By NORMAN ROLLE, Guardian Features Reporter

norman@nasguard.com

Fox Hill Village is quietly receiving a makeover, which starts on Romer and Abner Streets - in the heart of the village. On both streets are several new houses with distinctive porches and roofs. Brightly-painted picket fences with well-manicured lawns surround them.

These dwellings bring a new dimension to the village whose transformation has only just begun, says Lynden Tinker of First Step Development Company.

"When I joined my father two years ago, we started buying land in urban areas Over- the-Hill, and we made a conscious decision to bring the Eastern Road standard of building to these areas. In quality and design, we bring a rich living standard to an area where people thought we were unable to."

The houses have caught the eye of Prime Minister Perry Christie who was taken on a tour following the opening of the Fox Hill urban renewal office last year.

First Step is taking advantage of the trend nowadays when people are personalizing their houses as much as possible.

"People are into making their homes unique and personal about them," says Lynden. " We customize every house; each is different. One of our special features is the coin at the corner of each building, there's a one-of-a-kind design with symphony vinyl fencing extras found in the very rich areas."

If the father-son team of Fox Hillian Cecil "Monty" Armbrister and Lynden Tinker have their way, all areas of the inner city will be dotted with their distinctive and innovative houses, which are designed with three bedrooms and two baths.

"We start at home, in Fox Hill, but we are not limiting ourselves. We are prepared to take our new concept to other areas. In fact we are currently doing two projects outside of Fox Hill, but we are starting two houses here in the next week or so."

Next to their brand new office on Romer Street they are constructing their own workshop, which will

customize kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well as doors and stairways.

"I do not compromise on detail. I engage my people ...from the architect to the builders who are in tune with what we are doing in the construction business," says Lynden. "Everyone on the team understands that only the best is acceptable."

Lynden, who lived in Buckley's, Long Island for over ten years, really learned what hard work is all about as he was engaged in the Cascarilla bark trade on the island. "You have to walk through virgin territory for several miles, and you have to walk back with bags of the wood and you have to take the bark to the sea to soak and then peel off the bark," he says.

The Government High School graduate and former hotel worker brings lots youthful energy and innovation to the business, which his father started 10 years ago. With the proliferation of internet access, Lynden says the company h as come up with another first. Within a few weeks clients will be able to follow the progress of their houses online.

"Our inspectors will take progress pictures every day which we will put on the internet so one can watch the progress of his/her home every day online. But if they must come to the office, it's all wired so you can watch and discuss any detail of your house while viewing it on big screen. We're all high tech."

Are there subdivisions on the drawing board? " Presently we buy lots wherever we can get find them. People are also inviting us to build on their property. Subdivision development is down the road," says Lynden, CEO of the company.

Founder Cecil "Monty" says people outside Fox Hill have bought their houses, which confirm "our distinctive designs are attracting people from all over New Providence." Quote: "Our inspectors will take progress pictures every day which we will put on the internet so one can watch the progress of his/her home every day online.