Seeking a lifestyle change in 2001, Dennis Cunningham came to Coeur d’Alene and has called it home ever since. A few years later, in 2004, Dennis opened ActiveWest Builders. Having been in real estate development since 1988, he has been raising the bar in subdivision design and building high-performance, healthy, green homes and buildings in Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding area. With a goal of respecting nature while ensuring quality, Dennis and the AWB team design and build their homes using the rigorous guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® third-party verification certification program. They use materials and construction practices that minimize contaminants and air pollution, striving to achieve LEED Platinum®, ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS® certifications.
When it comes to what makes ActiveWest Builders unique to the area, Dennis says, “We are the developer and the builder. We primarily work on infill sites where we get a minimum of eight dwelling units per acre. We focus primarily on the 55+ age group.” ActiveWest is still committed to Coeur d’Alene but is also moving north this year with a new 55+ Residential gated community in Hayden.
With 30 years of experience, Dennis has found his career has been very rewarding every step of the way. “We purchase the land, process the entitlements, finance the projects, design the subdivision, design the homes (both exterior and interior), and build to very stringent green and sustainable methods.
ActiveWest Builders has received more than 20 national awards and many local awards in a variety of categories, which stands as a testament to the quality of their design and construction. Earlier this year, ActiveWest Builders was presented with three Best of 55+ Housing awards for the model homes at Riviera Court (located in Coeur d’Alene at Riverstone) and one home was awarded a Green Home Award at the 2018 National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida.
Over the years, ActiveWest Builders has seen continued success and growth. Dennis has credited this to his time in prayer and meditation. “These opportunities we have, and the success, is all based on God providing me the knowledge to be creative to implement all this. But, my success is not possible unless there are buyers, and for that I also acknowledge that God fertilizes our fields. I only need a bushel and he provides much more.”
His faith has inspired Dennis’ commitment to international mission work, which, as Dennis says, “has become a key component of me.” He has built learning centers and churches in Honduras, churches in the Philippines and orphanages in Mexico. “This month [I will be] traveling to India to look at doing our first senior housing project for the very poor in Central Kerala,” he adds.
Dennis also makes sure to give back to organizations in our community—a community that has supported him over the years. He is a financial donor to both North Idaho CASA and the Coeur d’Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center. He also just finished his chair position for the 55+ NAHB Housing Council and also is on the National Urban Land Institute (ULI) Residential Lifestyle Council, which he was a founding member.
At ActiveWest Builders, they are committed to building a sense of community through lifestyle, location and livability. And they have succeeded. Dennis’ motto is: “Preserving the past and planning for the future.”
ActiveWest Builders
208.667.3619
Dennis@activewestdev.com