Image: Pat, Charlene and John Neal
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The Neal Legacy: Four Generations in BuildingPreserving and protecting the land has been an integral component of Neal Communities’ philosophy in building for four generations, dating back to 1923. Spearheaded by J. Paul Neal, Pat’s grandfather, he implemented sound practices as an industrial developer and sales agent of warehouses and railroad related industrial properties in Iowa. Paul Neal, Jr., carried this on after transitioning from his work as a lawyer, developing Holiday Inn sites in midwestern and western cities in the 1950s and 1960s. Upon retiring to Longboat Key, Florida, Paul Jr. entered the residential business in 1968 with son Pat Neal, building homes on Whitney Beach on the north end of Longboat Key. Through the generations, the Neal entrepreneurs have shared a vision and commitment to responsible |
development that included thoughtful planning and consideration for the environment. Early in their Florida real estate career, Paul and Pat ended the practice of dredge and fill in canal developments, and added riprap and other natural seawalls and environmental features to their beach developments. They became known as the regional experts in wetland mitigation, renewal and planting, which led to Pat co-authoring Florida’s first Wetlands Act with Representative Jon Mills in 1983. The Neal family's signature trademark, “saving the trees,” remains an integral planning component of every community built, representing a collective respect for the natural beauty and environment that creates a sense of community among residents and business leaders alike. | |||
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