A Hidden Harbor and More for Fort Hamer Homes


 

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August 18th, 2016 – The 30 or so folks who bought homes at Chelsea Oaks and River Plantation off Fort Hamer Road in Parrish early in 2016 must have been elated with their choices of Manatee homes for sale.

These homeowners will not only immensely benefit from the expected 2017 completion of Fort Hamer Bridge near their communities. They will also get added pep from two major park projects adjacent to this span connecting south to the amenity-rich Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Park Makeover Complete

A Hidden Harbor and More for Fort Hamer Homes

In August 2016, the Fort Hamer Park in this Parrish area popular amongst boaters and anglers reopened after being closed since January 2016 for a $1 million makeover. The park’s upgrades include additional parking spaces, a turn-around loop to aid parking, stormwater improvements, sidewalks, security lights, and a plaza.

Fort Hamer Park likewise attracts competitive rowers from high schools and colleges because of its $825,000 training facility built in 2011. The park also features a pavilion with tables, a nearby double grill and attached restrooms, in addition to a floating dock and kayak launch with fishing pier to the Manatee River.

More from Hidden Harbor

Just across these facilities off Fort Hamer Road, work will start next year on the much-awaited Hidden Harbor Park. Manatee County acquired the 200-acre park site for $12.8 million in 2004 and allocated $1.2 million for its development, which could further whet market interest in homes for sale in east Manatee.

The initial phase of this park project calls for habitat restoration and landscaping of the site which is an abandoned farm field. Eventually, the county hopes to turn Hidden Harbor into a full-fledged regional park with nature trails, playfields, volleyball courts, picnic area, and canoe and kayak launch.

Home Market More Buoyant

The public works in these parks and Fort Hamer Bridge are definitely helping stimulate market activity on the nearby Parrish homes for sale. At River Plantation, a new listing was recently added to this community’s available properties: a four-bedroom home built in 2014 with a floor area of 3,377 square feet and a tag price in the $300s. In the same price range, a fresh buying opportunity also recently surfaced at Chelsea Oaks on a four-bedroom residence constructed in 2006 with a floor plan of 2,436 square feet.

Off the southwest junction of Fort Hamer Road with U.S. 301, properties are selling fast at the Forest Creek of Neal Communities. This development consists of 464 homes, and there’s a newly listed home here too—a 1,746-square-foot residence designed with three bedrooms and two baths, and offered at $259,900.

Spec Builds and Retail Shops

Tailwinds from the Fort Hamer projects are also apparent east of Chelsea Oaks at the community of Twin Rivers where a spec home, along with four other residences were sales-listed in July. These Parrish homes for sale fall in the $300s‒$600s price range, featuring three to six bedrooms within floor areas of between 2,400 and 4,900 square feet.

More choices of Parrish homes for sale are expected to be launched in 2017. Neal Communities next spring plans to open its Canoe Creek community set for 896 residences a short distance east of the Fort Hamer Road’s parks and new bridge. Besides Neal, the other active builders in this Parrish area include Medallion Home and Columbus, Ohio-based M/I Homes.

Commercial developments have also picked up around Fort Hamer Road. Groundbreaking is expected later this year for a new 45,000-square-foot retail shopping center, the Manatee River Crossings, at the junction of U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road. In addition, Benderson Development is eying a Parrish project at the corner of U.S. 301 and Erie Road, possibly incorporating a Walmart Supercenter.