Press Releases – Lakewood Ranch
Quick Home Search
call usget directions
  • Home
  • Villages
  • Builders
  • Contact
    •
    • Find a Home
    • Events
    • Community Map
    • register for updates
        Stay in the Know

        Sign up to receive updates about new model homes, new villages, all of latest news and events happening here at Lakewood Ranch.

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    • call us
    • Life Here
    • Villages
    • The Area
    • News & Press
    • FAQ
    • Visit LWR
    • register for updates

      • register for updates

      Stay in the Know

      Sign up to receive updates about new model homes, new villages, all of latest news and events happening here at Lakewood Ranch.

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    Category: Press Releases

    Heritage Golf Group Acquires and Repositions Legacy Golf Club in Sarasota, Florida as Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Fourth Private Golf Course.

    Posted on by Tiffany Hill

    Expanding portfolio now includes eight golf course properties in Florida.

    Lakewood Ranch, FL – April 10, 2024 – Heritage Golf Group, the fastest-growing owner and operator of golf and country clubs in the US, has acquired Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch from Legacy Golf Holdings LLC. Terms are not disclosed.

    Legacy Golf Club is located adjacent to Heritage’s most recent acquisition – Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and features an Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole golf course, a 12,500 sq ft clubhouse, and practice facility. 

    Immediately following the acquisition, Heritage Golf Group has strategically repositioned the Legacy Golf Course as Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s fourth private golf course, solidifying its position as the Sarasota area’s premier private golf and country club with 72 holes of championship golf. Additionally, LWRG&CC offers a host of world-class amenities, with two award winning clubhouses, two golf practice facilities, 20 pickleball courts, 20 tennis courts, a full-service 24-hour fitness center, two heated swimming pools, bocce ball and croquet courts.

    “There was a definite opportunity and need for more golf at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club,” said Mark Burnett, president and CEO of Heritage Golf Group. “The inclusion of the Legacy Golf Course grants our members unparalleled access to private golf, and with major golf course renovations already underway, it signals a promising future for both current and prospective members.“

    The Legacy repositioning provides an opportunity to elevate the overall experience for existing members and serves as a compelling draw for prospective members seeking exclusive access to premium private golf in the Sarasota area.

    Legacy’s Arnold Palmer signature golf course is currently closed for a multi-million-dollar golf course renovation project consisting of rebuilding greens, tee boxes, fairways, bunkers, and cart paths. The restoration is anticipated to be completed and the course reopened in late 2024.

    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 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

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

    Posted on 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.

    ###

    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 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.

    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 CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS

    Posted on by Tiffany Hill

    Lakewood Ranch will be celebrating the holidays in November and December, at its Main Street and Waterside Place town centers, and everyone is invited! Ranch residents are encouraged to come out to one or all events and to bring friends, family, and visitors to experience how the Lakewood Ranch lifestyle exemplifies what community is all about.

    There is so much to do – and not just for the holidays, but year-round!  Make sure you don’t miss anything; stop by our Information Center pop-up events at Waterside Place on Nov. 19 at the Farmers’ Market and Nov. 22 during Ranch Nite Wednesday, to learn more about living in Lakewood Ranch and all our award-winning lifestyle has to offer!

    First, start the season out right by finding the hidden elves from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Spot the elves hidden around Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street and you could become a winner! More than 15 mischievous elves are hiding inside and outside, so be sure to look high and low. Record what they’re doing and drop your entry form off at the Lakewood Ranch Information Center to enter. Entry forms can be picked up from the Lakewood Ranch Information Center, 8131 Lakewood Main St, Lakewood Ranch.

    Make sure to do some seasonal shopping at the Main Street Small Business market, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, and don’t forget to visit local businesses for Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 25 at both town centers and all independent stores on The Ranch. On Dec. 2 and 3, Main Street will host the LWR Holiday of the Arts Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    The official Main Street tree lighting will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1, preceding Music on Main, at LWR Main Street. There will be breakfasts and brunches with Santa all throughout December at both Main Street and Waterside Place. Santa will also stroll Main Street and Waterside Place throughout the month; visit lakewoodranch.com/connect/events-list for times and dates.

    Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch’s annual Chanukah Celebration will be held at LWR Main Street from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7; for more information visit chabadofbradenton.com.

    On Dec. 15, come to see the Holiday Movie in the Park – “The Santa Clause” – from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Park, with a visit from Santa from 6-8 p.m. Also at Waterside Place, catch the Out-of-Door Academy’s holiday performance at the Sights and Sounds arts series from 6-7 p.m.

    If you’re trying to get a jump on your New Year’s resolutions, sign up for the Jungle Run 5K on Dec. 15, “one of the largest and most cheerful 5K races in the area”! Registration opens at 4 p.m.; the night ends with a post-race holiday festival. For more information visit thejingle5k.org.

    With both town centers decorated for the holidays, don’t forget to come out and enjoy favorite activities such as Music on Main, from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month; Ranch Nite Wednesdays, weekly at Waterside Place from 6-9 p.m.; and the Farmers’ Market, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, at Waterside Place.

    And to start 2024 out right, come celebrate the new year at Waterside Place, starting at 6 p.m. and running until midnight, when the sky will be illuminated with a drone show over Kingfisher Lake! DJ Truth will be spinning high-energy tunes, and food and beverage will be available for purchase from town center merchants and participating food trucks. 

    Come out and enjoy the holidays with us!

    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, three town centers, and countless shopping and dining experiences. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

    Waterside Place is located at 1561 Lakefront Drive, 34240, and Main Street is at 8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., 34202.

    REX JENSEN HONORED WITH THE 2023 LEGEND AWARD BY BUILDER

    Posted on by Tiffany Hill

    Zonda has announced Rex Jensen as the 2023 recipient of its Legend Award, presented by BUILDER, today at the Future Place event at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Florida. 

    “The Legends Award honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the planned-community sector,” said Jeff Meyers, chief executive officer of Zonda. “Rex Jensen’s career is an inspiration for everyone in the industry, let alone the tens of thousands of people who have built their lives in his communities.”

    Jensen is the president and chief executive officer of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), a company he joined in 1990 as vice president of planning. SMR is the developer of Lakewood Ranch, a 27,000-home master plan comprising more than two dozen unique villages.

    “It’s been gratifying to look back at the results,” Jensen told BUILDER in a feature interview. “Sometimes when you’re in the heat of it, when you’re wondering if you are going to be allowed to continue developing or when you hit a large economic downturn as we did in 2007 – which was an economic quagmire or ‘great extinction’ where 90% of our industry died – those were not particularly enjoyable experiences. But, you know, we have come through them, and overall, it’s been a tremendous ride.”

    Jensen will be honored at the conference and featured on the cover of the October edition of Builder Magazine with the “Ground for Growth” feature story by Leah Draffen. Previous winners of the Legends Award include Fred Balda of Hillwood Communities, Larry Johnson of Johnson Development, and Emile Haddad of FivePoint Holdings.

    “Rex has played a crucial role in ensuring Lakewood Ranch stays innovative and up to date with the latest design, development, styles, trends, and business models – reflecting his dedication to delivering high-quality, modern, and desirable communities,” said John Cannon, president of John Cannon Homes, which has been building custom homes in Lakewood Ranch since its inception. “Besides his forward-thinking, he is in tune with enhancing the human experience by understanding the importance of intertwining green spaces, various recreational areas, and modern conveniences within the community. By including these elements in the planning and development of Lakewood Ranch, he has made it the successful master-planned community it is today.”

    About Zonda

    Zonda provides data-driven housing market solutions to the homebuilding industry. From builders to building product manufacturers, mortgage clients, and multifamily executives, we work hand-in-hand with our customers to streamline access to housing data to empower smarter decisions. As a leading brand in residential construction, our mission is to advance the home building industry, because we believe better homes mean better lives and stronger communities. Together, we are building the future of housing.

    ###

    Lakewood Ranch Farmers’ Market Named No. 1 in Florida

    Posted on by Tiffany Hill

    The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch was recently named No. 1 in Florida as part of the 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration (AFMC), sponsored by the American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition. The event ran from June 19 to Sept. 18, during which the public voted on their favorite markets. The Market was also ranked 22nd in the nation. The AFMC is the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the U.S. as voted on by the public.

    The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, which is about to enter its sixth season, is home to more than 100 curated vendors of the region’s best food and flavors, and is located at Waterside Place – Lakewood Ranch’s newest town center. Open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round, The Market has become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts.

    Other activities on Market Sundays include yoga at 9 a.m. at the adjacent Waterside Park, weekly live music, Kids’ Corner crafts, games, and storytelling; and a Community Supported Agriculture program each fall and winter in partnership with Honeyside Farms.

    The Market also works with Transition Sarasota as part of the Suncoast Gleaning Project. Among other efforts, volunteers pick up leftover vegetables from the farmers weekly and take them to food banks to make meals for those in need, thereby helping diminish food waste while providing nutritious produce to diverse populations.

    For more information about The Market, contact Nicole Hackel at 941-757-1520 or visit lakewoodranch.com/life-on-the-ranch/themarket/.

    # # #

    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.

    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 64,000 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.

    Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place Adds Two New Tenants; Announces New Openings

    Posted on by Tiffany Hill

    Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s best-selling master-planned community for all ages, recently announced two new tenants for the Waterside Place town center – a retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination. Both are scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year.

    Eatalia will be an Italian market that will specialize in imported meats, cheeses, olives and nuts, homemade bread, build-your-own charcuterie boards, fresh pasta and other grocery items, as well as a cold bar with various salad items. Eatalia will be for people who are “passionate about Italian cuisine, or anyone looking for a quick, quality- made bite on the go.” 

    The Wellness Space will offer an array of services, including mentoring and meditation with different modalities to create clarity. There will also be private and group coaching services for individuals, couples, family and children, as well as corporate services.

    The newest dining spot at Waterside Place is Osteria 500, which opened at the end of July. Osteria 500 is an Italian restaurant featuring antipasto, salads, meat and fish entrees, and pasta dishes made fresh and in house. There are also numerous pizzas and paninis from which to choose. Osteria 500 has an extensive wine list, as well as specialty cocktails.

    Other recently opened businesses include SHACK yoga + Fitness, Marmalade, featuring home décor, furnishings, and women’s apparel and gifts; Modish Salon, Capstan Financial Consulting Group, and Williams Parker Attorneys at Law. These recently opened businesses at Waterside Place join tenants Korê Steakhouse and cocktail lounge, Good Liquid Brewing company, O&A Coffee Supply, CROP Juice, Bay Area Aesthetics, Body Bar Pilates, 3Form Fitness, Kilwins, Paint Nail Bar, Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, Smith Law, Man Cave for Men, a luxury modern barber shop; Monkee’s, an upscale women’s boutique; Florida Provisions Co., a retail and bar concept; Forked, a breakfast, lunch, brunch and cocktails establishment; the John Cannon Model Experience Center, M/I Homes Design, M/I Homes Financial, and M/I Homes Title Agency.

    Still to open are Agave Bandido, a Mexican-American restaurant and tequileria; Deep Lagoon, a seafood & oyster house; Good Liquid Distilling Co., Duck Donuts, Cileone Jewelers, The Black Dog store, which will sell resort wear, and La Chic Boheme, offering spa services and treatments.

    “Waterside Place is rapidly becoming a retail and dining destination with the recent openings we have had,” said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial. “We have gathered the best of the best in local and regional retailers and restauranteurs into a truly unique setting. There is a tremendous amount of waterfront dining, and community spaces for sitting and relaxing, whether you’re having a drink from one of our restaurants, working remotely, or just hanging out with family and friends. It is rewarding to all involved with this project to see all of the spaces activated and used for the many purposes that we were trying to accommodate. A number of additional openings will occur during September and October; the majority of the tenants will be open for business by year’s end.

    “Our events continue to have a robust following and are continually fine-tuned and enhanced by our great events and marketing team,” Boylston said.

    Recently named the “Best Lifestyle Program in the U.S.” by the National Association of Homebuilders, Waterside Place is already active with festivals, music, and sporting activities. It is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, with more than 100 vendors offering organic produce, baked goods, pet products, and prepared food, etc. Ranch Nite Wednesdays, “your favorite weeknight hangout,” runs every Wednesday October through May, and features food trucks, live music from local artists, a weekly night market, and the second largest cornhole league in the nation, hosted by MVP Sports & Social. There is also live music on the plaza Friday and Saturday nights, and Waterside Place is home to the new “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” music and arts series.

    For more information about Waterside Place, visit www.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.

    About Lakewood Ranch

    Lakewood Ranch is the 35,000+-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 64,000 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.