Built the dream

Over six decades in the building industry, Peter Taylor survived booms and busts, fought back against corruption and learned how to deal with the constant challenges of construction.

From a start at a lumberyard, he went on to be a senior vice president with Levitt & Sons — the powerhouse company that revolutionized suburban homebuilding in the 1950s and beyond. He later started his own firm, Taylor Contractors of Florida, which built thousands of homes in the region, medical facilities statewide and several Charlotte County landmarks.

Taylor, 89, recently wrote a book about his life, “The People's Contractor: My Life in the American Building Industry.” The Business Observer sat down with the retired Punta Gorda builder to talk about his career, experiences and lessons learned. Here are excerpts of the conversation: