By Nick Williams
I recently interviewed State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, about the two growth management bills he’s sponsored. His bills, 842 and 1180, aim to reduce government regulation in the regional planning councils to allow counties and cities to work more directly with private companies. The end result is quicker development.
In the interview, Bennett, expressed the satisfaction he felt about the economic and cultural growth of the Bradenton-Sarasota area. He mentioned the universities and colleges in the area, the opera and the ballet.
“You don’t get that without growth,” he said. “We’re doing better than most.”
CNBC.com recently ranked the Bradenton-Sarasota area as the No. 5 turn-around community in the U.S. based on housing market figures.
Nine new businesses will open in Main Street in Lakewood Ranch this year. During a period where America is seeing more “going out of business” signs or just vacant office spaces, there are actually “coming soon” signs in windows.
While many counties across the state are eliminating parks or don’t have enough funds to improve the ones they have, Manatee County will make several improvements to Lakewood Ranch Park, a 150-acre site near Lakewood Ranch High School.
The improvements will include the expansion of a storm water pond, playground area, four parking areas, an add-a-brick gathering plaza with a gazebo and flag pole, rest rooms, a concession building, a 6,000-square-foot locker room, sidewalks, security lights, handicap accessibility in the parking lot, exercise trails and a 1,200-square-foot expansion for the Braden River Soccer Club.
And the housing market continues to grow.
Medallion Homes Gulf Coast, Inc., a home-building company in Bradenton, is seeking a general plan approval from the Manatee County Planning Commission to begin developing 1,282 residential units inside the Cross Creek subdivision near the intersection of Old Tampa and Fort Hamer Roads in Parrish.
Stirling Equity Group, a subsidiary of Neal Communities, has requested approval to build on 33 lots in the Belleisle subdivision in Lakewood Ranch. The request is for the second phase of a construction plan. At build out, the company is expecting 181 total lots. Two-thirds have already been released for sale and 46 lots owned by Neal Communities have already been sold inside Belleisle since they were put on the market last February.
On Saturday, the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Building Designers took a tour of The Lake Club inside Lakewood Ranch. At least 50 members made up of architects, designers and planners from around the state toured several homes in the exclusive, gated community. The focus of the meeting and tour was to identify trends in luxury homes and what buyers are looking for.
We all want a healthy economy in Florida. From the looks of things, this area could serve as the instructor for others seeking to stimulate their new home market.
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