Bob Donaldson:

April 2018

Many of you probably know Bob Donaldson. He grew up in Lebanon, and he and his family have lived in Zionsville for years. Even if you don’t know Bob personally, you probably know his family’s business, Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates, which is located off I-65 near Lebanon and has been in the business of making wonderful chocolates for over 50 years.

In addition to knowing all the family secrets of how to make those incredible chocolates, Donaldson also has a lifetime of experience in construction and real estate development. Through Bob’s company, G.R. Donaldson, LLC, he is a custom design/build project manager offering services particularly to those interested in building a new home in the new Pemberton subdivision.

As a design/build project manager, Donaldson explained, “I work with my customers from the conceptual stage to the completion of their homes using local architects and designers. As your personal project manager, Donaldson will work with industry professionals in architecture, engineering, interior design and landscape design to provide the best vendors and tradesmen and tradeswomen that have the resources and experience to produce an exceptional result.”

Recently, G.R. Donaldson, LLC was one of only five custom home builders invited by the developer of the new Pemberton subdivision to build homes there. Pemberton is a truly custom home development located less than five minutes from downtown Zionsville at the southwest corner of S 800 E and Whitestown Road, just around the corner from the Zionsville High School sports fields. According to Melissa Hartman, the exclusive agent for Pemberton, the price point for homes in Pemberton will range from $700,000 to $1.2 million.

Donaldson said, “I am glad to be involved in a project in Zionsville because the opportunities to find upper-end custom lots are scarce, and there just aren’t that many opportunities to build custom homes in this market.” Lots in the Pemberton development are approximately a half-acre.

Something else you are not likely to find in this market is someone like Donaldson who has such a long history in this community and years in the construction business. You might say that construction runs in the family. Donaldson’s great-grandfather, B.F. Coombs, owned lumberyards in central Indiana, and his grandfather, Fred Donaldson, built over 20 of the classic 1920s-1930s country homes for Henry Ulen in Ulen Country Club in Lebanon.

After receiving a degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with majors in real estate and finance, Donaldson went on to a career in residential and commercial real estate and construction for three major Indianapolis-based companies over a 38-year career. Donaldson started G.R. Donaldson, LLC in 2010 to offer project management services mainly for custom residential, restoration and remodel projects. Among the projects Donaldson has managed are two Indianapolis Dream Homes, a Midwest Living Home and a new home built for the Decorators’ Show House and Gardens for St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild in 2015. The St. Margaret’s home was unique in that it was one of the first new homes to be built for that show in the historic near northside area. Currently, Donaldson is working to restore the historic Krannert House located in Pike Township.

If you’re looking to move up to that custom home you have always dreamed of owning and building in one of the few all-custom home neighborhoods in Zionsville, call Donaldson today. He can make your dreams a reality.