Coves at Smith Mountain Lake - News

An EARLY Day at the Lake

Dave Raymond — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:08:36 +0000

In a recent trip to The Coves, I had the chance to get up at the break of dawn and experience the lake as the sun came up. You can really appreciate how clean the lake water is when the lake is smooth. You can see clear to the bottom in some of the deeper areas and watch the fish swim by.

While walking through the waterfront lots, I was able to capture the sun rise through the trees on this amazingly clear day.

The 21st Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival

Dave Raymond — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:50:53 +0000

On September 26th and 27th, the 21st Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival will take place on the pastoral fields overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains in Franklin County at LakeWatch Plantation. Over 27 vintners who all hale from the State of Virginia as well as 85 top crafters and food vendors offering goodies to please every palate will take place at this annual event.

The three bands performing are Domino on Saturday and Fuzzy Logic and Clue on Sunday – adding that special “beach” flair for festival goers who love to dance or simply enjoy the beat from their folding chairs.

While in the area, it would be a great time to tour The Coves and experience the beauty of the land as fall weather approaches. The Coves is offering a limited number of tickets to the event. If interested in a tour or attending the festival, email info@covesatsml.com for more information.

The Optima Properties’ Foundation for Success

Dave Raymond — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:01 +0000

It’s no secret that the real estate market has seen tough times over the past couple of years. On a daily basis, there is more news of community foreclosures and developer bankruptcies in both primary and second home areas. At Optima Properties, we feel that our disciplined approach to financial management and singular focus on designing and building world-class, sustainable communities has kept our business sound and growing during these economic times.

Our success is built on four core areas:

Experience

Our management team has the right mix of business, financial, and real estate knowledge. We have the experience necessary to add value at every level of the real estate cycle – from land acquisition, entitlements and community planning to sales and marketing.

Capital

We have a committed and growing group of financial partners that understand our mission and share our desire to profit from a sustainable approach to real estate investment. We finance our projects conservatively with “patient capital” and avoid or limit third party debt in each of our projects.

Principles

We take a holistic approach to community development and lifestyle needs.

Our bedrock is the infusion of quality land use principles into all aspects of our development plans and implementations. We have a passion for what leading architects, land planners, developers and environmentalists are saying about designing and building to enhance quality of life through sustainable development practices.

Relationships

Over the years, the leadership of Optima Properties has established productive relationships with various governmental, non-profit, and development community leaders to help shape our vision and bring it to life. These stakeholders believe in our strategy, support our mission and are essential contributors to our success.

As the economy strengthens, Optima is well positioned to be a leader in providing our customers the best in sustainable community living.

A View of The Coves from the Air

Dave Raymond — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:03:36 +0000

We recently had some aerial images taken of The Coves property. It is amazing to see how well the community has protected the trees on the property and individual homesites! All the major infrastructure is complete, including the roads, yet the community still has that wooded and natural feel to it.

Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate Sale Sets Record

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:54:48 +0000

We’ve all heard the negative stories concerning dropping real estate values across the country. A recent article in The Smith Mountain Eagle demonstrates the power of buying a home in the right location. We believe that the uniqueness of the Smith Mountain Lake area and the commitment we have to build a world-class, sustainable community on the lake will only add to the long term value of The Coves. http://www.smithmountaineagle.com/articles/2009/06/19/news/b%20sale%20sets%20record.txt

A Day on the Lake

Dave Raymond — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:55:18 +0000

On Monday and Tuesday, John Merritt (The Coves’s Project Manager) and I had a chance to spend some time boating on Smith Mountain Lake. What is amazing about the lake is how BIG it is! The vistas of the land are breathtaking and the water is clear and pure. You can look down and see some of the area’s largest fish swim by.

By boat is a great way to see some of the designs of the waterfront homes and boat docks. We ran into a dock that looks like it was imported from the Far East! Overall, the quality of the designs of the homes and docks on Smith Mountain Lake are some of the best in the country. You can tell that individuals living here take enormous pride in their homes and communities.

You can see why this lake attracts individuals who want to enjoy the best of waterfront living. We saw a wide variety of water activities being enjoyed by the very young, to the seasoned enthusiast. From the excitement of calm lake water skiing, to the area’s best fishing, the lake provides the ultimate getaway for those love life on the water.

As Smith Mountain Lake’s first sustainable community, The Coves’s understands the importance of maintaing the natural beauty of the lake and the land. We are committed to following design and development guidelines that will help protect this amazing lake for generations to come. Everything we do at The Coves is driven by the guiding principal that the value of the community will be best maintained and enhanced if we take care of the land and lake as our community grows.

The Coves Trail System Nears Completion

Dave Raymond — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:17:11 +0000

You will soon be able to experience the beauty of The Coves by walking one of the natural trails that wind throughout the community. Under development now, the completed trail system will consist of four different trails designed to provide homeowners access to the best vistas The Coves has to offer. Over 1.5 miles of trails are scheduled for completion this summer.

Optima Properties Releases New Website

Dave Raymond — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:49:13 +0000

Optima Properties, developer of The Coves and Wild Rock WV, has released a significant upgrade to their corporate website. The new design and content reflect Optima’s continued commitment to designing and developing communities that have long-term value while adhering to sustainable development practices. The site highlights current Optima projects and will be updated on a regular basis as new communities are designed and developed. Visit the new website at www.optimaprop.com.

Homesite 25 EarthCraft Home Design Underway

Dave Raymond — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:34:16 +0000

One of the first homes to be designed and built at The Coves is completing its initial design phase. The home will be built on Homesite 25 and is being designed by Streamline Architects, LLC and Comprehensive Home Design, Inc. This stunning home will be built to EarthCraft home standards by MH Eades Construction, Inc. and is a part of the Optima Builder Select Homes package. Check back often to see the progress as this home takes shape!

The Coves Major Infrastructure is Complete!

Dave Raymond — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:00:26 +0000

As we enter 2009, The Coves is moving forward on several fronts. All major road and utility construction, boat storage, and major landscaping is complete, and the vision of building a unique community that is in harmony with its natural surroundings has come alive. A leisurely drive or walk through the community gives you a sense of how The Coves designers and builders have “listened to the land” while building a community that is like no other on Smith Mountain Lake.