the least expensive bids. With my years of experience in construction, my contractors know that I can answer their questions, and it creates a more productive relationship because they know that I’ve seen it and done it and together, we can figure it out, as opposed to someone with less years of experience on the job sites. Consistency is also important to the overall process. Having the same vendors and suppliers throughout the project not only relieves tensions on the job site and the need to train/retrain but lessens the quantity of potential complaints from the homeowners.” Shoopman remains very hands-on with each construction project and personally completes each walk-through with his clients. “I’ve personally done about 2 million construction site visits, inspections and walk-throughs,” Shoopman said. “There is a lot of emphasis in making sure everything is done right the first time, so when we walk through my houses with the clients, it’s more of an orientation of their new home on how to maintain and live happily in it than a punch list of things that need to be addressed. In the 49 years that I’ve been building, I’ve never had a claim because there is so much emphasis on doing things the right way the first time.” The Amenities and Advantages of Living in The Waterfront of West Clay Carmel Development For those looking for not only a quality constructed home but a unique and scenic development as well, The Waterfront of West Clay in Carmel, Indiana, offers waterfront or tree-lined lots and convenient access to major highways, interstates and several area attractions, shopping and dining. Shoopman, a father of six and grandfather to 13 grandchildren, built his personal home and is a resident of Waterfront, so he has a vested interest in the short-term and long-term success of the development. There are 94 lots in total, though many have sold within its first year of being open. Residents can enjoy an array of recreational activities, including fishing, paddle boating or sailing in “Big Bass Lake,” located in the heart of Waterfront of West Clay. “We offer three sections —The Retreat, The Peninsula and The Island,” Shoopman explained. “Each has different attributes, such as views and price points. We are located in Carmel and are in the top-rated Carmel Clay School District, but the post office is Zionsville. So, we are in Carmel but have Zionsville postal addresses. What is nice about the close proximity to Zionsville is that when the trail on 116th is completed, residents can walk or bike into downtown Zionsville, and when the trail along 121st is completed next year, people can head east into Carmel and beyond.” Designed Specifically for Your Stage in Life Your new custom-built home on The Waterfront’s island will mirror the natural beauty that surrounds it. Shoopman Homes offers a selection of custom options that most other new-home builders simply cannot match. Choose between daylight or walkout basements, expanded garden baths in the master suite, floor-to-ceiling window options, screened-in or enclosed porches with lake views, multicar garages and much more. Select from the finest brands of carpets, hardwoods, tiles, lighting fixtures and kitchen designs at the amazing design studio—located at the Waterfront model homes—that will make your Waterfront property the home you’ve always dreamed of. Shoopman Homes will work with you to build the exact home that will meet your lifestyle. The Retreat Section of The Waterfront of West Clay Development Create a ranch home with an open, spacious floor plan and plenty of outdoor space in The Retreat and let the HOA take care of your snow, mowing and annual mulching. These lots overlook Big Bass Lake, a glittering 30-acre body of water. Prices start in the $500s. The Peninsula Section You will be immersed in the stunning lake scenery that surrounds the lots on The Peninsula. These lots provide incredible views of Big Bass Lake. Optional daylight lots are available at The Peninsula. Prices start in the $700s. The Island Section These very large/wide estate-sized lots—25 gated— provide ample space to build a spacious home with the option of 4-car garages and still retain a large lawn and outdoor living space. The homes on The Island offer some of the best views of Big Bass Lake. Imagine peering through your large windows in your great room and seeing nothing but acres of blue water—not a neighbor’s backyard. Non-lake lots provide wooded areas tucked away from any additional roads, making this little secluded glen one of the most peaceful spaces at The Waterfront. Here, you can build a home blanketed by the greenery of mature trees. Enjoy the bright red, yellow and gold colors that will engulf your property in autumn or the glistening white of snow in winter. Prices start at $1 million. Shoopman’s reputation as a builder and developer who builds with the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship has earned the respect and referrals of his peers and homebuyers for nearly half a century. Shoopman Homes has earned numerous industry accolades for their quality and service, including the Diamond Builder Award—the only Hoosier builder to achieve this distinguished national honor. These homes will be the finest and most sought-after homes on the southwest side of Carmel. There are four beautifully fully decorated model homes—inside and out—available for tours seven days a week at Waterfront of West Clay. While each boasts the highest quality and attention to spectacular detail that Shoopman Homes is known for, each floor plan offers something unique from the others, but all are quite expansive without wasting a single foot of space. The high ceilings and open floor plans maximize the effect of spaciousness and functionality. The heart of the floor plans is, of course, the kitchens and dining areas that boast amazing views. The floor-to-ceiling windows that open to incredible views of the outdoors are an optional feature that not only encapsulates the home with natural light but creates a seamless transition from indoor entertaining to the gorgeous outdoor living areas. The “flex” rooms offer endless possibilities for how the space is utilized and create a sensible transition from one space to another. It is worth your valuable time to visit all four models to pick and choose what features and amenities reflect your personal style and habits the best. Another fun and unique tool to use while touring the development and viewing the remaining available lots is the guided audio tour, accessible via FM radio, that highlights all of the amenities and attributes that Waterfront of West Clay offers its residents. It is absolutely worth a drive and look-through if you are in the market for a quality-built Carmel home on a remarkable lot that is not available in any other development or community in the immediate area. Schedule your appointment today by calling (833) 525-3466 to see for yourself what living in paradise looks like—right here in Carmel, Indiana. Visit waterfrontofwestclay.com for more details and model home hours.

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