Sullivan Homes Inc., of Spokane Valley, one of the top builders of single-family homes here in recent years, plans to stop taking on new projects so its owner can retire from the company.


Meanwhile, three managers at the company have formed a new home-building concern, called Camden Homes Inc., to take Sullivan Homes place, although on a smaller scale, one of the three managers says.


That person, Steve Huettl, an operations manager for Sullivan Homes and now president of Camden Homes, says Sullivan Homes will finish up its current construction projects and will service its outstanding warranties, but wont start new projects. Sullivan Homes owner, Jim Sullivan, 70, wants to retire from that company and focus on other business endeavors, Huettl says.


Sullivan Homes was ranked second on a the top-10 list of single-family home builders in the Inland Northwest for 2007, based on building-permit values, and was ranked third in 2006, says Construction Monitor Inc., of Cedar City, Utah, which compiles the list.


Sullivan Homes was issued 74 building permits countywide in 2007, which was down from 101 permits in 2006. The total permit value last year, however, was much higher, at $37.5 million, compared with $24.7 million in 2006.


Huettl says Sullivan Homes has sold nine homes so far this year, and has 41 units remaining in inventory. Of those unsold houses, sales are pending on eight.


The other 33 units are in various stages of construction, from framing to completion, he says.


Huettl says Sullivan Homes is in good financial condition. Sullivan Homes is in a good position to finish the work its doing, to sell it, and provide warrantees and service to its customers, he says.


A separate company, Sullivan Homes Idaho Inc., of Sandpoint, will continue to pursue new projects, says Huettl. That company, which is owned by Jim Sullivans sons, Brett and Todd, focuses on resort and second-home construction.


Sullivan Homes Idaho, is alive and strong, Huettl, says.


Camden Homes, is owned by Huettl, Brett Sullivan, and Tom Brozik. Brett Sullivan also has been vice president of Sullivan Homes. Brozik, like Huettl, is an operations manager at Sullivan Homes. Camden Homes office is located at 16114 E. Indiana, the same address Sullivan Homes has had.


Huettl and Brozik chose the Camden Homes name because, its just a name we like, Huettl says. Theres no special meaning to it.


Camden Homes will be a smaller operation than Sullivan Homes, Huettl says.


We plan to build 15 to 30 units a year, and we dont plan to focus as heavily on speculative construction, he says. Thats the biggest difference.


Camden Homes current construction plans include two to four homes in the Canyon Bluffs development in West Spokane, and at least three homes in the Morningside development in Spokane Valley. The homes will be priced from about $250,000 to more than $500,000.


Meanwhile, Jim Sullivan, as president of Crossing Development Inc., of Spokane Valley, intends to move forward with the Crossing at Willow Bay, a planned 92-lot residential development on the south shore of the Pend Oreille River, between Priest River and Sagle, Idaho, Huettl says.


Sullivan also will remain active in Flagstone Development Group Inc., also of Spokane Valley.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at mikem@spokanejournal.com.