Island builder and developer JayMarc Homes won the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award after a 2015 filled with philanthropy and controversy.
Founded by Islanders Jay Mezistrano and Marc Rousso, who have been business partners for 25 years, JayMarc builds between 30 and 45 homes a year in the $1.8 million to $3 million range in Mercer Island and West Bellevue. The company specializes in move-in ready, pre-sale and custom homes.
About 40 percent of its business is currently on Mercer Island, and the luxury homes it has built have been featured in many local media sources including the Reporter and the Seattle Times, noting the trend of demolishing older homes and rebuilding one or multiple modern homes in their place.
This trend has recently become a City Council agenda topic. Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz propossed a residential moratorium to start a community conversation about limiting the size and number of homes in Island neighborhoods to preserve their character.
Development activity is needed to fund city services. JayMarc Homes contributes to the city financially by paying a significant amount in permitting fees for new homes, contributing to emergency services, schools and more.
“By building beautiful homes on Mercer Island, JayMarc Homes also contributes to the increase of property values and improving neighborhoods by bringing in successful young families that will grow alongside this vibrant and welcoming community,” according to the company.
JayMarc won the Chamber award in part because of its charitable efforts. One of the core company values is “Be Humble and Give Back.”
JayMarc supports the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department by sponsoring Mostly Music in the Park and Adventure Playground, which Rousso said is his favorite.
The company also supports the Mercer Island Preschool Association, Farmers Market, Food Pantry, Youth and Family Services, Little League and Youth Theater Northwest. Other sponsorships include Cycle the Wave, Summer Search, the Boys and Girls Club, Toys for Tots, Obliteride, and numerous Mercer Island and Bellevue schools.
This year, JayMarc gave back to the community in a very unique way, by preserving the oldest grand house on the Island. The ‘Symphony House,’ located on West Mercer Way and built in 1910, needed a little TLC, but is now ready to be occupied by a family.
Rousso said it was nice to be recognized for the company’s philanthropic work, but that winning awards isn’t why the company undertakes those efforts.
“That’s who we are and those are our values,” he said.
Still, he said the award means a little something extra as a resident of the Island community, and as “a builder and developer at a time when people don’t like building and development.” He said he is “proud and grateful” for the award.
For more, visit www.jaymarchomes.com.
