Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

St. James Plantation home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an article courtesy of WECT.com announcing Marvel Studios’ recent decision to film Iron Man 3 in Wilmington. The movie is expected to produce hundreds of jobs for crew members and drive $80 million into North Carolina’s economy.

Governor Beverly Perdue was in Wilmington to make an economic development announcement. Iron Man 3 will officially be filmed at EUE/Screen Gems in Wilmington for the majority of the production.

The film, starring Robert Downey Jr., is expected to attract other stars like Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle, according to industry reports.

“We aggressively pursued this piece of business,” said EUE/Screen Gems Co-Owner and COO Chris Cooney. “We negotiated hard, and it paid off.”

Cooney said people thought they were crazy to build one of the largest sound stages in the world during a down economy.

“We constructed that space envisioning a motion picture of the caliber and size of this one,” explained Cooney.  “This film is a game changer – not only for our studios, but for the entire state of North Carolina.”

According to EUE Screen Gems Executive Vice President Bill Vassar, the Marvel executives were enticed to Wilmington by the 25 percent NC film incentive; the size, scope and capabilities of the Wilmington studio lot; and the seasoned local crew base.

“We are as close to a Los Angeles studio as you can get without being in California,” said Vassar.  “We offer Marvel what they need, and they were amazed to find it in North Carolina.”

Vassar said Marvel choose Wilmington to produce Iron Man 3 because the area has a large local crew with experience handling five productions simultaneously.

“This is a special group of people who learned their craft at the knee of their fathers and mothers,” explained Vassar.  “You don’t see this outside of Los Angeles or New York City.”

Vassar assured that the production of Iron Man 3 will not preclude the booking of other simultaneous projects despite it being the largest production to come to Wilmington.

“We will still have stages, offices and production support available to host pilots, series and other films right now,” said Vassar.

The motion picture will take offices in Wilmington in early 2012.

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan applauded news that Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 film will film in Wilmington, NC.  She provided the following statement:

I am focused like a laser on creating jobs in North Carolina, and I am so pleased that Iron Man 3 will soon begin shooting in Wilmington,” said Hagan. “When studios choose to produce their films in North Carolina it means jobs in our state – both jobs related to filming and jobs for the restaurants, hotels, and small businesses in the community. This important decision by Marvel Studios is further evidence of the rich resources North Carolina has to offer America’s film industry – resources in people, locations and expertise.  This film will have an economic impact of $80 million in North Carolina and create hundreds of jobs. Iron Man 3 will be just the newest example of ‘Made in North Carolina’ quality.

N.C. Senator Thom Goolsby (R-New Hanover) responded Thursday to the news that a historically-large movie project – “Iron Man 3″ – will be filmed in Wilmington with the following statement:

There is no better place for this project than Wilmington, and for months I’ve worked with colleagues in the North Carolina Senate and the executive branch to bring it here,” Goolsby said. “I’m thrilled to see the film incentives we approved in the state budget – the budget Gov. Perdue vetoed – being used to create new jobs and boost our local economy. This is an exciting day for North Carolina.

Article courtesy of: WECT.com

St. James, NC luxury home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that the town of St. James will be breaking ground on a new town hall and community center expected to be completed in August 2010. Teresa A. McLamb of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal covered the story last week; below is an excerpt from her article and to read more, click here!

 “[Walt] Madsen said the town purchased the 13-acre tract from Brunswick County in 2007 for $490,000. About six acres of the tract is wetland. The remaining seven acres will be home to an 8,200-square-foot town hall and a 13,560-square-foot community center. Standing side-by-side, the single story buildings will be connected by a 30’ x 50’ pavilion that can be used for outdoor events.

The town hall layout includes a lobby, council chambers, town offices and separate offices that will be leased to the St. James POA.

The community center will have a large assembly room that can seat 385 for dinner or 730 people in theater style. It will also house a craft room, three meeting rooms, a catering kitchen and the director’s office. Madsen said the town plans to hire a director at the beginning of summer ‘to come on board in the final stages of construction.’ The director will coordinate classes and events in the building.”

Courtesy of: WilmingtonBiz.com

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to view recently uploaded photos of our projects, both past and present, on our Flickr and Facebook Fan pages. View our Photo Sets on Flickr, including our luxury homes in Wilmington and Hampstead, NC. And become a Facebook Fan of Mark Johnson Custom Homes to not only view photos, including our LEED Platinum Green home in Landfall, but keep up with the latest Mark Johnson Custom Homes news!

For more detailed information on these homes and available lots in Wilmington, NC visit our Inventory Page!

Previously we blogged on the highly anticipated grand opening of the new theatre in Brunswick County, Playhouse 211. Now St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to update our readers on Playhouse 211, as posted by the Wilmington Star News late last week. It seems zoning issues will delay the opening until possibly October 2010. Click here to read the complete article and we will be sure to keep our readers updates on Playhouse 211 as the information is available!

St. James Plantation, NC luxury home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share some important tips for pet owners when moving into a new home. The American Humane Association compiled the six tips below to help make the move as easy as possible for you and your furry friend and to read more of their pet care tips, click here!  

• Prior to moving day, make sure your pets are fitted with collars and ID tags with your name and current cell-phone number. Microchipping is also recommended and will serve as a backup if your pet loses its collar.
• If your pet is prone to car sickness, make sure you visit your veterinarian a few weeks prior to your move to get any prescribed medications and feeding recommendations.
• For long-distance moves, be sure to identify pet-friendly hotels along your route and reserve rooms ahead of time. For a list of pet-friendly hotels, see www.petswelcome.com or www.pet-friendly-hotels.net.
• On moving day, make sure your pets are secured in a crate or closed room of your house or apartment until you are ready to load them into your car. The activities and sounds of moving day will be frightening to your pets, so it is important that they be kept in a secure area to reduce their stress as much as possible and to prevent an accidental escape.
• Always transport cats, small dogs and other small animals in a secure, well-ventilated pet carrier. Keep larger dogs leashed and under control at all times. The stress of a move can cause even the most obedient dog to run away in unfamiliar surroundings. NEVER transport any pet in an open truck bed, trunk of a car or storage area of a moving van.
• For long-distance moves, make sure you give your pet potty breaks and fresh water whenever you stop for a break yourself. Make sure pets are leashed at all times during potty breaks.

St. James Plantation, NC remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to take advantage of the on and off-shore fishing in the Lower Cape Fear area! Whether you prefer striped bass, king mackerel, tuna or wahoo, there is a place for you to fish on the North Carolina Southeast coast. The Insider’s Guide website has all the information you’ll need, including getting your license, fishing tournaments, local excursions, helpful links and more!

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder and Cape Fear Green Building Alliance member Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to sign up for the CFGBA’s e-newsletter! This month’s newsletter articles included the Cape Fear Audubon Bird-Friendly Habitat Award Program, a Hampstead, NC doctor opting for a solar powered office, the upcoming Go Green Expo and Mark Johnson Custom Homes’ own First Citizens Bank Customer Service Award. Below is the article on our customer service award and to read the complete newsletter, click here! 

“Southeastern North Carolina custom home builder and remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes was awarded the 2009 First Citizens Bank Customer Service Award. Judged by a panel of business professionals from the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the award was established by First Citizens Bank to recognize companies that go above and beyond customer expectations in delivering service. Winners were recognized at the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s 3rd Annual Business Achievement Awards ceremony on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 in downtown Wilmington, NC.

Mark Johnson Custom Homes is a business member of the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance.”

The Earth Advantage Institute has released their list of the Top Ten Green Building Trends for 2010 and St. James Plantation, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share them with our readers! Below is the list and to read each in more detail, click here!

• The smart grid and connected home.
• Energy labeling for homes and office buildings.
• Building information modeling (BIM) software.
• Buy-in to green building by the financial community.
• “Rightsizing” of homes.
• Eco-districts.
• Water conservation.
• Carbon Calculation.
• Net Zero Buildings.
• Sustainable building education.

St. James Plantation, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share this extremely informative report from the National Association of Home Builders. Prepared by the Economics Group of the NAHB, the “Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components” examines the 25 components of a home listed below and gives the average life expectancy of each. To read the complete report, click here!

1. Appliances
2. Cabinetry and Storage
3. Concrete and Masonry
4. Countertops
5. Decks
6. Doors
7. Electrical and Lighting
8. Engineered Lumber
9. Faucet and Fixtures
10. Flooring
11. Footings and Foundations
12. Framing and Other Structural Systems
13. Garages
14. Home Technology
15. HVAC
16. Insulation and Infiltration Barriers
17. Jobsite Equipment
18. Molding and Millwork
19. Paint, Caulks and Adhesives
20. Panels
21. Roofing
22. Siding and Accessories
23. Site and Landscaping
24. Walls, Ceilings and Finishes
25. Windows and Skylights