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    Author: Rachel Gray

    Lakewood Ranch Unites for Hurricane Relief Efforts

    Posted on by Rachel Gray

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         For more information please contact:

    Oct. 15, 2024                                                                                         Lisa M. Barnott, 941.757.1542

                                                                                                    lisa.barnott@lakewoodranch.com

    Lakewood Ranch Unites for Hurricane Relief Efforts

    In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are grateful to report that Lakewood Ranch’s business and town centers have resumed normal operations, providing services and support to our community.

    While our area was fortunate to avoid the worst of the storm, our thoughts are with those on the barrier islands, coastal regions, and major flood zones who were severely impacted. In response, Lakewood Ranch is hosting and supporting several relief efforts to assist our neighbors in need. These events will offer much-needed community connection, an opportunity to relax, enjoy great food, and make a positive impact together.

    A food and supply drive for hurricane victims will be held in conjunction with Ranch Nite Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 16 at Waterside Place, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. The donation event will be hosted in partnership with Meals on Wheels Plus/The Food Bank of Manatee County. Needed items include:

    • Non-perishable unused, unopened food items
    • Bottled water
    • Shop vacs
    • Push brooms
    • Squeegees
    • Bleach
    • Mold remover
    • Shovels
    • Wheelbarrows
    • Trash bags
    • Plastic storage bins
    • Toilet paper
    • Paper towels
    • Towels
    • Gloves
    • Fans
    • Dehumidifiers
    • Other cleaning supplies

    For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/ranch-nite-wednesdays/?caldate=2024-10-16&calstart=6:00%20pm&calend=9:00%20pm.

    There will also be free meals from any of the food trucks for all first responders or linemen with a valid work ID or work badge at Ranch Nites on Oct. 16. For more information and other discounts, visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/thank-you-first-responders-events/?caldate=&calstart=6:00PM&calend=2:00PM.

    The relief efforts will continue with a food and supply drive at the weekly Farmers’ Market at Waterside Place, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/the-market-5.

    There will be a number of blood drives held around Lakewood Ranch at various locations; to register visit lakewoodranch.com/event/suncoast-blood-centers-blood-drives.   

    Shop to Support Market Night will be held from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 8 at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. This is a special event to give those who have lost their storefronts – permanently or temporarily – an opportunity to sell salvaged and incoming inventory. The vendor line-up will feature stores from Siesta Key, St. Armand’s Circle, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, and more. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/76325-2.

    The Lakewood Ranch Information Center, 8131 Lakewood Main Street, is also collecting food items for Meals on Wheels PLUS/The Foodbank of Manatee County through the end of November. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/food-bank-drive/?caldate=2024-11-01&calstart=10:00 am&calend=5:30 pm.

    For additional storm resources and volunteer opportunities, visit www.lakewoodranch.com/hurricane-information.

    Hurricane Information

    Posted on by Rachel Gray

    We hope this message finds you safe and well after Hurricane Milton. While Lakewood Ranch was fortunate to escape the worst of the storm, our hearts go out to those most severely affected on the barrier islands, coastal areas, and in major flood zones. These families face a long and difficult recovery. Links to relief organizations and volunteer opportunities are provided below.

    In Lakewood Ranch, county services, the Stewardship District, Town Hall, HOAs, and other entities responsible for community assets and services are actively assessing the impact of Milton on their areas of responsibility. Safety hazards are being prioritized, but we ask for patience. Many of the people working behind the scenes to restore services have been personally affected, with some living in areas harder hit than Lakewood Ranch. Despite these challenges, rest assured that no one is standing still; efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy.

    Overall, Lakewood Ranch held up well against this major storm. Services are being reinstated, and many businesses are reopening. The resilience of the Ranch can be attributed in part to Florida’s strong building codes and stormwater management rules, which Lakewood Ranch follows and have evolved over the years to help communities like ours better withstand the impacts of hurricanes like Milton.

    The Lakewood Ranch Information Center will be open on Saturday, October 11th. We will share more information about affected areas and planned activities in our town centers in the forthcoming days. Some businesses have reopened, but community members should contact individual businesses to check on their status.

    If you notice any specific safety concerns in your neighborhood or home, please reach out directly to your HOA, Town Hall, or the Stewardship District. If you are unaware of who to contact, MyLWR.com is the best resource to find specific information.

    Let’s continue to come together as a community, supporting one another and those who were impacted the most.

    INFORMATION RESOURCES

    www.mymanatee.org/storm or call 311

    www.scgov.net or call 211

    www.myLWR.com

    For Assistance, here a few resources to get you started:

    Florida’s State Assistance Information Line: (800)342-3557 or www.floridadisaster.org

    FEMA – Meals, water, disaster aid & unemployment relief: www.disasterassistance.gov  or www.fema.gov/drc

    United Way – relief resources & daily events

    Disaster Legal Hotline – #833-514-2940

    Disater Distress Helpline – Call or text 1-800-985-5990

    National hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling

    Samaritan’s Purse Hotline – #833-747-1234

    Free assistance for homeowners affected by the disaster. Volunteers may be able to assist with removal of personal property and furniture, flood cleanup, sanitizing, chainsaw work, debris cleanup and temporary roof tarping.

    Red Cross Hotline – #800-733-2767

    Financial, sheltering, reunification and transitional suppor

    Florida Baptists Disaster Relief Public Assistance – #904-253-0502

    Free Assistance for homeowners affected by the disaster. Volunteers may be able to assist with Storm Debris Cleanup, Temporary Roof Tarping, Chainsaw work and Muck outs

    Crisis Cleanup number: 844-965-1386

    Assistance is always free and may include: Debris removal, Tree removal, flooded home, mold remediation & more cleanup assistance

    Resources for Business Owners:

    Manatee Chamber of Commerce: https://www.manateechamber.com/stormrecovery/

    Sarasota Chamber of Commerce: https://www.sarasotachamber.com/post-hurricane-resources.html

    Volunteer & Donation Opportunities:

    Lakewood Ranch Community Fund: list of local volunteering needs from a variety of nonprofits

    Manatee Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund – accepting donations for hurricane relief

    Keep Manatee Beautiful – debris clean-up daily from 9 am to 2 pm . Sign up for shifts.

    Convoy of Hope at Grace Community Church: Volunteer days at various locations impacted with storm damage.

    Bayside Community Church: Disaster Relief Fund

    The Center of Anna Maria is collecting supplies, organizing volunteer services and accepting donations for the community. There is also a fund for Gulf Barrier Island Hospitality workers who are out of work due to storm damage.

    Meals on Wheels – donate to their food pantries. Volunteer opportunities available.

    Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County: Donations of diapers, baby wipes, formula, gift cards and new & lightly used children’s clothing for pregnant women, new families and their babies.

    Kids Comfort Buckets Donation Drive: To help the children of families who have lost everything from Hurricane Helene & Milton. Collecting hygiene and comfort items. Drop off locations at Influence Style and Barre3 (during business hours), or at Main Street Market on Saturday, 10/19 . Alternative donation options; venmo and amazon wishlist. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/itn2aDvB6dYVBKXf/

    Manatee County Government is looking for any and all post-storm recovery services. This includes but is not limited to, debris clean up and hauling, services for clearing roads, temporary housing, utility restoration, mental health services, financial assistance programs, public health services, building inspection services, and community engagement programs. You can find all Vendor Disaster Recovery Services information requirements and forms HERE. Once you have completed all forms, they can be emailed to recovermanatee@mymanatee.org for review and processing. You will be contacted if your services are required. We appreciate your support through this unprecedented time.

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

    Posted on 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.

    # # #

    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

    Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place Wins Gold

    Posted on 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 38th 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.

    # # #

    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.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH RANKS NO. 1 IN THE NATION FOR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

    Posted on by Rachel Gray

    LAKEWOOD RANCH RANKS NO. 1 IN THE NATION FOR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

    Lakewood Ranch has maintained its ranking as the number one best-selling, master-planned multi-generational community in the nation for an impressive six consecutive years, as recognized by RCLCO, an independent real estate consulting firm. “Lakewood Ranch’s stellar performance this past year is a testament to its dynamic market segmentation strategy, superior marketing, appealing lifestyle, great execution, and the professionalism of the development team,” said Gregg Logan, managing director at RCLCO.

    In 2023, despite spiking interest rates, the community achieved 2,257 sales (22% above 2022), marking it as the second-highest sales year in its history. This was partly attributed to builders’ strategic initiatives to draw potential resale buyers into the new home market. Laura Cole, senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch, commended the builders for their efforts in leveraging mortgage buy-downs, accelerated build cycles, and move-in ready homes, while also highlighting the financial benefits of lower insurance and maintenance expenses associated with new construction.

    Emphasizing the commitment to enhancing the quality of life, Cole reiterated Lakewood Ranch’s dedication to fostering a vibrant, multi-generational community that caters to diverse life stages and budgets. The community’s recognition in the Urban Land Institute’s new master-planned community publication underscored its segmentation and varied product offerings, acknowledging its broad appeal.  Furthermore, Rex Jensen, president and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch, was honored with Zonda’s 2023 Legend Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the planned-community sector.

    The sales landscape in Lakewood Ranch witnessed a significant shift in 2023, with a notable 37% of new home sales originating from within The Ranch and Sarasota and Manatee counties. “Many of these sales were attributed to renters seeking permanent residency after experiencing limited choices during the pandemic,” Cole said. “Other local sales came from buyers who experienced a life change, precipitating the desire or need for a new home in our community.”

    Expanding beyond Florida, markets such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Boston contributed significantly to sales, with Tampa and Miami making the top five feeder markets for the first time. Anticipating an increase in in-state moves due to equity growth, Lakewood Ranch foresees more buyers relocating from within Florida.

    Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, Lakewood Ranch plans to introduce nine new villages and neighborhoods while launching a newly incorporated section in the northeast comprised of three communities that will have great appeal based on recent successes:  Saddlestone (multi-gen), Del Webb Catalina (age-restricted), and Calusa National Golf (bundled golf). The Ranch is also introducing two new homebuilders to its portfolio, Homes by WestBay and Dream Finders, and Erickson Senior Living will break ground on Emerson Lakes, a 1,200-unit continued care retirement community located north of SR-70. New schools, a county library, enhanced amenities at the Premier Sports Campus, updated town centers, and various other developments are also in the pipeline.

    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 66,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, and three town centers that include theaters, shopping and dining. For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

    Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Launches its Builders Give Back Program

    Posted on by Rachel Gray

    LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (May 16, 2023) – The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund (LWRCF) is pleased to announce the launch of its Builders Give Back program, through which builders make a $100 donation per closing to the LWRCF in the name of the new homeowner. The builders currently participating are 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 will donate a matching $100 per closing to the LWRCF.

    The new 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 Fund has a “live here, give here” approach, Bookhamer explained. “We are supporting local life-changing nonprofit organizations and causes embedded in the area. This program brings new residents into the fold when they move in and provides them with an opportunity to give back themselves. By engaging our new residents early, we are hoping for 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 support the nonprofits that are doing impactful work in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding areas in Manatee and Sarasota counties. As Lakewood Ranch continues to grow, the needs of the community – including human services, education, animal services, and arts and culture – will also grow.

    Bookhamer added, “During COVID, we gave out more than $75,000 in grants to help nonprofits that were directly impacted by the pandemic, and after Hurricane Ian, we partnered with Lakewood Ranch Communities and Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and raised $10,000 to grant to nonprofits affected by the hurricane.”

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

    ###

    The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund 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 100 nonprofit organizations to directly improve the lives of Lakewood Ranch residents.