March 2024 – Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Welcomes Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes to its Builders Give Back Program

Posted on March 28, 2024April 3, 2024 by Tiffany Hill

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation (LWRCF) is pleased to welcome Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes to its Builders Give Back program. Through this program, which launched in May 2023, builders make a $100 donation per closing to the LWRCF in the name of the new homeowner. Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes join the other builders currently participating in the program: Anchor Builders, AR Homes, Homes By Towne, John Cannon Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, Pulte Homes, and Stock Luxury Homes. The program is further supported by Lakewood Ranch Communities, which donates a matching $100 per closing to the LWRCF.

The Builders Give Back program benefits the LWRCF by both developing engagement with homeowners in their community and introducing them to local philanthropy, which in turn will help create support for the LWRCF into the future.

“This program allows new residents to experience the welcoming and giving culture of Lakewood Ranch right when they move in,” said Adrienne Bookhamer, executive director of the LWRCF. “Our builders understand that the lifestyle in Lakewood Ranch is unique, and they are supporting that by participating in Builders Give Back. There is no better way to thank new residents than by contributing to the community and helping the LWRCF make an impact here.”

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation has a “live here, give here” approach, Bookhamer explained. “We support local life-changing nonprofit organizations and causes embedded in the area. By engaging our new residents early, we are hopeful of more involvement from the community to make an even bigger impact locally.”

The mission of the LWRCF, which is financed fully by residents and businesses, is to enhance the quality of life in and near our community by responding to local needs, granting funds, and building lasting relationships. As Lakewood Ranch continues to grow, the needs of the community – including human services, education, animal services, and arts and culture – will also grow.

For more information, visit lwrcf.org or call (941) 208-6799.

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The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit devoted to enhancing the quality of life in and near the Lakewood Ranch, Florida community by promoting philanthropy, responding to community needs, and granting funds. Since its founding in 2000, the fund has granted over $1.5 million to more than 140 nonprofit organizations to directly improve the lives of Lakewood Ranch residents.

Lee Wetherington Homes Selected Among Preferred Builders for Shellstone at Waterside

Posted on March 21, 2024April 10, 2024 by Tiffany Hill

Luxury homebuilder Lee Wetherington Homes is proud to announce it has been selected as a preferred home builder for the new Shellstone at Waterside community, located east of Lorraine Road and south of University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch. Developed by Homes by Towne, Shellstone will provide an enviable living experience, featuring amenities designed specifically for modern homebuyers, all conveniently set near Waterside Place — one of Lakewood Ranch’s award-winning town centers. Lee Wetherington Homes will begin building its model home, the Sand Dollar, in the second quarter of 2024 and is expected to open in early 2025 for prospective homebuyers to tour.

“We are honored to have been selected to design and build dream homes for future residents in Shellstone,” said David Hunihan, CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes. “It’s an exciting time for our team of designers and builders, as we continue to expand our presence in the nation’s top multigenerational master-planned community.”

The Sand Dollar showcases a masterful blend of the Suncoast lifestyle and sleek modern design that highlights the natural Florida scenery found throughout this 682-home development. Homesites nestle against pristine lakefront and preserve views, with each custom home package over $1.5 million. Lee Wetherington Homes’ incomparable design styles are complemented by impeccable amenities found in Shellstone.

Shellstone plans to allot 30 homesites to Lee Wetherington Homes. The longtime local homebuilder’s newest floor plans incorporate exquisite features its customers have come to expect, including spacious great rooms designed for casual living and entertaining, dramatic ceiling heights, beautiful kitchens with immense islands, pool baths, sweeping primary suites, private guest retreats, broad closets, and three-car garages. Shellstone will be a maintenance-assisted community for all mowing and landscaping with maintenance and irrigation taken care of by the homeowners’ association.

The community’s premier amenities are designed for recreation and relaxation. The Summit at Shellstone features a social hall, fitness center, pool and spa, firepit, poolside cabanas, poolside grill, and fitness lawn, and will have a full-time activities director. Shared with Wild Blue at Waterside, where Lee Wetherington Homes is also a trusted and preferred builder, The Midway Sports Complex spans 13 acres and includes eight pickleball courts, six tennis courts, a kayak launch, special events lawn, pro shop, and dog park.

“Together, we’re not just building homes; we’re shaping lifestyles and creating enduring legacies for families to thrive in,” said John Woodman, Division Manager at Homes by Towne. “It’s the fusion of vision, expertise, and passion that defines our commitment to crafting exceptional living spaces in Lakewood Ranch.”

Shellstone is strategically situated near Lakewood Ranch’s growing shopping, dining and entertainment options that have garnered national attention. The development is just minutes from Waterside Place’s vibrant town center, which in March won a gold “Best of American Living” award from the National Association of Home Builders for its “Main Street-type setting.” Homebuyers will also have easy access to University Town Center’s shopping and dining offerings in addition to I-75.

“Lee Wetherington has been a luxury builder in Lakewood Ranch since its inception,” said Laura Cole, Senior Vice President of Lakewood Ranch Communities. “We are excited to see them in Shellstone.”

About Lee Wetherington Homes

Lee Wetherington Homes designs and builds high-quality single-family homes and custom homes in the most prestigious and sought-after communities of Sarasota and Manatee counties. The mission at Lee Wetherington Homes is to provide customers with the best experience in homebuilding, delivering exceptional home designs, features, and value in a caring and professional manner throughout the entire construction process. www.LWHomes.com.

About Homes by Towne

Homes by Towne® specializes in building new single-family homes and condominiums in livable, well-thought out communities in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. For 75 years, we have built innovative, well-designed homes with today’s home buyer in mind. For more information visit www.homesbytowne.com.

About Waterside Village

Waterside Village will feature more than 5,000 for-sale and rental homes in a variety of neighborhoods ranging from $400k to over $3M. All neighborhoods are connected to Waterside Place via trails and many homes will benefit from an upcoming water taxi to the town center. For more information visit www.lwrwaterside.com.

About Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch is the 33,000+-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 67,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers, and countless shopping and dining experiences. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

Dream Finders Homes Announces New Home Community of Bungalow Walk at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Posted on March 21, 2024April 3, 2024 by Tiffany Hill

Heritage Golf Group Acquires Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in Sarasota, Florida

Posted on March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 by Rachel Gray

Heritage Golf Group Acquires Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in Sarasota, Florida

Expanding portfolio now includes eight golf course properties in Florida

Lakewood Ranch, FL – March 11, 2024 – Heritage Golf Group, the fastest-growing owner and operator of golf and country clubs in the US, has acquired Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. (SMR). Terms are not disclosed.

The award-winning club is set in the center of Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s fastest selling residential community, located in the Sarasota area. The 33,000+-acre master-planned community developed by SMR, is just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural attractions in Sarasota. Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 66,000 residents and plans for expanded residential development are underway. The community features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, and a 75-acre Premier Sports Campus.

The club features three championship golf courses, two designed by renowned Hall of Fame golfer, Arnold Palmer – Cypress Links and King’s Dunes. The third championship course, Royal Lakes, is the newest course designed by Rick Robbins. The club offers several outstanding practice facilities, including a Members Golf Academy. The club boasts two uniquely different clubhouses. Members also enjoy an 18,000 square foot state-of-the-art, 24-hour athletic facility and aquatics center with two heated pools, as well as 20 pickleball courts and a tennis complex with 20 Har-Tru courts and a stadium court.

“Our selection of Heritage Golf Group was the result of meticulous consideration, focusing on their extensive experience and dedication to our standards. Their respect for our community and the club’s identity, culture, and traditions, along with a strong emphasis on staff retention and operational efficiencies, positions them as the ideal partner. Heritage’s proven track record in owning private country clubs within residential communities across the US played a pivotal role in our selection,” said Rex Jensen, SMR CEO.

“Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is the crown jewel of the Lakewood Ranch community, and we are proud to become its new steward. We are honored that SMR selected Heritage Golf Group to continue building on its noteworthy tradition and impeccable nationwide reputation as the premier country club and lifestyle community. The continued growth of our network of clubs will only further enhance the member and guest experience as well as offer additional career growth for our employees,” said Mark Burnett, Heritage Golf Group CEO.

The Heritage team, with extensive proficiency in golf club operations, continues to elevate the member experience through transforming and improving amenities, operations, and programming at recently acquired clubs. The transaction was successfully brokered by Leisure Investment Properties Group and Steven Ekovich represented the seller and buyer in the transaction.

About Heritage Golf Group

Since purchasing Heritage Golf Group in January 2020, the current ownership and leadership team has grown the company to include 37 clubs across the US. With its home office in northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC, Heritage clubs are located in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The company continues to grow by acquiring a mix of private country clubs in residential communities, member-owned clubs with growth potential seeking strategic alternatives, and premium daily-fee and resort golf properties in major resort destinations and metropolitan markets. Guided by the principle of evolving the golf experience to the highest level, each individual club’s amenities and operational systems are tailored to augment its unique assets. For more information, please visit www.heritagegolfgroup.com.

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Media Contact: Mary Moore, Heritage Golf Group

Phone: 703-570-4955

mmoore@heritagegolfgroup.com

Maureen Richardson, River Communications

Phone: 914-686-5599

mrichardson@riverinc.com

Best in American Living Awards: Waterside Place

Posted on March 7, 2024April 3, 2024 by Tiffany Hill

Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place Wins Gold

Posted on March 1, 2024March 13, 2024 by Rachel Gray

The National Association of Home Builders awarded Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch a gold “Best of American Living Award (BALA)” for the mixed-use community category. Now in its 38^th year, the BALA Awards is the building industry’s premier residential design awards program.

According to the judges, Waterside Place is “a great Main Street-type setting that emulates a beach/condo style development. The architecture is great, and the city center is clearly successful.” The BALA Awards spotlight building industry professionals who have redefined design excellence for homes and communities across North America. Winning projects showcase what building industry professionals need to know to set their product apart.

The 36-acre Waterside Place – a retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination for the region – is walkable to a wide variety of rental and for-sale neighborhoods designed for every life stage and price point. The town center is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, Ranch Nite Wednesdays, live music on the plaza Friday and Saturday nights, monthly Movies in the Park, and is home to the “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” music and arts series.

“We are delighted that Waterside Place has received national recognition for its architectural excellence, and its growing success as a mixed-use community that serves the local population while drawing guests from the broader Tampa Bay region,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of LWR Communities. “Our collection of international restaurants is growing and offers the most diverse array of waterfront restaurants in the area.”

For more information about Waterside Place, visit WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542.

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About Waterside Place

Waterside Place serves as the heart of Waterside – Lakewood Ranch’s first Sarasota village – and offers an elevated community experience that extends beyond that of a traditional town center. Situated on a 36-acre peninsula overlooking the mile-long Kingfisher Lake, the development blends entertainment with 112,000 square feet of unique in-line and freestanding commercial, retail and office space; diverse dining options; an eight-acre park; miles of nature trails; communal “pop-up” spaces, and more.

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