The Change Agents

Some developers go to great lengths to avoid cookie-cutter quick-build places. Rip Farris and James Cole, business partners who own Tuscan Development, founded in 1995, belong to that fellowship.

Rip and James created Tuscan after frustrating cubicle-based jobs. They believe that thoughtful development balances two modes of thinking: the "creative-passionate" with the "critical-rational."

(If you have any clue what they're talking about, you're ahead of the game; advance to Boardwalk. If you're like the rest of us, see www.tuscandevelopment.com for further explanation).

Partners in the Tivoli project are Frank Martin of Landcraft Properties and Ron Leeper of R.J. Leeper Construction.

The Architect

Architects Alan McGuire and Veronica Devita of Fishero-McGuire- Krueger designed Tivoli. Fishero-McGuire- Krueger, a prominent Charlotte firm, has considerable experience designing uptown Charlotte buildings. Specifically, Fishero-McGuire-Krueger and David Furman designed 400 North Church in Charlotte's Fourth Ward.

The Broker

Since the mid 1990s, Helen Adams Realty has sold more condominiums and townhomes in Charlotte than any other broker. Small wonder. Mrs. Adams, now retired, was the daughter of a developer. She founded her business in 1977.

Son Jeff, now president, joined her in 1981. Helen Adams Realty saw the perfect match between Tivoli and 26-year-old Jason Foley, who intimately connects with the ethos of freedom today's generation prefers. Jason is the broker of record for Tivoli.