Since the time they were college sweethearts at Tulane University,
Beth Houghton and Scott have lived in a succession of homes from
Sarasota to their current condominium in Ovation.
“When Beth and I contemplated moving to an ‘empty nester’ condo,
we could have chosen to move to our penthouse at the Sereno on Madeira
Beach. But our hearts and activities are in St. Pete. Then we saw the
announcement for Ovation, a joint project between Sembler (retail) and
JMC (condos),” says Scott.
“The paint company I sold, Scott Paint, had occasionally supplied
paint to JMC Communities as far back as 25 years ago and I knew Mike
Cheezem to be a man of impeccable reputation and quality. I was immediately
comfortable, without the first shovel of dirt turned, that Ovation would
be the place for us,” he says.
Due to proximity to their children's school, their previous home
was in a gated community in north St. Pete.
Placido Bayou was a terrific place for our last two kids to finalize
their childhood years, but our lives were increasingly centered in downtown
St. Petersburg,” says Beth.
As the chair of the board of directors of the St. Petersburg Free
Clinic, as well as chair of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute in Tampa, Beth enjoys the short hop to the clinic and easy
access to I-275 for the drive to Moffitt. Additionally, Beth teaches
Sunday school and sings in the choir at First Presbyterian, behind the
Vinoy Hotel, now practically in her back yard.
Scott is on the board of the American Stage Theater Company
and is the chair of its annual Gala in the Park.
"What a treat it was for me to be able to walk to Demens Landing
to give curtain speeches at many performances and then continue doing
so at the American Stage Mainstage in the new St. Pete College building
across from Williams Park,” he says.
Now on the board of Great Explorations,
the Houghton-Wagman Children's Museum, Scott doesn’t mind the five-minute
drive to the museum on Fourth Street, but he is enjoying putting far
fewer miles on his SUV.
“Our expectations for Ovation have been exceeded
in every way,” Beth adds. “We’re still mesmerized by the beauty of the
whole panorama.”
“There are so many outstanding features to our Ovation
home that it is difficult to narrow them down to one or two,” says Scott.
“My favorite feature is the wonderful flow the floor plan affords us
in everyday living. The layout of the kitchen and family room just invites
an easy, casual lifestyle that we love. Combine that with the amazing
view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows and you have a stress-reducing,
serenity-inducing lifestyle. The second overall feature of the building
is probably the chemistry that has developed between all of the people
living and working at Ovation. Most of us have become fast friends,
taking time to get to know each others’ backgrounds, kids, grandkids
and of course, dogs! The concierges and staff are just super and the
camaraderie is gratifying. I give a standing ovation for Ovation!”
“Living
at Ovation is like being on vacation every day,” he adds, “and we don’t
miss the chance of beach living one iota. Sneaking in the back door
at Cassis is also a really cool benefit, especially when it’s raining,”
he whispers.
The friendliness of the residents and the helpful, cheery
demeanor of the staff add the finishing touches to Beth’s and Scott’s
lives here. “This is the end of the line for new homes for me,” Scott
declares.