Developers at Epperson Ranch anticipate a construction start in May on the “Crystal Lagoon” that will be a showpiece for their master-planned community, and the first of its kind in North America.
Model homes at Epperson could be under construction by summer.
Home prices will start in the mid-$200,000 range.
Metro Development Group is finalizing the permit process before digging dirt on a 7-acre manmade lagoon.
(Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.)
The water body is designed with patented technology by Crystal Lagoons Inc., and the lagoon will be filled with about 16 million gallons of crystal blue water.
Construction could take a year.
The Epperson Ranch project is also the site for another first for Pasco with plans for creating a “Connected City” corridor with ultrafast Internet connections.
The project is a state-approved, 10-year pilot program that envisions state-of-the-art technology embedded in the design of residential and commercial development in a 7,800-acre special district. The district’s borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley and Overpass roads in east central Pasco.
Metro Development Group and Crystal Lagoons are partnering on the creation of several Crystal Lagoons’ communities, including a second location in Pasco, and in Fort Myers.
Pasco’s growth boom and the availability of such a large swath of vacant land were motivators for the companies’ partnership, according to an email from Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development.
“Our hope is that we are one part of a collective group of planners, thinkers, educators and others who see Pasco County as a destination for more jobs, top schools, premier shopping, dining and entertainment,” the email states.
Biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann created and built the first Crystal Lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar in Chile in 2006.
According to the company’s website, the lagoons are eco-friendly and need to be filled with water only once. They use 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and more than 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course, the website states.
Lagoons typically are deep enough to allow for a variety of water sports and recreational activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.
In his email, Singleton said the lagoon will be in a gated community where the lagoon’s upkeep would be included in fees paid to a homeowner’s association.
There is potential for packages, day rates or memberships to the lagoon for nonresidents. However, Singleton in his email said, “Nothing has been outlined or finalized yet.”
Published April 27, 2016
