John Casey was “born to build.” As the president of John Casey Construction, he has shared his experience with friends and local boards. His excellent relationships with architects, engineers and regional subcontractors make a naturally stressful process run as smoothly as possible.
“I can approach a project from multiple perspectives – that of a builder, town insider and long-term resident here,” Casey stated.
Casey recently sat down with us to share how he founded John Casey Construction, challenges he’s faced and how he continues to persevere.
How did John Casey Construction come into existence? What are its origins?
My father, John Casey Sr., and his brothers were carpenters in Rochester, and my earliest memories involve helping my dad with projects. I have a business degree from the University of Arizona, and my first job was with a painting contractor in Rochester. I spent most of my professional career growing Christa Construction, a major commercial builder in the region. I was the chief operating officer there for 25 years, and we grew from a small masonry subcontractor to a major general contractor in Upstate New York. My favorite project was Rochester’s baseball stadium, called Silver Stadium at the time. My last five years at Christa were spent in Miami developing major condominium projects in that area. After moving back to Canandaigua in 2009, I was Chief Operating Officer for Manning, Squires & Hennig in Batavia.
In July 2013, I was riding my motorcycle on West Lake Road in Canandaigua, about a mile from home, when I was hit and run over. After almost four months in the hospital, my life had changed; I was now a paraplegic rolling in a wheelchair versus a motorcycle. This brought an end to my business career but started me on a new path to help others.
I gave my time to Rochester Spinal Association and several boards in the Town of Canandaigua, including running and winning a seat on the Town Board. In 2023, a close friend asked if I’d take a look at his plans to build a cottage on Honeoye Lake. I made some suggestions, and he then asked if I could go ahead and build it. He ended up buying a lot in Pittsford and asked me to build his retirement home there, too. And that’s how John Casey Construction was born! We’ve assembled a solid team and are growing literally every week.
How have you turned your challenges into a plus for your company, employees and clients?
Becoming a paraplegic definitely changed my and my family’s lives forever. If this hadn’t happened, I’d probably still be working as a construction executive; I truly loved my work. But I learned I could still give back and use my skills.
I think I brought a unique perspective to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where residents go to present their reasons for needing something outside the Town’s building codes. I am also head of the Town’s Ordinance Committee, where we try to chart our town’s future. As a member of the Town Board, I also can bring a builder/developer’s perspective to decisions we make that represent the will of our residents. Knowing how this town and other communities work, being a resident and raising a family in this region, I help bring great value to our clients, saving them a lot of time and money during the home-building process.
Tell us more about the showcase home that you’re presenting. What was the inspiration for its style and creation?
I purchased my first home in Canandaigua in 1991 as a bachelor who was starting to make a little money and loved boating. After getting married and living in Miami for five years in the early 2000s, my wife and I quickly realized we wanted to raise our family at home. Because I was busy at work, we hired someone to build our new family home on the same lot as my bachelor cottage. Six months after moving in, I had my accident. While that home was our dream home, there was little room for expansion.
We jumped on an opportunity to purchase 50 acres of mostly undeveloped property on Canandaigua Lake. Because some family activities like traveling are challenging for me, I wanted to bring the world to our twins, John and Marlena, now age 15. We have a great backyard with an outdoor kitchen and pool, and the larger lot allowed me to have a “man cave” as well. Because I was now “retired,” I decided to build the house myself.
What’s in the future for John Casey Construction?
John Casey Construction is growing and here for the long term. There are currently more than half a dozen projects in various phases of design and construction, including a couple of spectacular lakefront/lake view homes in Canandaigua.
We recently purchased a building off of Main Street to set up our own offices, which I hope to be in by the time this article is published.
Even though the company name is my name, it is by no means all me. A key partner in helping grow the business is Craig Ross, who has an MBA and is a genius when it comes to streamlining our processes and budgets. Dan Smith and Erik Duryea are two of our field managers who are on site at projects all day every day.
How does your company complement the Finger Lakes Region?
My love story with Canandaigua began a long time ago, and the more I see of the world, the more I know this is my Chosen Spot. I have heard my children express an interest in raising their families here, too. At the heart of the Finger Lakes are these pristine lakes that are accessible to us for tourism, recreation, sustenance, and appreciation of their beauty. We take all of those things to heart when we break ground for each family – they, too, love this area so much they want to create their own legacy here.
Creating Homes, Not Just Houses
John Casey Construction, LLC, specializes in building custom homes in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. The full-service general contractor has handled jobs ranging from brick patio installations and restaurant renovations to multi-million-dollar custom homes overlooking the lakes.
Founder John Casey has built two homes for his family in Canandaigua. His current residence is what he calls “a family home;” while the Caseys, including John’s wife, Christina, and 15-year-old twins, John and Marlena, occupy the main level, John’s adult nephew and mother-in-law reside in the home as well. The project took nine months to complete, from excavation to move-in.
The Caseys chose to side the house in a darker color and add cedar columns in order to blend in with the natural surroundings. The den, which the family calls the Adirondack Room, is a favorite gathering place, featuring a fireplace mantle made from an original foundation beam for a home on the property. The wall paneling is reclaimed wood from an abandoned barn they found out back.
“Besides my garage, my favorite spot is our front porch overlooking stunning Canandaigua Lake,” Casey said. “I’ve been to a lot of places, but there is no place I’d rather live.”
To learn more, visit johncaseyconstruction.com or call 585-315-8218.
