WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHERE WE’VE BEEN, AND WHERE WE’RE GOING

The motto on his business card reads, “High quality, affordable homes that you will be proud to own.” But what you quickly discover about Tommy Felice is that he puts more than just hard work and sweat into each home that he builds. He has such a passion for the people he’s serving and such a great appreciation for the “Divine help” he attributes his success to.

Thomas Felice Construction was brought to business in February of 2001 after life-long Des Moines South-sider, Tommy Felice, grew bored of retirement. The former Parr Manufacturing plant-manager of nearly 20 years decided to try his hand at home building. He’s built a team of over 45 hardworking, loyal companies that he can trust to represent Thomas Felice Construction and give his customers exactly what they want. Nearly two years and six completed homes later, and with several big projects in the works, Tommy considers his company a success, based purely on the fact that his customers are well taken care of and completely satisfied with the work he’s done.

The idea for a home building company began after Tommy Felice discovered property near his neighborhood that he thought would make a nice home for his daughter and her growing family. The only problem was the property wasn’t for sale. The woman who owned the vacant trailer court lot near the intersection of Watrous Avenue and Indianola Road in South Des Moines wasn’t interested in selling.

But one year later, she reconsidered and sold her property to Thomas Felice Construction; something Tommy considers a gift from God. Soon after, plans for Grandshire Estates, a 6 home development, were completed and they were breaking ground. Clearing the property for Grandshire Estates was no easy feat. Tommy’s crew needed to remove 44 cement slabs, trees, and several structures, and bring in tons of dirt before they could even begin construction.

Tommy says, "We picked Grandshire Estates for several reasons. It was close to home, the cost was right, and no other developer would have done it."

The development features six ranch-style homes with walk out basements ranging from 1600-3600 square feet, complete with every amenity and a five-year tax abatement. Each is an Energy Star home and is covered by a one-year warranty. All the homes are built with steel I-beams to ensure a well built home with much more living space. The homes also feature 9-foot walls and vaulted ceilings to open up the rooms. Three of the homes in Grandshire have a very unique feature called a hollow-core slab garage, which allows for extra living space under the garage. Eventually a privacy fence will be built around Grandshire to establish a strong sense of respect and community among the neighbors.

Since the completion of Grandshire Estates, 5 of the 6 homes have been sold, and Thomas Felice Construction is embarking on several new projects. In April of 2004, Felice will break ground for 6 more homes, similar in style, square footage, and price to those in Grandshire Estates on Lakeland Court and Easter Lake Drive in South Des Moines. He also has plans to build another large development called Culver Ridge near Payton Avenue this summer. Culver Ridge will consist of 85 homes, primarily 2-stories and ranch walkouts, each with Tommy’s own personal touch.

Thomas Felice Construction prides itself on being more than an average builder. Tommy’s main goal is to give the customer exactly what they paid for and more. He takes such pride in each home that he builds and his attention to detail and concern for his client’s satisfaction makes him much more than a businessman. Tommy may be proud of his work, but he’s also very humble when asked about his accomplishments. He’s loyal to his roots and his faith, and his passion for the people rather than the bottom line is what sets him apart.