The annual Parade of Homes, a celebrated rite of passage from summer to fall for hundreds of La Plata County residents, will not take place this year.
The Home Builders Association of Southwest Colorado, which puts on the event, has been mum on the reason for this year’s cancellation. The trade group’s website still touts last year’s winners with no mention of this year’s event or why it was canceled.
The event usually takes place during the third or fourth week of September.
Adam Hirshberg, president of the Home Builders Association, declined to comment Monday about this year’s cancellation, but he said he is optimistic the Parade of Homes will return next year.
Past participants said they are disappointed that this year’s event will not take place. They, too, have been kept in the dark about why the Parade of Homes was canceled.
“I have not seen any email regarding it,” said Patrick San Marco, owner of SM Built, which won best home under $1 million in last year’s competition.
The cancellation with no explanation has left homebuilders to speculate about what might be going on within the group.
Some speculated that this year’s Parade of Homes was canceled because a paid employee who did most of the leg work putting it together had departed. Others said it was not financially feasible for the event to be held this year. Some wondered if builders are too busy and don’t need the added exposure that comes with Parade of Homes.
Some questioned the solvency of the Home Builders Association.
San Marco said he recently received an email saying he needed to renew his membership to the Home Builders Association, but the group’s computer system was not working to allow him to renew.
“I probably need to give them a call and see what's going on and if they're even accepting renewals or not,” San Marco said.
He said the Home Builders Association has put on classes, hosted events and sponsored fundraisers. He is hopeful the organization remains active and Parade of Homes returns next year.
Homebuilders said the Parade of Homes is a worthwhile event, for builders, bankers, real estate agents, building supply stores and the community as a whole – and its cancellation is a loss.
“We've done it for many, many, many years, and that's always been a good way for us to showcase our homes and get people to see the quality and everything that we do,” said Hunter Mantell-Hecathorn, co-owner of Mantell-Hecathorn Builders, which won the People’s Choice award last year for its home in the Animas Valley.
But more than that, the Parade of Homes is a significant community event, he said.
“I think a lot of people in the community will also miss it,” Mantell-Hecathorn said.
While he hasn’t heard anything official, he said the Home Builders Association has “had some issues.” More specifically, he said the loss of a paid executive officer made it impossible for volunteers to pull off this year’s event.
“It’s kind of my understanding that there’ll just kind of be a gap year to regather and recoup and then hopefully proceed the following year,” Mantell-Hecathorn said.
It wasn’t for lack of interest that the event was called off, he said.
“It's not because builders didn't want to participate or anything like that,” he said. “It's probably quite the opposite. It's just that it takes such a village to make the Parade happen. That wasn't there.”
He said he is disappointed the Home Builders Association hasn’t made any official announcement to its members or the public about why the Parade of Homes was canceled or whether it is expected to return.
“There just hasn't been much communication,” he said. “It was kind of like they're just pressing a big pause button.”
Not all homebuilders will be totally upset that this year’s event was canceled. It takes a lot of work to make sure homes are clean, furniture is staged, food and beverage are provided, and marketing materials are printed, Mantell-Hecathorn said.
While it can be exhausting, it is also a big deal for the industry and the community, he said.
“People are, you know, kind of excited to come through and check things out. So I think it's always been a positive thing for me,” Mantell-Hecathorn said. “ … Hopefully everybody can get their act together and make it happen for the following year.”
Cameron Winters has been participating in the Parade of Homes for six years as a spectator. He entered his home into the competition last year. He said doing so felt like “giving back” after having participated as a touring member of the public for so many years.
His home in Shenandoah Estates won for best home above $2 million.
He said he will miss participating as a spectator in this year’s parade.
“It really is something special, and we've really enjoyed every year of being in it and part of it – touring and all that kind of stuff,” Winters said. “ … I love it. I think it'd be great to have it. We were looking forward to attending, and I hope it will be back next year.”
shane@durangoherald.com
