10.19.17 West Orange Real Estate

Real Estate

LIVE, WORK, PLAY:

It’s all happening in Hamlin. 1 OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

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It’s all happening in

Hamlin

With myriad residential options and commercial development underway, Boyd Development’s Hamlin community is on track to become the newest hotspot in West Orange to live, work and play.

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DANIELLE HENDRIX AND STEVEN RYZEWSKI OBSERVER STAFF

HORIZON WEST

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magine living among lakes, green space, and walking and biking trails — all on what once was 30,000 acres of

citrus groves and rural land.

Nestled on the east side of State Road 429 near New Independence Parkway, the masterplanned community Hamlin is among the newest additions to Horizon West. The community takes its name from a variety of early-season orange and is located a few miles north of Walt Disney World.

Upon completion, Hamlin will boast 1,000 acres of retail and dining, multi-family and single-family residences and a center dedicated to health and wellness. Among these will be a multi-use town center on the shores of Lake Hancock, filled with retail, dining and entertainment options.

The community’s Walmart was the first commercial development to open in November 2016, with Publix Super Market behind it in August 2017. Recently announced is a Ford’s Garage restaurant — a burger-andbeer joint — and soon to come is luxury movie-theater company Cinépolis USA, a dine-in theater with 10 screens that will front Lake Hancock.

THE HAMLIN LIFESTYLE

If you ask Ken Kupp, partner at Boyd Development, to describe living in Hamlin, he would need just two words: It’s great.

“Our goal is to create a very walkable, experience-rich, live-workplay environment,” Kupp said. “The commercial component is where our

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company is pouring a lot of energy in terms of commercial development.

It’s designed to be very walkable, have a lot of good public spaces for convening and we’re going to be actively managing all of that in terms of events and goings-on. It’ll be the place where people want to go to convene and hang out.”

The roadway infrastructure is phenomenal, Kupp said. Residents have easy access to S.R. 429, which connects them to the turnpike, S.R. 408 and U.S. 192. Walt Disney World is a 10-minute drive, and downtown Orlando can be reached in 20 minutes.

Families with school-age children can enjoy newer schools such as Keene’s Crossing Elementary, Bridgewater Middle and Windermere High, and all residents can take advantage of about 24 miles of trails built throughout and interconnecting Hamlin and the rest of Horizon West.

“What’s neat about Hamlin is it sits on an interchange, so it’s easy to get in and out of but yet has this village life we’ve been creating, and the crown jewel is the lakefront commercial

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development,” Kupp said. “We’ll have lakefront restaurants and other retail and restaurant offerings in Hamlin itself so people can just say, ‘Lets just go to Hamlin, we’ll figure out what to do when we get there.’”

The hope is that whether someone lives in Hamlin or nearby in the greater Horizon West area, they will walk or bike up to the town center to enjoy the convenience of having retail and dining in one place, mixed with the lakefront views and surrounding trails.

“We hope that because we’re going to actively event-manage Hamlin — along with its walkability of public spaces and offerings — that it will be the place to go to in West Orange,” Kupp said.

A RESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

When Gary Jacobs and his wife, Jo Anne, moved into their home in the Overlook at Hamlin neighborhood three years ago, it wasn’t just the first finished build on the street — it was the only one that had been started.

About a year earlier, the Jacobs

BY THE NUMBERS 40,000

The size in square feet of the upcoming Cinépolis USA theater

2012

The year land ground was broken on Hamlin

556

The approximate number of singlefamily homes thus far in four neighborhoods

1,000

The total number of acres in Hamlin community

100

The number of acres of Lake Hancock and surrounding trails and parks Photos by Steven Ryzewski

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The number of floor plans from which to choose in Hamlin’s three neighborhoods

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The number of acres in coming medical complex

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The current number of neighborhoods in Hamlin

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Lakewalk at Hamlin is the community’s first apartment complex

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WHAT’S NEXT? Currently, much of the commercial development in the Hamlin community is centered on the intersection of New Independence Parkway and Hamlin Groves Trail. Here’s what’s coming, by quadrant.

Southwest: Publix Super Market opened in August 2017, and next will be three buildings totaling 28,000 square feet.

These are set to open in the November 2017 timeframe, Boyd Development partner Ken Kupp said. A fourth and fifth building will come within the next six months.

Southeast: This is where the bulk of the lakefront commercial development is taking place. This quadrant will be home to the Cinépolis USA theater, a two-story parking garage, a 7,000-squarefoot multi-tenant building and Ford’s Garage restaurant.

This includes up to four lakefront restaurants.

Directly east of the theater will be the 316-unit Lakewalk at Hamlin apartment complex.

Northeast: Site work already has begun on this quadrant, which will host four users to be announced in the coming months. East of those users will be the 17-acre wellness campus, of which the proton therapy center is first to come.

Northwest: Along with the Walmart, which opened last November, Boyd Development is set to begin construction on five additional buildings in the next 60 days.

Hamlin Reserve’s townhomes are offered at prices starting in the mid-$200,000s.

Single-story homes in Hamlin Reserve start in the mid-$200,000s.

LIVE, WORK, PLAY

Overlook at Hamlin offers homes starting in the $270,000s.

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family had been the third homebuyer to ink a contract for what was, at that point, just an idea.

At the time, they had been living in Windermere, but as their children grew older and moved on to college and the U.S. Navy, they started to consider the idea of what Gary Jacobs calls “downsizing but not downgrading.”

Then, one day while reading a magazine, he came across the perfect lead.

“There was a blurb about Boyd Development (and Hamlin),” Jacobs said. “What caught my interest was they said they were going to have a town center and it was going to be similar to Celebration. It kept my interest, and I kept my nose to the ground.”

On the first day that Taylor Morrison was signing contracts for The Overlook at Hamlin, Jacobs was there at 5 a.m. — and there still were two people ahead of him to buy.

Much of what Hamlin was selling itself as appealed to them, but the town center and the accessibility to it from the homes was what put it over the top. Signing the dotted line was somewhat of a leap of faith, though, because what a developer promises and what it delivers can sometimes be different things.

Although leaving their Windermere home wasn’t easy, ultimately the two decided to make the move.

“This is going to be, to me, it’s the place to go,” Jacobs said. “All those other places are already built up.

This is getting on the ground floor on something.”

Three years later, they have neighbors — plenty of them — and the town center and retail options that were promised are becoming a reality. In particular, Jacobs said it was a milestone when the Hamlin Publix opened recently, close enough to where many residents could walk to get their groceries if they choose.

The idea of Hamlin is becoming a reality, and the investment the Jacobs’ made in purchasing a home there is paying off.

“It’s great because it is what they said it was going to be,” Jacobs said.

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There is a charm, an aesthetic and a lifestyle that the Hamlin development and its varied builders believe in — but also an element of variety.

With a mix of housing options that are either currently available or soon will be, Hamlin’s developments can be as attractive to a young, millennial couple looking for its first home as it is to a family of six or an older couple looking to downsize because their children have left the nest.

MEET THE BUILDERS

Courtesy photo

TAYLOR MORRISON DETAILS: With 16 communities in the Orlando market, Taylor Morrison has more than 100 years of experience in the homebuilding community. The builder highlights the catchphrase “inspired by you” to encapsulate its goal of creating homes for its homebuyers in which to create lasting memories.

HAMLIN COMMUNITIES: Overlook at Hamlin, 7719 Minutemen Loop, Winter Garden, (407) 905-4651; Cove at Hamlin, 5717 Hamlin Groves Trail, Winter Garden, (407) 905-4675 taylormorrison.com

Overlook at Hamlin offers 17 floor plans. This kitchen is included in the Bishop design.

With four neighborhoods and an apartment complex currently rounding out Hamlin’s residential areas, there is something for everyone in Hamlin. Whether you’re looking to buy a town house or single-family home, or wanting to rent an apartment with a view of Lake Hancock, options are widely available.

TAYLOR MORRISON

Taylor Morrison has two neighborhoods in Hamlin, the Overlook at Hamlin and The Cove at Hamlin.

Overlook at Hamlin boasts a variety of homesites, many of them lakefront, and homebuyers have 17 floor plans from which to choose. Homes range from 1,600 to more than 5,100 square feet and priced from the $270’s to just more than $1 million.

Amenities include a community clubhouse, town center, fitness center, playground, walking and bike trails, dog park, community pool, sports lawn, fire pit, waterfront amphitheater, serving kitchen, covered pavilion and children’s pool with splash pad overlooking Lake Hancock.

The Cove at Hamlin is Taylor Morrison’s community of “urban cottages,” according to its website. Home sites are virtually maintenance-free

and include irrigation, mowing and pest-control service. Prices start at $270,000, and there are 15 floor plans from which to choose. The homes boast a two-story bungalow design, ranging from 1,908 to 3,300 square feet. Many include owners’ retreats with master baths, design studio upgrades and other options.

Amenities include a clubhouse with fitness and great rooms, serving kitchen, a family pool, children’s splash deck, children’s playground, waterfront amphitheater, grilling area, covered pavilion, fire pit, walking trails and sports lawn.

ASHTON WOODS

With four types of homes and 28 floor plans — starting at $240,000 and ranging up to the $440s — Ashton Woods’s Hamlin Reserve is a diverse community. The neighborhood is comprised of nearly 400 home sites, green space, parks, community pool, dog park, clubhouse and playground.

Hamlin Reserve’s town homes start at 1,570 square feet and include two or three bedrooms with private courtyards and two-car garages.

Then, there are three types of single-family homes. Signature homes start at 1,964 square feet and include

“What’s neat about Hamlin is it sits on an interchange, so it’s easy to get in and out of but yet has this village life we’ve been creating, and the crown jewel is the lakefront commercial development.”

— Ken Kupp, partner, Boyd Development

alley-entry garages. Traditional homes start at 1,709 square feet and include front-entry garages. Manor homes, which start at 1,653 square feet and include split three-car, sideentry garages.

DREAMFINDERS HOMES

One of the newest neighborhoods, DreamFinders Homes’s Sanctuary at Hamlin features nine floor plans priced between the lower-$300,000s and mid-$400,000s. Sizes range from 2,235 to 4,297 square feet, four or five bedrooms and two-and-one-half to four-and-one-half bathrooms.

Located off Porter Road and Hamlin Groves Trail, the community also features picnic areas, a tot lot, play field and bike rack.

LAKEWALK AT HAMLIN

Located next door to the movie theater, the 316-unit apartment complex also has unique views of Lake Hancock. It has been under construction since the beginning of the year, and the first units will be delivered in late 2017 and early 2018.

“It’s integrated, from a masterplanning perspective, into the lakefront quadrant portion of Hamlin,” Kupp said. “You can walk right out your unit and go into the lakefront component there, into the restaurants or shops or the theater. It’s rare to have an opportunity to have a rental community on a lake in this town. Most of our lakes surrounded by single-family housing, but Lakewalk has a wide view corridor on Lake Hancock.”

ASHTON WOODS DETAILS: Ashton Woods currently has 10 communities in the Orlando market.

The company sold its first home in 1989 and was recognized as the nation’s fourth-largest private builder in 2013.

According to its website, it aims to blaze new trails in design, personalization and possibilities to build homes that reflect its homebuyers.

HAMLIN COMMUNITY: Hamlin Reserve, 15349 Shonan Gold Drive, Winter Garden, (407) 901-6171 ashtonwoods.com DREAMFINDERS HOMES DETAILS: Dream Finders Homes is a growing national homebuilder that in 2012 was ranked as the third fastestgrowing private building company in the nation

by Inc. 500. It currently has seven communities being built in the Orlando area.

HAMLIN COMMUNITY: Sanctuary at Hamlin, (904) 738-0165 dreamfindershomes. com

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“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” - John Dewey

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Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@ OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Brittany Gaines, bgaines@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Michelle Gentry, mgentry@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Tracy Craft, tcraft@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Heather Marie, hlopez@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representative / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

CONTACT US The West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. They provide subscription home delivery. The papers also can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

If you wish to advertise or subscribe to the West Orange Times or Windermere Observer, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

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Park Place Winter Garden is in the construction phase at Park Avenue and Plant Street.

Charm for days The options for living on and near Plant Street in historic downtown Winter Garden are great, and they are about to get even better.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

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f you want to live close to where the action is in downtown Winter Garden — restaurants, shops, a farmer’s market and the West Orange Trail — you currently have a few options. And in the coming years, you’re going to have many more.

Traditionally, downtown Winter Garden has been defined as the Plant Street corridor, and several blocks to the north and south, from Park Avenue to Dillard Street.

Development continues to stretch the east-west span, and real-estate agents typically throw a larger net over what they consider downtown.

Lisa Bennett is a Realtor with Windsor Realty Group and is the Winter Garden city commissioner for District 1, which includes mainly historic Winter Garden and the

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Downtown Winter Garden has a few duplex options, such as these on South Main and Smith streets.

downtown sector. A large number of her residential home sales are in north Winter Garden.

“Most of the people I’m selling to consider themselves downtown,” she said.

Apartment rental options are minimal, and the city has been addressing that issue, Bennett said.

Along the Plant Street corridor,

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

residents currently have only one apartment complex option, Park Avenue Villas, 48 S. Park Ave., with 120 one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 555 to 877 square feet.

UPCOMING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

If you are looking to live in or near downtown Winter Garden, you are

HISTORIC HOMES The Winter Garden Historic Residential District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

The historic district is bound by Smith Street to the south, portions of North Park and North Central avenues to the west, sections of West Tilden and East Newell streets to the north and parts of Second and Third streets to the east.

A total of 76 buildings are on the list. Of those, 44 are residential addresses, mostly along North Highland and North Lakeview avenues.

One of the homes is the one-and-one-halfstory bungalow at 104 N. Lakeview Ave., which cost $4,500 to construct in 1918. It is owned by Lee Grimes, who bought the property from his parents, Larry and Harriette Grimes, in 1997. They bought it in 1969 from Malcolm McMillan Jr., son of the original owner, Malcolm McMillan, and moved in with their three sons.

Larry Grimes said at the closing, McMillan apologized for not having any keys to hand over.

“We never locked the doors,” the seller said. “You can go to Bray Hardware and get a couple skeleton keys if you want to lock the doors.”

The house was built with flared eaves and a unique curved gable roof surfaced with pressed-metal shingles. To the three Grimes boys, the best part of the house was the laundry chute in the bathroom, which gave fast escape downstairs or secret entry to the upstairs.

Architecturally, the house remains largely the same today.

Courtesy photo

The historic Winter Garden home at 104 N. Lakeview Ave. was built in 1918 and owned by Malcolm McMillan and his family. Larry and Harriette Grimes bought it in 1969 and sold it to their son in 1997.

in luck. Several developments are either in the planning or construction stages.

“There’s kind of been a lot of demand for (multiple-story buildings with retail below and residential above), and there hasn’t been a whole lot of development for it,” Bennett said. “We’re seeing some more mixed use and different kinds of residential real estate.”

Park Place Winter Garden, 462 W. Plant St. (at the southeast corner of Plant Street and Park Avenue), is expected to be complete by fall 2019. This community of luxury townhouses will include 32 units and seven different models, ranging in size from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet. Sixteen will be threestory townhouses, 12 will be two stories, and the others will be two stories with lofts. Six can also be converted into 3,000-square-foot units. All homes will have a two-car garage. Prices will start in the mid$400,000s. And though it is a modern community, the developer says its design will complement historic downtown. Some are designed with retail below the townhomes.

Heritage at Plant Street, located between East Plant and East Newell streets east of Dillard Street, will have 41 single-family homes and 43

townhomes. The first six Craftsman-style townhomes should be completed by summer 2018. They will range in size from 1,600 to 1,800 square feet and have three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and a two-car garage. The singlefamily homes will be built behind the townhomes. Sizes will range from 1,800 to 3,800 square feet with three to five bedrooms, two to fourand-one-half baths and a two- or three-car garage. The community will include a dog park and pool.

A yet-to-be-named three-story mixed-use, 30,414-square-foot building is planned at 109 S. Boyd St. Plans call for retail, office space and a restaurant on the bottom floor and 22 high-end apartment units on the second and third floors. The project will include an outdoor plaza space to be shared with the Winter Garden Art Association’s SoBo gallery, plus 23 off-street parking spaces and a number of parallel parking spaces along Boyd.

Garden West will be located west of Park Avenue at the northeast corner of Plant Street and Brayton Road. It will contain 11 single-family homes with a common recreation area and a connection to the West Orange Trail to the north.

OAKLAND BY THE NUMBERS To the west of Winter Garden is the town of Oakland, with a population of about 3,000.

1,000

The approximate number of single-family homes

0

The number of duplexes, condos, townhomes and apartments

200 to 250

The number of homes in historic Oakland. Boundaries are Starr Street, Sadler Avenue, Jefferson Street and Lake Apopka

800

The approximate number of single-family homes in the planning stages

600

The approximate number of apartments, town homes, condos or duplexes in the planning stages

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

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Lennar’s automated homes are built according to the Wi-Fi Alliance® program guidelines for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Designs. See the Wi-Fi Alliance website at www.wi-fi.org for additional information regarding the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Design program. Third party companies are not affiliated with this promotion, nor do the third party companies sponsor, endorse or support this promotion. Certain products and services are provided by third parties, and not Lennar. Lennar does not guarantee any equipment or services provided by third parties. Additional disclosures and disclaimers relating to The Connected Home program will apply. Visit Lennar.com or see a Lennar New Home Consultant for further details. The specific features in a home may vary from home to home and from one community to another.

We reserve the right to substitute equipment, material, appliances and brand names with items of equal or higher value, in our sole opinion. Color and size variations may occur. The prices of our homes, included features, and available locations are subject to change without notice. Features, floorplans, and designs vary per plan and community and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Models/lifestyle photos do not reflect racial or ethnic preference. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Everything’s Included, and the Everything’s Included logo are U.S. registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Copyright © 2017 Lennar Corporation. 09/17 Amazon, Alexa, Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, and all related logos and motion marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

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PLAN FOR THE FUTURE 28

Ocoee is focusing efforts on encouraging mixed-use urban development and revitalizing its downtown to attract younger homebuyers. housing in areas that will be closer to job opportunities where future residents will not need to be as automoA paradigm shift in housing options bile-dependent — a lifestyle the city is coming to Ocoee as the city of more hopes will attract millennials. The than 45,000 prepares for its ambi- city already has approved several tious $43.5 million project to trans- projects to achieve this goal.

“We approved four high-end form its downtown and attract more apartment complexes in the last coubusinesses.

With a total of seven subdivi- ple of years,” Rumer said. “We have sions featuring 1,058 single-family the Arbor Apartments, and we’re lots ranging from 40 to 70 feet wide talking stainless-steel appliances, either under construction or about to granite countertops, the works. And break ground, city staff now is focus- then we have The Oasis apartments ing on its vision to create more of a here on Bluford (Avenue), we have development pattern that takes into the Park Place apartments on Maguaccount mixed-housing and urban ire (Road), and then the Casa Mirella apartments down on Roberson and development.

The reason? To attract more Maguire roads. We’ve also approved younger families and millennials, the City Center West Orange mixedand encourage housing that permits use project that allows 470 apartpedestrian access to the coming ments.”

The decision to encourage a more employment opportunities expected as businesses make their homes in mixed-use urban development pattern came in 2016, however, the city Ocoee’s urban areas.

“We want to have the right mixture already has approved 2,188 singleof housing that is accessible through family lots for traditional singlemultimodal means and make use of family subdivisions since 2011 that an urban development pattern,” said are under construction.

The 49.9-acre Ocoee Reserve Ocoee City Planner Mike Rumer.

“That’s why we’re focusing on our being developed by Avex Homes downtown and State Road 429 over- on Silver Star Road was the last lay and those three character areas. approved project in the list approved We want to help developers know before the city decided to take a difthey can construct mixed-use devel- ferent approach with its remaining opments. Then we’ll have an oppor- land.

“There are only four parcels left tunity to have jobs and housing near each other in a framework where that could be used for residential you’re able to walk or ride a bike or projects,” he said. “The rest is zoned commercial, industrial, multi-famdrive a vehicle.”

Currently, the city has 1,058 lots ily, but the idea from now on is to that are being developed in north have more urban smaller-housing Ocoee’s more suburban areas. But that builds up.”

Going forward, he added, city now, the aim is to create more dense staff will likely stick to larger lots for “There are only four parcels residential development proposals in the roughly 175 acres of available land the city has left that is zoned for lowleft that could be used for density residential use, and continue residential projects, the its focus on encouraging mixed-use smaller-housing in its urban areas. rest are zoned commercial, “From now on the lots we approve will be bigger except in the case industrial, multi-family, but where they’re in an urban area,” Rumor shared. “But for the acreage the idea from now on is to we have left available for suburban detached single-family home subdihave more urban smallervisions, we just want to look and see where we are with these smaller lots housing that builds up.” and see if they’re holding their val— Mike Rumer, Ocoee City Planner ues. Then we’ll decide if we’ll continue with those or not but from this point on you’re not going to see any more small lots for a while.”

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

THE TOP THREE

1

ARDEN PARK The city’s biggest project, developed by Calatlantic Homes, is Arden Park on Clarcona-Ocoee Road. The 308-acre subdivision has five phases, with phases 3A and 3B being the more recently approved phases due to break ground soon. Phases 1 through 3 will have a total of 478 single-family homes, with more to come in phase 4 and 5. The total amount of lots that will be approved is tentative, but the maximum allowed for all five phases is 844.

2

PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT The city’s second-largest development is the Preserve at Crown Point. The 57.93-acre project by Mattamy Homes located at 1960 Crown Point Parkway will have 303 singlefamily homes ranging 1,875 to 3,552 square feet. Pricing for the three-to-five-bedroom homes will start at the mid $200,000s.

3

FOREST LAKE ESTATES The city’s third-largest development is Forest Lake Estates located on ClarconaOcoee and Ingram roads. It has 278 single-family homes and totals 101 acres — all single-family homes. The developer has a contract with Surrey Homes and Richmond American.

WHAT IS LEFT? The city has little land remaining that could be developed into a traditional single-family subdivision.

As it stands there are only four possible parcels of land available as other vacant lots are already spoken for commercial, industrial, multi-family use. n A vacant 65-acre parcel of land near Arden Park at the intersection of Clarke and Clarcona-Ocoee roads currently unincorporated but is zoned low-density residential.

Rumer believes it most likely will be a subdivision in the future. n A 32-acre wooded area with several parcels off Lauren Beth Avenue north of Nicole Boulevard and west of Lake Meadow that Rumer imagines also will be single-family lots in the future. n A piece of land totaling 31.5 acres that recently was replanted with pine trees at the intersection of Clarke and White roads. n A 47-acre tract of land on the corner of Lakewood Avenue and Clarcona-Ocoee Road.

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

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LAKEFRONT

LUXURY

For home buyers looking for a lakefront lifestyle, the Windermere lakes provide them with both beautiful views and access to a variety of activities.

BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

F

rom the Disney fireworks and vibrant sunsets to fishing and water-skiing, lakefront living in Windermere comes in all varieties for those looking for a slice of waterfront

paradise. But at the top of almost everyone’s list is having a view.

“Being able to see the water from the house is the No. 1 reason why lakefront homes sell more quickly than others,” said Emily Lewis, a realestate agent with Lakeside Realty.

“Once you show it to them, it puts everything else out of their mind.”

Aside from a beautiful view, the must-haves for a lakefront property vary from buyer to buyer, said Loren “Andy” Williams, broker for Lakeside Realty.

“We have both homes in neighborhoods and homes in downtown Windermere,” he said. “We have buyers who like the larger lots who want to live in downtown Windermere where it isn’t gated.”

It’s all about connecting the home with the outdoor lifestyle.

32

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

“Your view makes your home bigger,” Williams said.

But lakeside living comes at a price, with the cost of just the land starting at $1 million, Williams said.

“Typically, the homes are 6,000 square feet and up,” he said. “So these homes are going to be in the $3 million-and-up range.”

When it comes to which markets are the most in demand, Williams said properties on the Butler Chain of Lakes are always popular purchases with homebuyers — not just because of the views but also because of its connected waterways.

“The bigger the lake is, the more valuable it is because that means you can do more on it,” he said.

It also helps that the waterways

are being kept in pristine condition through conservation efforts.

“The beautiful part of the Butler Chain is that we have a good conservation organization that is looking to keep the chain healthy,” Williams said.

In addition to having a lakefront home, one perk in particular seems to be a popular selling point among homebuyers — the Disney fireworks.

“Where can you get the Disney fireworks — that’s big,” Lewis said.

For some buyers, it’s not just the lakefront view but also the charm that downtown Windermere offers.

“People like the old-time feel,” Williams said. “Windermere is still a small town, and they like the quaintness.”

YOU CAN BREATHE OUT HERE

For one Windermere family, the lakeside life was a longtime dream. Having lived in Windermere for several years, Angie Winn and her family decided it was time to find the home they always talked about.

“We could see the lake, but we didn’t live on the lake,” Winn said. “We didn’t have that access.”

The Winns wanted something family friendly — they have two boys — that wasn’t in a gated community. But after weeks of searching, the family hadn’t found the perfect home and was on the verge of giving up their dream of lakefront living.

“A week later, I was driving around, and, I’ve always passed this road, but there was a For Sale sign,” Winn said.

“It was this little yellow Key West-style

house, and I knew that was it.”

Even though their house is older and has a few kinks that need to be addressed, Winn said it offers the lifestyle they sought for their family.

“We bought it for the outside,” She said. “We bought it for the lake.”

Now four years later, Winn said that living on the lake was exactly what her family needed.

“We wanted (the boys) to be outside and enjoying nature,” she said. “We’re constantly swimming, boating, fishing.”

What surprised Winn and her husband was how much more their little yellow house gave back to their lives.

“It turned into more than we ever expected,” she said. “We’ve had lake baptisms here. We’ve held ministry dinners here. We’ve housed ministry people here.”

And for everyone who visits their home, the response is almost always the same.

“They can breathe out here — that’s what they always say about our house,” Winn said.

Winn has even started informally teaching yoga on her back porch.

“Being in such stark nature really is such a great place to rest and play,” Winn said.

It’s a sentiment that Williams often hears from home buyers who purchase their first lakefront home.

“At the end of the day, it’s still about the view and being able to sit on your back veranda and enjoy the evening and enjoy the sunset,” Williams said.

This home in the Reserve at Lake Butler Sound features 365 feet of lake frontage on Lake Butler.

Courtesy photo

OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017

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For more than 110 years, our award winning news and design team continues to be your credible source for local community news, events and information.

W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &

Observer Celebrating 110 years in West Orange

WINDERM

ERE

Obser ver ips

Dr. Phill on West and ermere, Horiz

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Serving Wind

NEIG HBO RS. YOU . YOU R

HBO RHO OD. YOU R NEIG 11, 2017 SDAY, MAY FREE • THUR

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VOLUME 84, NO. 20

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HEALTH MATTERS See inside for our special edition on infant health.

•

YOUR TOWN

VOLUME 29, NO.

29

YOU Karen R McGowan TOWN

opens studio SWE ETnew SOC IAL RAIS ES $24, in Winter Garden.

000

Buzzy and Phyllis Berry, of Winter Garden, and Robert and Cindy Martin, of Winter Springs, announce Pthe marSTAM HELP riage of Rachel Cathleen to GER RobertHUN “Bobby” Justin Berry.

OUT be collectThe wedding will ceremony carriers Mail t andfood reception wereHarves held for Second ing l Florida April Bank 15 in historic Oakland. of Centra Food 13, durMay The couple reside in ay,will on Saturd annual Orlando.

Rachel andStamp Bobby ing the 25th drive. ! food thank everyone who made Out Hunger asked being their wedding most nts are the Reside full of spectacular daybags to begin to place sturdy goods and other their marriage. canned e foods beside non-perishabl for pick-up. their mailbox ATTENTION tion For more informa FeedGRADUATES visit about the drive, HomeNow.org.

YOUR TOWN

R VOICE

FINDING HE

RO

STAFF WRITER

For years, Bird ge host to undera Island has been g and littering. ly drinking, loiterin nuisance recent il The ongoing Town Counc had Windermere for solutions ing members search 11 meeting.

April their eduring how to effectiv Discussion on

WINDE RMERE

Construction on Oakland center to begin this summer OuThe tdo orof the new design blend in retbuilding aile willRE I the with therfabric of historic town. open s in Winter Park The

and Fernwo ly rid Bird Island ted guests and Park of the unwan of resident parking encourage use , but inconclusively passes ended Robert Smith said Town Manager ely decided to take ultimat town the approach to proa multiagency and restricting tecting Bird Islandramp. access to the boat

ITY PAGE 4

SEE SECUR

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Ocoee High senior Dorian Jones rallied his classmates for a game of dodgeball outside in the parking lot.

West Orange homeschool pioneer ire to ret Winter Garden considering framework was Ceil Humphreys tors one of the first educa pt designs East Plant Street Corridor the conce to bring for to

schooling of home Winter Garden has do.GABBY BAQUERO Southwest Orlan

drafted design standards STAFF WRITER Y it expects to implement WINTER GARDEN While Ocoee and QUESINBERR AMY EDITOR Apopka seek to create pedestrianCOMMU as guidelines for NITY future friendly gh the areas modeling WinE Throuter development of ORANG the East Garden’s downtown, Winter WEST has Ceil Hump hreys Garden herseeks to expand its own.

Plant Streetyears, Corridor. that Skittles and

ce options to enhan ers are considering and Town Council memb ty, curtail loitering on Bird Island securi Park’s boat ramp.

Fernwood Park’s e use of Fernwood more strictly enforc od GABBY BAQUE

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

, 15 minutes r finds her voice Windermere singe TV show. SEE PAGE 15. ish of fame on Span

learned late-c hip homem ade chocotors for her cookies are motiva e encouragestudents. Positiv helps, too. ment certainly

L PAGE 8

SEE HOMESCHOO

The event raised more than $24,000 with sponsorships, ticket sales, silent auctions and donatio ns. This is up from $20,716 raised The event’s organiz in 2016. ers thank everyone who worked to make the event special and enjoyable for family and all for a great cause.friends —

Photos by Brittany Gaines and Amy Quesinberry

Mission complete

Graduating high-school seniors who attended either Lake Whitney Elementary or Whispering Oak Elementary are invited to graduation receptions at their former schools.

Lake Whitney’s reception Courtesy photo after will take place from 3:30 to reys is retiring Ceil Humph reys 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 18, of running Humph years in the 20 media center.

Seniors School.

Junior High who attended LWES in 2009-10 and their parents are invited to catch up with old friends and teachers.

Hendrix Whispering Oak will hold Danielle Chehansky, its reception from 2:30 to such as Shelly 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May helps women YMCA. The program 24, in the media center. at the Dr. P. Phillips In Transition program RSVP to (407) 656-7773. of the Women

ere How should Winderm s? tackle security issue

The numbers are in for the Ronald McDon ald House Ice Cream Social 2017.

SEE PAGE 9.

What’s a little celebrating without some shaving cream?

The Class of 2017 at both West Orange and Ocoee high schools celebrated the end of their highschool careers in style last week.

head ion or death. center, is the Allie Halbert, divorce, separat Ramcharan, after left, and Sam

YOU R NEIG HBO RHO OD.

During the May 11 City Commission meeting, leaders introduced design plans detailing the framework that, if adopted, would guide development fronting East Plant Street and surrounding areas.

SEE FRAMEWORK PAGE 4

OAKLAND Bob Miller, of R. retaile r welcomed Miller Architecture Inc., customers to itsthe attended Mayr 9 Oakland Winte Park locati Town to provide onCommission to celebrate elected officials with more its grandtheopeni ng. details regarding Oakland’s

proposed art and history cenTIM FREED ter. This addition to the town STAFF WRITER center will be built on the site Ready for aofnew the former Little White adventure?

REI celebrated the grand PAGE 8 opening of its Winter SEE OAKLAND Park store last weekend — giving Central Florida residen ts a place where they can get everything they SEE REI PAGE

2

•

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

r has preserved local

African-American

history for 10 years

A salute to Seymour

. SEE 3.

Habitat for Hum anity of Winter Park-Maitl dedicated its 53rd and home to Thaddeus Seym our, College’s 12th presid Rollins ent.

TIM FREED

STAFF WRITER

A

wave of emoti ons hit the Thompson family Sat-

urday, May 13.

LaWanda Thompson opene d the front door and imme diately lost her composure, crying tears of joy.

Her family of five, with her

husband and three children, were finally homeo wners. LaWanda took a step forward on the dark brown hardwood floor into the fully decora ted living room complete with a couch/ bed, chairs, lamps and rug.

SEE PAGE 2 NO CAUSE,

CALLED TO DUTY

See inside for our monthly Health and Welln ess issue.

50 CENTS

annibal Square

re Heritage Cente

5 in Independen

The Dr. P. Phillips YMCA is one of three a that in Central Florid In offer the Women am Transition progr rated sepa to divorced, en wom or widowed and their children.

E4 STORY ON PAG

20

The Hannibal Squa

9.

PTSO. SEE PAGE Middle School’s for Bridgewater ce, was a fundraiser

Transforming lives

The run, held May

win Park

Happy 10th, H

r Flash Dash 5K Heroes unite fo

VOLUME 2, NO.

land and Bald

ARTS & CULTURE YOU . YOU R NEIG HBO RS.

WE HEAR WEDDING BELLS

IT LA N D

Serving Wint er Park, Mait

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

“We’re standing on the porch of our 53rd house. that is about Winter What a wonderful Park and its sense statement of neighbors and neighborhood.”

— Thaddeus

NO CURE

Seymour

Maitland firm suits for Women Build proup ject Nine female empl oyees from the Maitl CBA Archi and-b

West Orange alum Nate Ozdemir leaves FAU — and his football career — to serve in the U.S. Marines. PAGE 13.

ased tects partic Women Build progr ipated in Habitat for Humanity’s am on Monday, May 8.

GABBY BAQUE RO

STAFF WRITER

USPS 00-6186 Publisher statemen t on

page 4.

One local family is leading the charg e to raise aware for myalgic encep ness halomyelitis. SEE STORY ON

4.

CBA employees and fundraising lent their time efforts toward MAITLA ND the project Donnin struct ions hats, g pink con- for Human as part of the Habitat ity Seminole Apopk nine women employed by a Charla n Brock division’s weeklong Women Associates Archite Build cts arrived at program. CBA Architects, a construction site ready to offer based in Maitland, raised a firm a helping hand $5,000 toward the con- toward the effort via bake struction of four sales town homes.

SEE WOMEN

PAGE 2

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Relax.

Closing costs are on us.

Spend less getting in to your home, and more time enjoying it.

It’s good to be

finally home.

0 Closing Costs

$

*

WHEN YOU PURCHASE A MOVE-IN READY TAYLOR MORRISON HOME NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31.

CLOSING COSTS COVERED: • • • •

Processing Underwriting Funding Fee Appraisal with Final Inspection • Credit Report • Tax Service • Flood Certificate

• Title Settlement Fee • Lender Title Policy • Recording Fee and Transfer Taxes • Survey • Owner’s Title Policy • HOA Transfer/CAP Fee

Explore Orlando Area Homes

252600

407.449.7177 taylormorrison.com/orlando

*Limited time All Closing Cost Incentive Special Offer begins on new home contracts written as of 10/1/17 - 10/31/17 (“Promotion Period”) and is valid on the purchase of eligible select inventory homes that can close on or before 12/29/17 in all Taylor Morrison Orlando area communities except Thornbrooke Townhomes (“Closing Cost Incentive”). Buyer must pre-apply with Approved Lender before submitting offer to qualify for the promotion. Seller will pay all applicable Closing Costs at Closing listed above, excluding discount points or pre-paid items other than the HOA Initiation Fees listed above that is included, which contributions will vary depending on the eligible home selected and other restrictions described below, if qualified buyer utilizes Seller’s affiliated lender Taylor Morrison Home Funding, LLC, NMLS #149227 (“Approved Lender”) and the Title Company was selected only through Seller (“Preferred Title Company”). Closing Cost Incentive not applicable outside of the Promotion Period, Orlando-area or in the above excluded Taylor Morrison Orlando-area community. Closing Cost Incentive may not be combined with any other offer, unless expressly set forth in Buyer’s Purchase Agreement Documents. Total closing cost contribution credited at closing and subject to Seller’s contribution limitations based on mortgage program and loan to value guidelines that are outside of Seller’s control. All loans are subject to underwriting and loan qualification of the lender. Services not available in all states. Rates, terms and conditions offered are subject to change without notice. Buyer is not required to finance through Approved Lender or to use such Title Company selected by Seller to purchase a home; however, buyer must use both such settlement services to receive the above or certain other Closing Cost incentives. In the event Buyer applies for financing with any lender other than the Approved Lender, or Buyer selects in its election a company other than the Title Company selected by Seller, Seller shall not be obligated to pay any portion of Buyer’s closing costs notwithstanding that such financing is provided by the Approved Lender or that title insurance or closing services are provided by the Title Company selected by Seller. For more information about Approved Lender, its licensing and other financing information, please visit taylormorrison.com/tmhf-aba. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. All incentives, pricing, availability and plans subject to change or delay without notice, and pricing may not include options, upgrades, lot or elevation premiums. Included and upgraded features will vary by home.

Square footage and dimensions are estimated and may vary in actual construction. Please see a Taylor Morrison Sales Community Manager for additional details © October, 2017, Taylor Morrison of Florida, Inc. CBC1257462. All rights reserved.

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OBSERVER | REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2017