The week before Christmas a residential complex of more than 300 new homes went on the market at the Lansdowne Resort.  For the seventh year the Resort sponsored construction of gingerbread houses.  Whole families worked diligently to produce the most architecturally pleasing homes. 
Architect David Yasin and his family were in the process of painting the roof on their ranch style dwelling.  They had already built in a chimney, a red door and frost lined windows and they had planted a couple trees.  I asked David what made a good gingerbread house.  “Real architecture but have some fantasy; and teamwork.”
Foreman John Peterson was putting the finishing touches on a Santa Fe style house , “Creativity and not arguing.”  He said as he cast an eye toward his young minion who was busy plastering. Last year he and his family built a barn and the year before a log cabin. 
Exterior decorator Kelly indicated the design of these homes meant not having a preconceived notion.  She said, “We take the gingerbread house home and gradually pick off the candy siding until finally on New Years we break the house down.”  Her house had roof tiles made from pretzels.
The Resort’s culinary and consultancy staff led by chief engineer, Jamie Ream supply the construction material and can assist the builders.  “We provide icing consisting of a ratio of sugar and egg white.  We use a higher ratio of flour to sugar than normal for the gingerbread to fabricate a solid building material.” 
One of the impressive aspects of this housing program was the age span of the builders.  Apprentice youngsters who were no more than five or six teamed with their parents, siblings and grandparents.
The cost per unit was $85 including lot, building material and consultancy services .
The building inspector showed up wearing a red suit and sporting a long white beard.  He checked the quality of the homes and posed for photos.  When he saw one that met the building code he let out an approving.  “Ho Ho Ho.”