Texas Big Gun Sets Foray in North River Ranch Homebuilding


 

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 5, 2017 – The country’s top builder, D.R. Horton is poised to further expand its footprint in north Manatee where it already has a strong presence in Parrish, Ellenton and Palmetto, as well as in market listings of Bradenton homes for sale.

This Fort Worth, Texas-based company will be building homes in a 445-acre site set for 1,100 lots on the northwest corner of the U.S. 301‒Mocassin Wallow Road intersection in Parrish. Its home construction project here forms part of the North River Ranch planned master development expected to open during the first quarter of 2018.

A Blooming Growth Center

Other developments are brewing around this north Manatee area which looms as a new growth center in Southwest Florida. On Erie Road just south of the planned North River Ranch, the North River High School is rising for a scheduled 2019 opening. A nearby elementary school is also on the drawing boards as well as a proposed campus of the State College of Florida also off Erie Road.

Moves are likewise afoot to accelerate the planned northward extension of Fort Hamer Road south of North River Ranch. Extending this road would further enhance North River Ranch access to the Fort Hamer Bridge linking Parrish with Lakewood Ranch.

Gung-ho Commercial Developers

Benderson Development Co. Creekside Commons

Gateway Development Partners, a Chicago-based concern, also has a heads up on the growth vibes in Parrish. In August last year, it was announced that Gateway would develop a retail center called Manatee River Crossing on the southwest corner of U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road. This commercial hub will be good for a 45,000-square-foot grocery store and 21,000 feet of strip retail space plus two out parcels.

 

South at U.S. 301 and Erie Road, Manatee County-based Benderson Development Co. was also reported ready to build a 285,000-square foot commercial complex called Creekside Commons. This 50-acre development already has an existing 15,000-square-foot CVS Pharmacy.

Good Omen for Copperstone

While D.R. Horton has yet to finalize its market bets in North River Ranch, sales activity has been notably brisk at the planned development’s neighboring community, Copperstone, host to 414 single family homes and 118 townhouses. Since the start of 2017, some 30 residences were sold here at the $200s and $300s price points.

There are recent Copperstone listings too at the same price ranges. These newly available residences feature floor plans in the 1,890‒2,500-square-foot range in four-bedroom layouts.

D.R. Horton’s Bets

Trevesta

Southwest of North River Ranch, D.R. Horton is already building in Trevesta, a new development catering to the Parrish–Palmetto home market. This builder is offering in this community 13 single family home designs featuring floor plans starting from 1,844 square feet up to about 3,850 square feet in three- to five-bedroom designs. D.R. Horton’s Trevesta pricing is in the $200s‒$300s as well.

D.R. Horton home builds in north Manatee could be toured too at the Covered Bridge Estates in Ellenton where it started construction on 60 lots in 2013. Its single-family home builds here are priced starting from the $200s and designed with floor areas measuring from 1,844 to 3,576 square feet. The amenities in this development include a clubhouse with a fitness center, pool and cabana, basketball and tennis courts, as well as conservation areas and lakes.