Photo By Nicole Martyn
For nearly 30 years, Turner has been quietly creating a body of work that includes The Residences at Bulle Rock, The Shores at Water’s Edge, Barrington, Ridgely Forest, Charlestown Crossing, Grand Oaks, Greens at Scott’s Fancy, and Newport Landing, just to name a few. Turner has historically been able to see opportunity where no one else dares to contemplate and has made a name for himself building quality homes as well as commercial real estate in Harford County.
Whether it be a condominium, villa, townhouse, or single family home, Turner Signature Homes has become synonymous with desirable locations, sound planning concepts, unique architectural designs, and painstaking attention to detail. The company’s numerous awards are signs of the industry’s respect for these achievements.
Turner’s Midas touch is evident in the fact that the resale value of Clark Turner homes consistently outpaces the appreciation of comparable homes in the area.
How did you get started as a builder/developer? When I was a young kid growing up in Havre de Grace, I knew a few people who were successful in real estate, and I thought it would be a good business to get into. It fascinated me how people could buy property and build upon their holdings. When I was 17, I bought an older apartment building in Havre de Grace with six or seven apartments. I would rent to the soldiers who were training in Aberdeen. It’s funny that today I am building houses and developments for the civilian and military personal associated with BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure).
What do you love most about your job? In the building business you have this vision of what you want to do and as your team begins to build it, you see the vision come to life. Every day it’s rewarding to see a project evolve from the vision to reality.
If you could change one thing about your industry what would it be? Perception. I think people in the development industry are made out to be this awful group. But in fact, we build the American dream; we build their homes. Once they get that home, they don’t want the land built up around them. We are really only fulfilling a fundamental American dream…the dream of owning your home.
Who in your life was most instrumental in helping you get started with your career? When I was a young, I got a lot of advice from business leaders like Allen Fair, Melvin Bosely, and Cecil Hill, Sr. When I built my first house I asked Allen what people were looking for and he helped me develop a sense of what people wanted. I bought my first apartment building from Cecil Hill, Sr. and when I shifted from fixing up old homes to building new ones, Melvin Bosely took me under his wing making far more lots available to me in Bel Air.
What accomplishment of yours makes you the most proud? Every time I do a new project I seem to like it better, but what really makes me most proud is giving back to the community. When ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” called and asked me to be the builder for the Maryland Project, I responded, “Do we really have just seven days to complete this new home or is that just Hollywood?” Their answer was shocking, “You only have 104 hours.” We did it all in 102 hours and it was all thanks to thousands of volunteer workers and contractors. It really was a good effort and it was a life-affirming moment for us and that special family. It proved that anything is possible when a community unites.
What was the biggest challenge you had to face to get to where you are today? How have you managed to overcome it? I think when I was young and didn’t know what I know today; I was a bit fearless. Knowing what I know now, I would be reluctant to start out like I did. This current credit crisis is the most challenging time in my 32 years of building. Even so, the best of times for my company is coming to Harford and Cecil Counties. Very soon BRAC will bring jobs to Aberdeen Proving Ground. My company is buying land now and obtaining all the development approvals so when the new jobs and influx of people do come, we will be ready to break ground.
What did you want to be when you were five? As a child, I used to build things with tinker sets, so maybe I was always meant to be a builder. When I built my first house, I did everything except the electric. I came from the footings up and never worked for another builder, just jumped in and did it.
If you could do anything other than what you are doing, what would it be? I can’t imagine doing anything else. They told me I couldn’t do it, and I did it. Everybody told me don’t get into this business, don’t buy this property or that property. I have a vision of how things should be and I’ve been successful. It’s not luck; it’s vision and hard work.
What advice can you offer someone wanting to get started in your field? Never quit dreaming and believing. It’s also important to get active in your Home Builders Association because you can learn a lot about networking.
Jennifer K. Dansicker is Special Projects Editor for ChespeakeHome.
Contact:
Clark Turner Companies: ctsignature.com or 410-575-6000
