CORE Project: A New Perk for Harmony at Lakewood Ranch


 

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 6th 2017 – Home sales in 2016 were logged at just about one per month in the new community of Harmony at Lakewood Ranch, but this pace could pick up moving forward in 2017. Market activity here could draw some tailwinds from its neighboring biomedical research park, CORE, whose first project is expected to start site development this spring.

This project is a 40-acre mixed-use development dubbed as “The Green” to be anchored on Earth Fare, a boutique grocer focused on organic produce. Notably, this would be the grocer’s first location in Southwest Florida. It will occupy 23,500 square feet out of The Green’s 150,000 square feet planned for retail, office and restaurant spaces designed for over a dozen tenants.

The project’s developer is Tavistock Development based in Orlando and whose emphasis has been on wellness, health, and sustainability. Its plans at the CORE envision a mixed-use hub with a total of 525,000 square feet which will also include a fitness center and 304 luxury residences. Early 2018 is the target opening of The Green wherein the retail component is expected to be finished slightly ahead of the residential development.

Major Biotech Player Sought

CORE Project: A New Perk for Harmony at Lakewood Ranch

CORE, which stands for “Collaboration Opportunities for Research and Exploration,” is still in search of a major life-science player as the anchor in its 265-acre site at the northeast corner of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and State Road 70. This biomedical research park is aimed at growing the region’s life sciences sector and in the process help draw new employers and create more high-paying jobs in the Lakewood Ranch area.

To help attract companies and institutions to the business and educational campus of CORE, its prime mover, Lakewood Ranch Commercial, said it will first lay the groundwork for amenities. These include retail shops, restaurants and a gym, all in the blueprint of The Green which would be just across the Rangeland Parkway from the residential community of Harmony at Lakewood Ranch.

A New Phase Opens in Harmony

The developer of this community, Canadian builder Mattamy Homes, is likewise upbeat about this locality, having opened last summer its next phase called The Reserves at Harmony. Gated and much like a country park, this subdivision includes an open playing field for football, soccer and other outdoor activities.

The initial phase of Harmony at Lakewood Ranch is ungated but also features neighborhood parks as well as walking and biking trails. Its other amenities include a clubhouse, a resort-style swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and children’s playground.

Three Home Design Options

It further attracts prospective buyers of Lakewood Ranch homes for sale with its maintenance-free landscaping compliant with the standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition. The community’s residences consists of single family homes, executive townhouses and 20-foot-wide townhomes.

These residential styles come in renditions of craftsman and coastal architectural designs. The 20-foot townhomes and the executive townhouses in this community are priced around the $200s, featuring floor plans of between 1,515 and 1,936 square feet. The price points of the single family homes touch the $300s and are designed with floor plans ranging from 1,626 to 2,713 square feet.

The residents that this community has attracted is quite diverse. These include retirees as well as first-time homeowners and families with children. More could be expected to choose Harmony at Lakewood Ranch as their home as the developments at the CORE gain further traction.